He can't.

Everything went haywire in my brain. Here I was, without a date outside of Rosie Palms for over half a year, pinned under my friend with a body to die for - and now she was not only desiring me; she was coming on to me. And dear God, I wanted her so badly, it hurt.

She placed her hands on my shoulders, dragging her delectable nipples across mine, closed her eyes in expectation as she leaned forward, slow as a glacier...

And then I remembered Amy's face, distraught and helpless, her gaze pleading with words she could not express. My throat hardened.

"No."

In the silence of the room, my single word sounded like a bullet firing. Jessica pulled herself back up, visibly confused. "Ian..."

"I'm sorry, but - I just can't." I eased myself out from underneath her and sat up as well. "I can't do this to either of you."

"You don't want this?" She held my hand as she met my gaze.

"Of course I do - but I don't want to do it when both of you could get hurt," I muttered. "It's not fair to the both of you... and she's already been hurt once before."

Jessica mulled over what I said. Every second of waiting seemed to make it worse.

"I understand," she eventually said softly, grabbing my shoulders in for a hug. "You know... she's really lucky to have you."

We put our tops back on in silence. The mood had plummeted like a lead balloon, and I was even more of a mess on the inside. Had I made the right choice? The life renewed in me faded away like a dying fire as she walked me to her door and saw me out.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Don't be," I replied, suddenly weary.

I couldn't help hear the quiet sob just as the door closed behind me.

I spent the next thirty minutes in a cold shower, sitting in the corner of the bathroom as frigid water poured upon my head.

And with fervor I hadn't felt in months, I wept.