Page 96 of Just This Once

I angrily swiped under my eyes and let out a frustrated groan. “Do we really have to do this on the sidewalk? We both knew what this was.”

He settled his hands on his hips and frowned at me. “I thought I did. Do you?”

“We’re having fun. Casual, right?” I forced a smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes.

Please, Whip. Tell me I’m wrong.

Tension vibrated between us. Whip raised a hand to point in the direction of his house. “Have you completely forgotten about the past few days? The past fewmonths? I had hoped I’d have a little more time before you pulled the rug out from under me, but apparently this is it. You know what? Fine. If you want torun, run.” He scoffed in dismissal as I shrank in on myself. “Your exit was overdue anyway.”

I shook my head as hurt seeped into my bones. “What are you talking about? I am righthere!”

I could physically feel him pulling away despite the mere feet that separated us. A knot twisted in my stomach until I felt sick.

“Why are you doing this?” His voice was broken.

“Doing what?” I pleaded.Why was asking for space to think so wrong?

His molars ground together. “You know what I’m asking. You’re the one pulling away. I can see it happening.”

My emotions were stacking—one slamming on top of the other—and I could feel my control slipping.

He gestured between us before I could speak. “Why are you acting like you don’t feel this?”

I desperately needed to get this conversation under control before I completely lost my way and threw myself at his feet. A deep part of me needed to prove to myself that I didn’t need anyone, that I could stand on my own, but my world was crumbling. I was grasping, desperate to control the unraveling of my life.

“I got a job offer.” The words came out flat and unemotional.

“What?” He softened. “That’s great. Why didn’t you tell me?”

I clenched my jaw. “It’s near Ann Arbor. If I take it, I would definitely have to move—there’s no way I could make that commute work.”

His gaze was steely as hurt flashed across his face. “Oh. I see.”

“I have to figure out what to do.” I swallowed hard against the bitter truth that was rattling in my brain. “We talked about this, right?” I paused, willing the words to not sound as hollow as they felt. “We both agreed it was just sex.”

I bit back the words, but it was too late. Old Emily had reared her head, and instead of leaning into what I was feeling, I hid behind my walls. Sure, the words were true, but they weren’ttrue.

For the briefest moment, his eyes bounced between mine as if he was searching for the lie—confirmation that whatever was between us was far from casual.

“You should have told me about the job offer.” His anger bubbled over at my dismissal as he rounded the truck.

I lifted my chin. “I wanted to find the right time. I wasn’t planning on doing thishere.” My arms spread wide to make a point that standing in front of the Sugar Bowl and airing our issues was less than ideal.

Whip shook his head and yanked open the driver’s-side door. “Trust me, Prim, I wasn’t planning on falling in love with you!”

Realization of what he said jolted through me. I was dumbstruck at my own ignorance, but I knew in my bones his words were true. Despite my sharp tongue and shoving down my feelings, Whip was fighting for me anyway.

He was in love with me, and I knew I would do anything I could to keep him.

Shock overtook my face as my eyes went wide and my mouth dropped into a little O. “Wait, what? Whip. I haven’t decided—I...”

Frustrated, Whip dragged a hand through his hair. “Look, I get that you’re leaving. I hate it, but you were bound to leave eventually. Just don’t treat what we had like it was only some summer you fucked a firefighter behind your dad’s back.”

And without looking back, Whip closed the door and drove away.

THIRTY-SEVEN

EMILY

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