Page 45 of Why Not Now?

“Then borrow mine until Carter finds you a new one.”

She’s quiet for a long time and I’m certain she’s fighting with herself, trying to decide whether she should accept my offer or not. I pull into Adalie’s underground parkade and turn off my car, cutting the song about music being her church in the middle of the chorus.

I slide my fingers into Ava’s hair at the nape of her neck, where it’s caught in a loose braid.

“Let me help you,” I say. “Please.”

She searches my eyes and finally nods. I pull her closer so I can kiss her. Her hands grip the edges of my jacket where I haven’t zipped it up yet, holding on as though she needs to so as not to fall. Our lips caress, my tongue dipping into her mouth the way I want other parts of my body to dip into other parts of hers. She makes a sound, half whimper, half sigh, when I sit back a little.

“Hi,” I say.

“Hi,” she says, her eyes still closed.

“Can’t do that in front of Lacey, right?”

She nods. “Right.”

“Okay.” I kiss her again. Her lips are already parted, so I’m right back where I’d been before, my tongue dancing along hers. “You look beautiful tonight,” I tell her between kisses.

“I’m wearing the same thing I always wear.”

“And you’re always beautiful.”

We should probably go upstairs—Adalie will be waiting for us—but I can’t bring myself to leave the heaven that is her lips.

Until my phone rings.

I back away from Ava asDadflashes across the screen and I hit the side button to shut off the ringer.

“Who is it?” Ava asks.

“No one,” I say. I give her the fakest smile I can muster. “Ready to go?”

Chapter 15

Ava

He’slyingtome.I search his eyes, but he doesn’t give anything away. I don’t think the phone call was from another woman, though I didn’t see the screen before he ignored it.

“Derek, is everything okay?” I ask.

“Yeah. Fine. Everything is fine. Let’s go. Adalie’s waiting for us.”

He gets out of the car and I watch as he comes around, taking off his cap and turning it so it’s forward instead of backward, then opening my door for me. I could have just gotten out, but I’m thrown off by his behaviour. He’s usually open with me. There was only ever one thing he didn’t like to talk about.

I get out and wrap my arms around him, holding him tightly. His arms encircle me as well and he leans into the hug.

“What’s this for?” he asks.

“Just in case you need a hug. Figured I’d offer one.”

His arms tighten before he whispers, “You’re not supposed to still know me this well, sweetheart.”

“Neither are you,” I whisper back. We don’t say another word, like it’s a secret. We separate and, after Derek grabs his rain shell from his trunk again, we start toward Adalie’s apartment. I hold his hand, but neither of us remark on it.

When we’re in the elevator, he leans against the wall, letting me go so he can shove his hands in his pockets.

“He called the first time about a week ago,” he says without prompting.

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