Page 13 of The Marine

“So, where is this place?” he asks, and the timber of his voice makes the hair on my arms lift.

I rub my hand up one arm and he glances down at me. Our eyes meet and I swallow.

God, he knows.

He knows I had my fingers sliding through my wet flesh, arching into my touch, wishing it was him.

“Um, take a left at the light here,” I say and pull out my phone.

I know where it is. I just need something to look at other than his fine body.

“Listen, if you want to wait in the car­—”

“No. It’s fine. We’re both grown-ups and can do this.” I clench my teeth, then point ahead of us. “Another left here.”

Aidan lets out what I assume he thinks is a silent sigh and does that turn thing with the steering wheel and his wrist.

Jesus, what next?

Is he going to change into a pair of gray sweatpants?

I shake my head and turn to look out the window.

“What?” he asks.

“Nothing.” I turn to him. “Let’s not make small talk.”

He snorts.

“What?” It’s my turn to get snarky.

“This is hardly small talk. Are you even going to ask how I am?”

“No.”

“Nice, Briar. Real nice.” Aidan lifts the arm closest to me onto the steering wheel and his body turns away from me.

You killed my dad. What do you expect?

“I’m sorry. Do you want to go down memory lane right now?” I snap as he pulls into the parking lot.

He spins around and glares at me.

I wait.

His dark blue eyes burn with fire and a million unspoken words. I hate seeing his pain, but nothing can change what happened. I didn’t ask him to protect me.

I didn’t ask for any of this.

My anger flares.

“Just as I thought,” I say bitterly. “Let’s just get this over with.”

I turn to open the car door, and Aidan grabs my other wrist. “Briar, wait.”

You little bitch, get back here!My father's voice hits me as I spin back, feeling the blood drain from my face as my heart slams inside my chest.

“Shit,” Aidan says, releasing me.

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