Page 72 of Trip Through Your Wires

“There is no us, Jake.”

“Sparky—”

“Look,” I stop whatever he is about to say. “We were there for each other when shit got rough and now things have changed.”

“Why did they change?” His eyes search mine. “Because we had sex?”

Heat flushes my cheeks and I look down. “Stop.”

“No,” he scoots his chair toward me, “I won’t stop. That night was amazing, Sparky. Don’t tell me you don’t think so too because I know better. I saw it in your eyes that night. But I also know you aren’t the kind of girl to run when shit gets complicated, so I need you to tell me why you did.”

“I did not run.” I scoot back, needing to widen the space between us. I can feel the need he stirs in me…the burn in my fingers to reach out and run my hands through his hair. “I just needed to…”

“Put distance between us,” he says matter of fact. “I know. I got that. And I’m telling you that you don’t have to. Whatever is going on, we can figure it out.”

“We can’t,” I whisper.

“Why?” he insists.

“Because…” I look down. “Reality smacked me in the face that night and reminded me who I am and who you are.”

He reaches out and brings his hand to my neck, cupping it. “And who are we, Sparky?”

I’m trapped. I’m not getting out of his hold unless I give him an answer. One that will stop him from wanting to ask any more. “You’re a guy with a future and I am a girl that will spend the rest of her life in pursuit of hers.”

I pull back and slip out of his hold, pushing up and making my way to the door. Just before reaching it, he gets up and grabs hold of my upper arm. “Jenica, stop.”

The way he says my name stops me in my tracks. It’s a gentle, but urgent pleading that makes me turn around slowly. “This is my life Jake. It doesn’t get any better for me.”

He eases his hold and looks out, then up, staring at the night sky. The stars have started to come out and greet us with a sleepy twinkle. “Oh, I don’t know,” he says in awe. “I think it’s pretty perfect if you ask me.”

I’ve never denied the beauty of home. While the air in Cherry Cove is salty and the evening symphony of waves lapping against the shore, the air here in Davenport is thick, filled with pine and magnolia and its own gentle chorus. While I yearn for the vibrancy and bright lights of the city, there is something special about Georgia that no amount of lights could ever replace.

My eyes drift back to his and when I find him staring at me, I don’t know what to do or say. “Jake…”

“I miss you,” his eyes search mine. “I miss your voice being the last one I hear each night and counting down the days until your next visit. I miss your wry sense of humor and that drawl of yours that is sharper than it is sweet. And I miss the way you listen to me. Really listen. I don’t care if we never cross that line again, I just want you back in my life because I miss knowing you’re there, even though you’re hundreds of miles away.”

“It wasn’t real.” I lower my voice. “It was just sex.”

“How could you think that?” he asks, voice breaking a bit.

“Because of what happened that night.” I close my eyes, not wanting to go back.

“Between us?” he asks gently.

“Yes, us.” I hiss, eyes screaming open. “And you.”

“Me?” he repeats. “What do you mean?”

“You ripped that condom off pretty fast, Hot Shot.”

“What?” He shakes his head, eyes darting back and forth in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

“Hey,” I pull my head back. “You don’t owe me an explanation. I was just another girl. Fuck ‘em, then chuck ‘em, right legend?”

“You aren’t just another girl.” His eyes narrow. “You never have been. That night meant more to me than any hook up.”

“Please,” I laugh bitterly. “If it weren’t me, it would have been some other girl. Like that redhead at the party.”

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