Page 69 of Always You

We reach the end of town, and he drives his truck toward the mountains, making me wonder where we’re going. He scans my profile, knowing I’m dying to ask, but instead I keep my jaw tight.

“Look, Charls...” He finally pushes out a breath, breaking our silence. “I’m sorry about last night, okay?”I keep my gaze focused on the road in front of me, taking a calculated bite of my donut. “I was a dick, and I should’ve brought you home.”

“You should’ve never taken me there in the first place,” I snarl.

“I wanted you there.”

“Clearly, you wanted to fuckJenmore.” I look into his guilty eyes.

“Kim,” he jokes, and I pluck a piece of my donut to throw it at his head.

“Whatever, asshole.”

“I did want you there, but you were with Julie the entire time, and Kim just… distracted me.” His admission is sad, and even though it reaches my heart, it also snaps my anger back in place.

“So, it’s my fault?” I sure as fuck hope he will choose his next words wisely, or I’ll bitch slap the hell out of him.Again.

“No,” he says with a firm shake of his head, then hits the brakes with more force than I anticipated, parking the truck on the side of the road. The sudden stop has me bouncing back and forth in my seat. My hair flops in front of my head, and I shoot him an incredulous look he chooses to ignore.

“It’s not your fault. Nothing is ever your fault. I’m an asshole most of the time. You’re my best friend, and thebestthing I have in my life. Frankly, you’re the only good thing I have in my life.”

“That’s not true,” I whisper.

“It is,” he chides. “It’s fine. I know it, and I’m happy I have at least you. My mom was being a fucking bitch again. I take comfort in having you around. After those moments, Ineedto have you around. I know it’s not fair to you, and trust me when I say, I’m trying to work on it. But yesterday, I needed you. When you weren’t there, I did what I always did before I had you—distract myself withchicks.” He emphasizes the word, and I turn up my nose. “Because that’s what I do. That’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years. No, it’s definitely not your fault. It’s my fault for being a weak fuck, not just asking for your attention when I need it, but instead burying myself into the girls who don’t mean shit to me, when really, I should’ve just hung out with you and Julie.” He drags his hand over his face, and I notice the desperation in his features.

My heart cracks in my chest.

“Yeah, you should’ve,” I agree, unable to hold on to my grudge. “But I get it. Just don’t do it again. I’m always here for you, but if you need me, be with me. Don’t tag me along like some accessory.”

He lets out a relieved breath, relaxing his shoulders into his seat. Then, he rests his head back before that smug grin returns to his face.

“Hell, you’re one hot accessory, though.”

This boy.

“Stop flirting with me.” I jokingly scowl, but also reach out my hand to him. He grabs it without hesitation, linking it with mine, then presses a kiss on it.

“We cool?”

I’m not sure, to be honest, because even though the anger simmers out of my bones, it hurts to question if he will ever be okay.

I nod with a coy smile. “Yeah, we cool.”

“Thank fuck.” He lets go of my hand, pulling the truck back onto the road, and I take another bite of my donut. The air in the vehicle feels lighter, instantly lifting up my mood.

“Where are you taking me, anyway?”

“You’ll see.” He throws me a wink that makes a deep sigh escape my lungs, a burning desire forming between my legs.

Fuck.

23

“Are you ready?” I turn my truck into an open space between two trees as I turn off the engine and look at my best friend next to me.

She glances around, her eyes roaming the area that’s in the middle of the woods without any sign of life in plain sight.

“Hunt?” she says carefully.

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