Page 26 of Fight for You (Flirting with Forever 2)

“You can say whatever. It’s fine.” I close my eyes for a second and begin to mentally steel myself for her to tell me to back off—that nothing is happening, regardless of how hot that kiss had been the other day or how well we get along.

A shiver runs through her, even though it’s plenty warm in here and she’s been drinking hot tea.

I cock my head to the side, and my gaze narrows on her. What the hell is she about to say?

She takes a deep breath and spills, “I remember you, okay? I saw you that night at the bar when they were doing karaoke. And—”

My relief is so profound I interrupt before she can continue. “I remember seeing you, too, Hadleigh. I wasn’t sure if I should say anything. I thought it might be awkward. But let’s just say, I was more than a little excited to see you again at the school. I couldn’t believe my luck, in fact.”

Her gaze shifts to mine and holds there. “I couldn’t get you out of my head for weeks, and then there you were. And the thing is, Sawyer, it is a little awkward. There are too many reasons why whatever we are obviously feeling doesn’t work.”

As I look into her eyes, I see so many things—so many warring emotions—that I don’t know what to do or say. Maybe we can work this out if we talk it through. Because I like this woman a lot. More than a little excited had been the understatement of the century. I’d been ecstatic to see her again. Over the fucking moon.

Before I even know what I’m doing, or have had a chance to think for two seconds, I lean in, and my mouth covers hers. Desire shoots straight through me as she responds, moving her lips against mine, and a tiny moan escapes her mouth. My hand cups her head, fingers threading through hair as my tongue finds hers. I can’t think. I can only feel—and what I feel has my pulse racing and my pants tightening uncomfortably. The way her hair is softly scented like a fragrant flower, the way her lips move against mine, like she can’t get enough, the way she makes little sounds in the back of her throat, the way her hands clutch at my thigh, as if she’s hanging on for dear life. All of these things rolled together combine into one hot, combustible moment between us, and I know I’m never going to be the same if I can’t have her.

My phone buzzes with a text message, skittering a bit on the table. With deep regret, I drag my mouth from hers. Our foreheads touch as we gaze into each other’s stunned eyes. I want to dive into hers and swim there for the rest of my life.

I ease back, noting a hint of nerves on her face at what we’ve just done—again. I would be upset about it if I didn’t see such obvious desire in her eyes. I clear my throat. “I’m sorry, I should see who that is. Not many people text me.”

She nods without saying a word, her fingers moving to her lips, touching them, as if she can’t believe what she just did with them.

Anxious to talk this through, to kiss her again and show her that we are nothing to be afraid of, I pick up my phone, prepared to reply and get right back to the business of me and Hadleigh. I thumb my phone open and see it’s a couple of messages from Willow.

Willow: Come quick!

Willow: OMG, come NOW.

I frown. Shit. Willow is not one to send an emergency text without good reason. “I’ve got to go. Willow needs me at home.”

“Oh. Um, okay. Is that the girl you were with that night when we first saw each other?”

“Yeah.” Distracted and somewhat worried, I shove my phone into my pocket as I stand, quickly pulling on my coat, hat, and scarf. “I’m sorry to cut this short. I know we probably have more to say to each other, but I don’t know what’s going on, and she’s freaking out.” I give a frustrated huff. “She doesn’t usually do that. I can call you later, okay?”

Hadleigh nods, her hands tucked between her legs. “Okay.”

Chapter 18

Hadleigh

I try so hard not to lose it as he walks away from me. My face falls and, unable to stop it, a single tear manages to escape my eye and slide right down my cheek before it drips onto my pant leg.

But … what the fuck is the point if he has someone at home? Willow. What kind of name is that?

I’ve been sitting here in the coffee shop stewing for a full thirty minutes before I decide I’m being ridiculous and completely unlike me.

Me: Everything okay with Willow?

I grimace, wanting to say more, wanting to rail at him for leading me on and then leaving me here. He’d told me he’d been more than excited to see me again, yet—he has a girlfriend. He’s been kissing me all while he has a girlfriend at home. In the end, I don’t say anything about it. I can be an adult when I have to be … so I just wait.

Sawyer: Yep. She’s deathly afraid of spiders, and there was a big one in her bathroom.

Me: Ah. I don’t like spiders all that much either.

Sawyer: Sorry I had to take off on you so quickly.

Me: That’s okay. I didn’t have much more to say.

Me: You and Willow are really cute together, by the way.

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