Page 64 of When It's Us
“You sure?” he asks, then shoots me a wink and cheeky grin. “Been hauling this one’s shit around for a couple days anyway.”
I can’t help it. I default back to an eye roll and a hair flip. “We got it, Bigfoot.”
Something in his expression changes, and I immediately wish I hadn’t been so flip about it. He didn’t have to bring me along on his road trip and it really has been a great time. In more ways than one.
But I can’t say that. Not when his quick change in demeanor makes my stomach feel funny.
But in true Hutch fashion, he recovers quickly and nods. “Right. Well, I’m gonna take off then.”
“Thanks again for bringing my bestie to me,” Wren says sweetly.
“Yes,” I say, finding my voice again, but it comes out stiff. Too formal. “Thank you for the ride.”
Hutch glances at me before nodding again and turning to go. “No problem.”
Suddenly, I don’t want him to go, not knowing when I’ll see him again.
Why? I have no idea. And what am I supposed to say, even if I were to go after him? It’s not like there’s anything but sex and a barely there friendship between us. He’d made it perfectly clear he couldn’t offer me anything more, and why the hell did I havethatthought?
No. It’s better this way. We had our fun and now it’s over. It has to be. So I watch as he heads back through the kitchen and into the living room, vaguely aware of Wren saying something to Finn.
“I think I left my AirPods in the van,” I say suddenly. “Be right back.”
I hurry after Hutch, hoping to catch him before he leaves. I don’t know what I’m going to say, but I hope a plan will develop when I get outside. He’s climbing into the van when I step out onto the porch.
“Hey,” I call out, and he stops, climbing back out. He waits until I come down off the porch and make it around the front of the van.
“Miss me already?” he teases, arm outstretched where he’s gripping the open door.
“Ha ha,” I say with another little eye roll and then clear my throat. I know I already said it, but…I really appreciate everything you did for me this week.”
His lips tip up in that sexy smirk that I used to hate but now kind of love. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I say, nodding decisively. “Despite the rocky start, I had a lot of fun, and well, you’re not as annoying as I initially thought.”
I secretly love that I have to tip my head back to look up at him. I have no idea how tall he is, but his size is nothing but a comfort to me and for some reason, I want to be close to him.
“Was that another compliment?” he asks, denim blue eyes full of mischief. “Must be all the orgasms.”
I chuckle lightly, my skin flushing. “Must be.”
He watches me for a couple beats and then says, “Well, in any case, you’re welcome. Anytime.”
The way he says it is full of promise. It makes my pulse flutter a little and I look up at him, uncertainty tugging at my stomach. I can’t get sucked into this man’s orbit. I want to. I really fucking want to. But it will never work. He’s not capable of more.
“Can we keep this,” I wave my hand between us, “you know, on the down-low?”
He lifts a brow at me. “You want me to be your dirty little secret?”
“I didn’t mean it that way.” I grimace, and he chuckles. “I meant since we’re back here and all, it’s probably best if what happened on the road trip stays there.”
He shrugs lightly. “If that’s what you want.”
“Okay,” I say, fidgeting with the hem of my top, before stepping back. “So, I guess I’ll see ya.”
He nods, eyes trailing over my face down to my mouth, where they stay for a beat or two before coming back up to mine. “See ya.”
With nothing else to say, I turn and head back to the porch.
