Page 26 of Heat It Up (Off the Ice)
I scream Kyle’s name along with “Oh, God.”
He moves up my body and kisses me deeply before pulling away. I reach for the zipper of his jeans, but he wraps his fingers around mine before I can do anything.
He moves off the bed, putting distance between us. At least with Ian, he’d flop next to me on the bed once he was done and hold me. Kyle can’t get away from me fast enough. A sinking feeling sits heavy in my belly. I screwed up. Again. And I have no idea what I did wrong so I can do it right next time.
“I’ll be right back.” He leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.
I pull on my underwear to the sound of the shower raining against the tub. Struggling to push away the pain and disappointment at what just happened, I retrieve my tank top from the floor and spot a silver chain with dog tags on the nightstand. They aren’t the cheap kind. They’re the kind you give someone you care about. A hockey stick is engraved on one side. On the other side are the words ‘Forever yours, Gabby.’
The apartment door clicks open. A man speaks in what is supposed to be a hushed voice, except he’s too drunk to realize he’s anything but quiet. A female giggles, followed by a thud.
I hastily reach behind me and drop the dog tags on the nightstand. Without giving them another glance, I yank the rest of my clothes on and walk into the hallway.
“Hei.” Nik stumbles as he tries to kick off his shoe.
Knowing he’s too drunk to think before he speaks, I ask, “Who’s Gabby?”
The female who was all over him at the nightclub giggles, again.
Nik looks confused for a second then his face lights up. “She’s Kyle’s wife.”
A pain similar to what I felt when I found out Ian was cheating on me slashes through my chest, destroying what little faith had remained that not all guys are like Ian and my father.
I should have known better.
Chapter Fourteen
Kyle
I turn the freezing water off and stand in the bathtub, letting the goose bumps remind me that I’m an idiot.
When I woke up from the nightmare, the last person I had expected to see was the very person I’d been dreaming about—Sofia. I had been reliving the night of the accident, which was typical for my nightmares. What wasn’t typical was that Sofia was dead in the passenger seat of my car, not Gabby.
I’d been so relieved that it had only been a dream, I let all logic slide. Yes, I want Sofia. No denying that. But she’s been hurt before. The last thing she needs is someone like me messing around with her then walking away.
I hadn’t meant for things to go that far, but once I started, I didn’t want to stop. I didn’t want to ramble off some random physics facts in my head to take away my need for her. Yes, I should have walked away, that would have been the smart thing to do. But instead, I let my desire to be with her, to taste her, overrule all logic. And in the process, I let down my wall just enough. That’s the only explanation I have for the nightmare.
I bang my fist against the tile as the accident plays in an endless loop in my head. I squeeze my eyes against the pain of hearing Gabby scream seconds before the collision. Except now it’s Sofia’s face I see, like in the nightmare.
God, I’m so screwed up.
I yank on my boxers and jeans, and leave the bathroom. A girl giggles from Nik’s room. It’s not Sofia. The muffled sound belongs to someone who’s been drinking too much, and will giggle at anything he tells her.
I return to my room…and stop dead in my doorway. Sofia’s not in here, and neither are the clothes I tossed on the floor when I removed them from her.
I bend over and pick up the dog tags Gabby gave me our last Christmas together. They’re a reminder of how fucked up my life is, not that I need a reminder. I could’ve sworn the dog tags were on the nightstand the last I looked. But the last time I paid attention to them was several nights ago. Have they been on the floor all this time and I didn’t see them until now?
I walk into the hallway and spot the cell phone next to Nik’s oversized sneakers. I pick it up. It’s not mine and it’s not Nik’s. It could belong to his latest conquest.
Nik’s bedroom door opens and my roommate walks out in all his naked glory. It’s an annoying habit of his that he does with great frequency when “entertaining.”
“Dude, put on some clothes, would you?”
Nik shrugs and walks to the kitchen. I follow him, even though I’d rather be in my room than find out what he’s getting for his sexual entertainment.
“Does this belong to yourfriend?” I show him the phone.
He opens the fridge. “Dunno. Maybe it belongs to that plaything you brought back with you.” He straightens, a can of spray whipping cream in his hand. “And by the way, you’re welcome.”
