Page 77 of Repairing the Wreckage

My lips curve. “True.”

I can’t risk letting my gaze stray past Torch’s shoulders. Thank God he’s tall enough to block the view. The girls could be doing a strip tease for Griff or asking for his autograph for all I know.

“Do you want me to come out and visit next weekend?” Torch asks.

“Huh?” I haven’t heard a word he’s said since he sat down. “No, I think I’m coming home again.”

He breaks into a wide smile. “Yeah? There’s a carnival coming into town we can go to. If you want.”

My heart stutters. Griff and I were supposed to go to that carnival when he came home. Can I really go with someone else?

Torch watches me with raised eyebrows, waiting for an answer to his invitation. Why can’t I feel a fraction of what Torch seems to feel for me?

“Maybe.” I force a smile. “I like the games and carnival food. But I never trust the rides at those traveling carnivals. A few bolts go missing and you end up sailing through the air.” I swish my hand over the table.

He chuckles. “I think you’ve watched Final Destination too many times.”

“It’s possible.” I grin at him and bite into my burger.

* * *

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stay at the track any longer. I lost sight of Griff but that didn’t mean he wasn’t lurking in the shadows somewhere.

Hiding at home seems like the safer option.

The ride in Torch’s car is full of awkward, uncomfortable silence. Usually, we have plenty of stuff to talk about.

Not tonight.

He pulls to a stop in front of my house.

“Sorry I didn’t want to stay longer.” I press my hand to my stomach and lie through my teeth. “I think I ate too many burgers.”

“Pax makes them with extra grease.” He’s too kind to call me out. Somehow that makes me feel worse.

I lean over the console to pop a quick kiss on his cheek. At the last second, he turns his head, and our lips meet.

The contact’s brief but warm.

He pulls away and lifts his hand to cup my cheek. “You all right?”

“Yes, why?”

He runs his thumb over my bottom lip, probably smudging my lipstick. “Seeing Griff seemed to rattle you.”

My heart lurches. He knows. He saw right through my act tonight.

“I’m fine.” I push closer to show him exactly how perfectly fine and not at all rattled from seeing Griff I am.

He pulls out of kissing range and shakes his head. “I like you, Molly.”

My eyebrows pinch together. “I like you too.” I force a quick laugh. “Obviously.”

The corner of his mouth lifts at my sarcastic tone. “I like all the time we’ve been spending together.”

I sense a but coming and fall into my seat. “Me too,” I whisper.

Embarrassment prickles over my cheeks. Torch is ten years older than me. He’s probably used to dating women who are eager to do a whole lot more than kiss his cheek at the end of the night.

---