Page 23 of It Never Happened
I smile. “I do. It was so hot that day. We had those torrential rains, and then the air just fell flat and muggy.”
“Lief thought he was so smart and wanted to ride through the trails to get there before us. I told him he was going to get stuck.”
I chuckle and take a sip. “Of course Meadow was daring him too. She didn’t help the situation.”
He turns to face me. “Oh, I spoke with her new boy toy down at Swoops two nights ago.”
“Is that where you were coming from when you were banging on my door at an ungodly hour?” I purse my lips and raise a brow, clearly he’s caught out.
He drops his head and shakes it, his hair hanging over his forehead before he picks his head back up to meet my eyes, brushing his hair away.
Fuck, he’s hot.
“I had good intentions,” he says sheepishly.
“Sure you did.”
“Anyway, yeah, his name is Cole.”
I nod. “I’ve met him a couple of times. We had girls’ night there a few weeks back. It was kind of fun watching the two of them banter back and forth. I’ve never met anyone strong enough to rope her in, but he may be able to do it.”
“I know another woman like that.”
My eyes flutter. “I was not like her at all.”
“You wereclose.” He’s teasing.
“I was not, and you know it! I only gaveyoua hard time; she likes to do it to everyone.”
“I was the only one who could handle you. Just like him with her.” He raises a brow, almost a dare for me to not agree with him.
“You liked to provoke me.” I take another sip and side-eye him. “Still do.”
He inches closer to me, facing me with one leg bent and one arm stretched along the length of the top of the couch. He’s close enough that he brushes my hair from my shoulder and squeezes it. My body instantly feels hot and my pull toward this man is still as strong as ever.
“Guilty,” he says, and we both huff a laugh, but mine is more so out of nervousness. Silence falls in the room again, and I don't know if it's the wine, the snow, or just having him physically sitting here next to me, but I’m really happy he’s here and it’s scaring me. There’s so much I want to say to him, but I don’t know if I can open that door again. I take another sip of liquid courage and decide to just say what I’m thinking.
“I’m glad you’re here, Jack.”
“I’m glad I’m here too, Coco. So much.” Our eyes linger on each other, and when his drop to my lips then dart back up, I know what's coming. And I can let it happen. I can let us have one more night together. Or I can stop it right here. I can get up and go to my room, lock the door, and wait for morning.
But my body really wants him. And I think my traitorous heart does too. Before we were ever married, then pregnant, then lost in the world of being adults, we were just Jack and Coco, a couple in love. If we could get back to that feeling again, I wonder now if all the rest would fall into place.
“Do you think we were just too young?” he muses.
“Yes. I think we tried to do too much all at once without knowing how it would change us. Moving across the country, leaving everyone we knew, and having to figure out how to survive on our own at eighteen and twenty was a big step.”
“You're right. And I won’t lie and say it wasn’t scary. I tried to do the best I could for us at that time. Working was all I knew, and I was too young to know there’s more to life than that. That you needed more than that.” He pauses, placing his wine glass on the coffee table. “We’re not young now though. I know what I want. I just hope you want it too.”
His fingers dance around my shoulder, brushing the side of my neck. I tilt my head so he has better access, and he takes it for the green light it is. He inches closer to me, and I turn toward him. He leans on the back of the couch, his head on his hand, and reaches for my hand with his other.
“We always did this well.” He gives me that boyish smile that always makes my heart beat faster. “Why are you blushing?”
I look down, slightly embarrassed. “I feel like we’re on a first date.”
“Are you a virgin, Courtney?” He leans in and whispers it to me.
I laugh. “Might as well be.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I roll my lips inward and freeze. His face goes stoic, and he takes a breath, his chest expanding like he's trying to get himself under control.
