Page 70 of Between Now and Forever
I scoot out the door. The chilly wind of the evening hits me in the face. My body is too heated, too worked up, to shiver.
The parking lot is busy. Cars fill the spots and line the street in front of the bar. I scan the area for Jay.
“Where are you?” I mutter.
I’m about to give up when I spot him nearing his truck. Irritation floods me again, growing heavier and thicker as I get closer to him. I nearly jog the last few yards to catch him before he gets in his truck.
My palm smacks the hood, making him jump. He twirls around, one arm poised to throw a punch. But when he sees it’s me, he doesn’t throw. He only scowls.
“What the hell was that back there?” I ask, throwing my hands on my hips. My breaths billow in the air. “What are you doing?”
“Youwanna askmewhat was going on back there?”
“Yeah, I do. I was sitting there with my friend, having a drink and enjoying my night. And you come in and ruin it.”
His jaw flexes. “No, I’m pretty sure he’ll still take you home.”
“I meant with Della. I don’t want to go home with that guy sitting beside me, you asshole.” My hands fly through the air. “I just want to have one good night where I can have fun. Where I can dress cute and have adult conversations. Where I don’t have to figure out what’s for dinner and hear aboutpings.” I suck in a breath. “I don’t want to sit at home another night and wonder why you—”
His mouth crashes against mine. He holds my face in his hands and pivots us so that my back is against his truck. The metal is cool through the thin fabric of my shirt, a stark juxtaposition to the heat radiating off Jay.
My knees go weak.
He controls my mouth like he owns it. Kissing and licking as if I’m the oasis he’s been searching for.
His fingertips burn into my face, pinning locks of hair against my cheek. The air is scented with his cologne and peppered with soft moans that escape my throat. Peppermint stings my tongue as his wraps around it in a lazy dance like they’ve done it before.
I wrap my arms around him, pulling him closer, and give back as good as he gives.
“Jay,” I say, struggling for air once he pulls away.
His eyes are wild. His chest heaves as if he just ran a mile. His lips are swollen and red, a reminder of the kiss we just shared.
He searches my eyes as if he’s desperate to find an answer to a question I don’t know. I just look at him, pulling down all mydefenses, giving him access, silently pleading with him to find what he’s looking for.
“I gotta go,” he says, stepping away.
“Jay,no.”
He unlocks the door and opens it. “Go back inside, Gabrielle.”
“What the hell are you doing?” I ask, moving out of the way. “Jay! Stop it.”
He climbs in the truck and starts the engine. Before he closes himself in, sealing himself away from me, he sighs. “I’m sorry.”
“Jay . . .”
The truck lurches forward, and he pulls out of the parking lot, leaving a trail of dust and a confused, splintered heart behind.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
GABRIELLE
Ihand the driver a cash tip. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Anytime. Have a safe night out there, ma’am.”
Shivering, I close the door of the rideshare and step onto my driveway. Lights are off in most of the houses down Bittersweet. Most, but not all. The kitchen light is on at Jay’s.
