Page 36 of Follow Me Down

“Let me stop you there.” I hold my hands up in front of myself. “You don’t have to explain. I get it.” I turn, grabbing my dress off the dock before taking off toward the truck.

I’m a little hurt. Embarrassed. And honestly, kind of mad. I try to sort out which is most prominent as I fumble to get my dress back on, the semi-wet material sticking to my skin.

I’m already in the passenger seat when Titus finally makes his way back up to the truck. Thankfully, he’s fully clothed. Because apparently I have a self-control issue where he’s concerned.

What was I thinking? Leaning in to kiss him? Of course he isn’t interested in someone like me. Why would he be? He probably looks at me like I’m some stupid kid. And here I am, proving to him that’s exactly what I am.

Titus joins me in the truck. When he pulls the door shut, it feels like he seals all the tension inside the cab with us.

“Fallon.” He drops his hands to the top of the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white as he clenches it tightly. “I’m not a good guy.” His eyes swing to me, his steely gaze stealing my breath.

“I tried to kiss you. You clearly aren’t interested. Let’s not make it more weird than it already is, yeah?” I mumble out, feeling more foolish by the second.

“That’s just it. I was interested. Iaminterested.”

“You sure have a funny way of showing it.” I knot my hands in my lap and turn my head to look out the window. “Can we just go? Please.”

He lets out an audible sigh, before he jams his keys into the ignition and starts the truck. It rumbles to life, vibrating the seat beneath me.

Without another word, he drops the truck into gear and sets off back up the dirt road.

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