Page 79 of Forgotten Pieces

Trace helps lift him into my SUV and shuts the door. “You got this, T?”

“Yeah it’s fine. Not the first time I had to do this,” I accidentally let slip. Trace looks at me curiously. I recover by adding, “I had to take a few drunk people home back in my college days.”

He nods. “Well, let me know if you need help.”

“Sure thing.”

I jump in the driver’s seat and pull away. “Fuckin’ asshole,” I murmur.

At first I thought he was faking the drunkenness for this very reason, but when I saw him run into a table in the bar, I knew it was for real.

Doesn’t mean I’m any less mad about it.

I twist open a bottle of water after I turn onto the county road that leads to his house. I look over at him and his head is nodding back and forth. I hold back my laughter as I toss the contents of the bottle into his face.

He jerks awake, fist flying. “What the fuck?”

“You passed out, wanted to make sure you were still breathing.”

He wipes the water off his chest. “You know I was still breathing.”

“Well, that’s what you get for being an asshole and downing all those shots.”

“At least now you are talking to me.” He smirks.

I punch him in the arm but I think it hurt me more than him. “Asshole. And I ain’t talking to you.”

“Yes, you are. More words than I got earlier.”

I roll my eyes and ignore him. He leans over the center console and smiles a huge grin. I haven’t seen that smile in forever. I know it’s his goofy drunk smile, the one that always weakened my knees. I push him back in his seat and try to hide my own grin from my face.

“I saw you the other day,” he says.

“Okay?” No idea what he is talking about.

“You were watching me from your window.”

My memory of the other morning floods back, after the kiss, when I saw him running, when I got myself off while watching him. My cheeks flame and I pull my hair forward so he can’t see.

“Were you thinking about me as you touched yourself?”

I really hope it wasn’t that noticeable what I was doing so I play it off. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

He reaches over the console again and places a hand on my thigh. “You saw me. It turned you on. It’s not the first time. I’ve seen you watching me before.”

I clench my thighs together at the thought of him sweaty and shirtless. But I won’t admit anything.

He runs a finger slowly up my thigh to the top of my shorts. “Did it feel as good as this?”

I hold my breath as his finger drags back down to my knee. I am too weak to push him away. Too weak to deny anything.

He leans closer to me, his breath tickling my ear. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

He sits back in his seat and I fight the urge to look at him. He would see the need in my face, the longing I have for him. But I can’t give in. He is my weakness, always has been.

He doesn’t say a word the rest of the drive to his house. I thought he fell asleep, but when I throw the car in park, he opens his door. I watch him try to get out of the car but can tell the alcohol is making him uncoordinated. Before he can face plant in his gravel driveway, I jump out of my seat and rush around the car to help him.

“Thanks,” he says as he leans on my shoulder. “That was harder than I thought it would be.”

---