Page 16 of Make You Miss Me

A week in Nori Beach, my happy place, with not only my best friend but also the hottest guy on the planet. This is going to be epic!

My mood has drastically improved, and I have never enjoyed polishing glasses so much in my life. That is until my mind wanders and I recall Gio’s guy in the coffee shop. I have to start being more careful on my commute to work and be more aware of my surroundings. I’ve been careless in that sense.

Suddenly, I feel electrified, like the buzz you get from a pre-workout… where the hell did that come from? It’s like the energy in the room has changed, but not in an eerie way like the feeling I was having earlier. No, this is different. Only one person has made me feel this way before.

I can feel the hair on the back of my neck rise. A warm tingle shoots to my toes as a familiar husky voice comes from behind, whispering in my ear, “Miss me yet?”

Chapter Six

Trent

Sitting in the run-down diner, I can’t help but feel anxious as the elevated train runs by, shaking the walls of the place. Shit, I hope it doesn’t collapse. Doesn’t look like it would take much for it to fall apart. I mean, the red leather booths are worn and mostly held together by tape. The smoke-stained walls and shelves are decorated with forties and fifties memorabilia, which seem to be more from lack of updating than nostalgia.

The hostess Fran was quite welcoming, but she had that jaded harshness one develops over the years and the deep voice of a long-time smoker. She called me sweetheart one too many times during our short interaction but sat me in the far corner as I requested.

I guess this place really doesn’t give a shit whom it serves alcohol to because when I asked for a beer, she barely glanced at my fake ID and returned quickly with my drink. At least it has that going for it.

Fuck, man, Ashley didn’t appear as happy to see me as I would have hoped. Her face did light up immediately, but it was short-lived and disappeared in an instant. She was so quick to dismiss me and get me out of there. In fact, she seemed really on edge.

Is she seeing someone else? Did I misjudge our DMs?

Running my hands over my face, I let out a frustrated growl. I’m such a fucking idiot. This is not me. I don’t fawn over girls like this. They come to me. I don’t chase them… They chase me. But for some reason, I’m sitting here—alone—waiting for her like she asked me to.

What am I even doing here? I grab my wallet and throw down a twenty-dollar bill. I finish my beer by chugging it, then stand to leave.

“Shit, don’t leave.” I hear coming from the left of me.

Looking up, I lock on to the most gorgeous set of blue eyes. My body instantly relaxes at the sight of her.

She’s here.

Dammit, I’m like a fucking puppy dog, all excited because Ashley actually showed up.

“I thought you weren’t going to show.”Shit, why did I admit that… man the fuck up Trent.

“Why wouldn’t I?” She looks at me all innocently.

“Didn’t really receive the reaction I was expecting when I showed up.”

“Shit Trent, I’m sorry.” She looks up at the ceiling as if trying to keep herself from tearing up.

“I’ve been on edge all night. Then you showed up, and I was so distracted that I didn’t get to give you the warm welcome you deserved.”

Ashley leans in and lightly brushes her lips over mine. It’s sweet and all, but certainly not enough to feed the hunger that has built up inside of me. I grab her by the back of her neck and deepen our kiss. I swipe my tongue across her lips, demanding they open.

Her body responds immediately by pressing into mine. She opens her sweet mouth and moans as our tongues collide.

I forget we’re not alone for a few moments, only brought back to reality when I hear Fran’s gruff voice from across the diner. “All right, Casanova, cut that shit out.”

I feel Ashley’s lips smile as she takes my hand, and we sit back down in the booth.

I’m hard as a motherfucker. Once we sit, she catches me adjusting myself and smirks at me.

“I wouldn’t be laughing doll. You’re going to be helping with this situation by the end of the night.”

“Oh! Is that so, Mr. J?” She laughs just as Fran approaches our table.

“What can I get you two lovebirds besides a room?” she asks in that thick New York accent of hers.

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