Page 65 of We Never Kissed

I was speechless, my heart strained, my pulse racing in my veins, and I longed to reach out to my mom and be that little boy from so long ago, before it all turned horrible. My silence must have triggered her because she rose abruptly.

“I guess you want to go now.”

When she started for the door, I stood. “Mom, wait.”

Her back to me, she froze. When she turned slowly to face me, her eyes were filled with tears. “Yes?”

“I don’t want to go. I’d like to spend some more time with you, if that’s all right.”

She smiled and walked back over.

We stood face to face, and after a few beats, we both pulled each other in. My mother held me like she never wanted to let me go, and as emotion clogged my throat, I held her just as tightly.

Chapter 38

Ava

With the bathtub filling beside me, I peered at my haggard face in the mirror. I didn’t know if the puffy red eyes were from lack of sleep, or all the stress and sadness since the blowup between Alex and me. I had stopped trying to call him, stopped leaving messages, especially after I went to his office, and they said he was out of town—and he hadn’t even told me. Mom had said to give him space, and I wished I’d taken her advice sooner. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel so hopeless. And, admittedly, a little pissed off, even if I had no right to be.

Sighing, I moved back to the tub. As I turned the water off, I heard Gunnar coming down the hall. “I’ll get it,” he called, although I hadn’t heard the door since thewater was running. But I had also left my phone out there and wondered if he was planning to answer it.I hope not.

So, I leaned in and listened, then a beat later, I heard him say, “Keep that water warm for me, baby, and I’ll join you in a minute.”

I cracked the door open, my eyes narrowed in confusion. Then I heard what sounded like the front door slamming against the inside wall. I tightened the tie on my robe and raced out to the living room, where I found Alex pressing Gunnar up against the open door, holding him by the collar of his shirt.

“Hey!” I said, glaring at Alex.

He turned his head to me, his eyes quickly scanning my half-naked body and then narrowing. “Fuck this!” he said, then pushed off of Gunnar and turned to the doorway.

“Wait a minute!” I didn’t know what was going on, but I wasn’t about to let him walk out like that.

He spun and glared at me.

I turned an expectant gaze to a breathless Gunnar, who was straightening his shirt.

Likely out of pure self-preservation, Gunnar quickly piped up with, “Alex, man I was just screwing with you.” He shook his head, then headed toward the hallway. “I’m sure you two have lots to talk about.”

My heart still racing, I watched Gunnar’s retreating back until he disappeared behind his door.

When I turned back to Alex, the first thing that hit me was his expression—guilt or shame that lasted only a few seconds before he dropped his chin to his chest and shook his head. “I should have known…”

“Yeah, you should have. Or do you have such little faith in me that you think I would do that to you?” I folded my arms, annoyed he played the jealousy card after ignoring me for days.

Closing the door, he said, “No, I don’t. That was just a stupid knee-jerk reaction.”

“Really?”

He nodded and stepped toward me. It took everything in me not to leap into his arms. I couldn’t put myself out there…not yet at least. Instead, I said, “What are you doing here?”

Another step had us almost toe to toe, and I caught his gaze dip to the V in my robe before snapping up to meet mine. “God, I missed you.” It came out in barely a whisper, so I wasn’t sure he’d even said the words.

I held my breath, waiting for more.

Bending forward, he brought his face closer to mine, but I didn’t move. We stood that way, staring at each other, the only sound our breathing growing more labored.When his hand reached up and brushed down my cheek, I pulled back.

Then I took a step toward the hallway. “If this is some sort of a booty call, you can forget it.”

His hand caught my wrist before I’d even finished the sentence. “It’s not,” he said through a chuckle. Then he head-gestured to the couch. “Please?”

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