Page 48 of Say Something
“Just don’t run it again and you should be okay. I’ll get the stuff from the hardware store in the morning and come back.”
“Are you sure? It’s Sunday.”
“Do you want to be able to use your kitchen?” Dean countered.
“Yes,” I said.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Dean.” I laid my hand on his forearm.
“You’re welcome.” He looked at Danny, then walked towards the front door. “I’ll wait for you in the car.”
What?
Danny watched Dean walk out, then turned back to me. “Do you need help cleaning up?”
“No, I can manage. Thank you, though.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, looking anywhere but at me. His hands were tucked into his pockets. He didn’t want to leave, I could tell. I wasn’t sure I wanted him to leave, either. But I knew he couldn’t stay. I knew I wasn’t ready for that.
“You should probably go,” I said, then cursed because I sounded like a bitch. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that,” I said, looking up at him, his expression was pained and my heart broke. “I just meant that Dean is waiting for you.”
He nodded. “Yeah. I should go.” He sounded hurt, frustrated even. Why couldn’t I stop hurting him?
Stupid, Jessica.
He turned to leave, and I put my hand on his shoulder.
He froze.
I froze.
What was I doing?
I didn’t know.
He turned around, and he’d turned into my touch, so my hand was still on his shoulder. He was so close. He smelled so good.
This was Danny. The only boy/man I ever loved. Probably the only one I’d ever love. What was I doing?
What was I waiting for?
I took a step closer, closing the distance between us and putting my other hand on his other shoulder. I leaned my forehead against his. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” I confessed, and it felt good. It felt good to be so honest with him.
“Me either,” he said. “But I like this.” He put his hands on my waist. It was like we were dancing without moving. Our thoughts and hearts tangling with one another while our bodies stayed very much separate. Very still. As if we’d both spook if we moved.
Maybe we would have.
I closed the rest of the distance, crossing my arms behind his neck and resting my head on his shoulder. I hugged him. I breathed him. I loved him.
“I’ve missed this,” he said. “Missed you.” His voice was so quiet, as though he was afraid he’d scare me away.
“Me, too.”
Then the horn honked outside.
“Fucking Dean,” he cursed. Moment broken, he took a step back. “I’m sorry.”
I smiled and shook my head. It wasn’t his fault. “I’ll see you around.”
He nodded, returning my smile. He leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
I closed and locked the door behind him, then leaned my back against it. I took a deep breath, catching the lingering scent of him and sighed. He smelled the same, after all these years. I touched the warm spot on my cheek where he’d kissed me.
I wasn’t going to be able to resist him for much longer.
