Page 81 of Finding Olivia (Trace + Olivia 1)

“Will you?” She asked with a raised brow and tilted her head.

“Yeah, of course,” I replied, praying she would drop it.

The truth was, I would have loved to stay with Avery, but since my dad was expecting me home, staying wasn’t an option.

“Alright,” she sighed and hugged me. “Call or text me, anytime.”

“I will,” I hugged her tighter.

She pulled away and grabbed her bags.

The door clicked closed behind her and I was alone.

I sat down on my bed. Everything was packed and I really needed to get on the road. It would be late when I finally arrived at home but I couldn’t make myself leave just yet.

The door opened and I didn’t bother to look over. Avery was always forgetting things. “What did you forget this time?” I laughed.

“I didn’t forget anything.”

“Trace,” I gasped and looked up to see him standing in the doorway. “How do you keep getting in here?”

“Avery let me in,” he grinned crookedly. “I was afraid you had left already but your car was still here.” He came in the rest of the way and closed the door behind him. “I wish I had seen more of you this week, but I knew you were busy with finals.”

“Yeah,” I sighed.

I knew Trace and I were dating, but I had wanted to leave before I saw him. This was making it even harder to go. I didn’t want to say goodbye to him. If we were still together, by the time classes ended for the year, I was sure it would kill me to leave him.

“Hey,” he breathed, his eyes narrowing as he strode across the room, and pulled me off of my bed and into his arms. “Don’t look so sad.”

“I don’t want to say goodbye to you,” my voice cracked.

He pushed me back a little so he could stare into my eyes. “This isn’t goodbye, Olivia. This is just…see you later. Okay? I’m not going anywhere.” He swallowed thickly. “I can see in your eyes that you think I’m going to be gone when you come back, but that isn’t true. I’ll be waiting for you.” His lips skimmed over the curve of my ear. “I like spending time with you and—” his lips lightly brushed against mine, “—kissing you. I like hearing the small little gasps you make when I touch you in certain places.” To prove a point, his fingers glided down my neck, and over the curve of my breast, eliciting a gasp from me. Grinning, he added, “Plus, we still have things to cross off that list of yours.” With a husky chuckle, he whispered in my ear, “I’m especially looking forward to the pole dancing.”

“I’m sure you are,” I gasped, my eyes fluttering closed as he pushed my shirt off my shoulder, and kissed the skin beside my bra strap.

“I really hope this,” he plucked at the strap, “comes off.”

He stepped back, grinning boyishly.

I swayed unsteadily and his large hand gripped my waist to keep me from falling.

I expected some cocky remark about his affect on me, but instead, his lips crashed against mine. I leaned into the kiss, standing on my tiptoes to reach him better. His tongue flicked against my lips, seeking entrance, and I was happy to oblige. He growled low in his throat as one of my hands sought his hair and tugged lightly, while I fisted his shirt in the other.

He wrenched his lips from mine, breathing raggedly, and panted, “That’s me not saying goodbye.”

Before I could recover, he walked away from me, and out the door.

Holy hell, I think liked not goodbyes.

c h a p t e r

Fourteen

My mom and dad were asleep when I arrived home. I half expected my dad to still be awake, pacing the halls, waiting for my arrival. I let myself in and went straight up to my room to go to bed, leaving my suitcase in the trunk of my car.

???

It was morning now, late morning.

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