Page 2 of The Little Black Rose

“It’s early,” Sophie whines, finally climbing from Jared’s lap.

I try not to look as he adjusts himself, but I catch it from the corner of my eye as I watch Sophie round the table to give me a hug. I squeeze her back, then grab my purse and pull the strap onto my shoulder.

Jared stands and gives Zeke some kind of manly fist bump thing, then leans in to give me a hug. He walks over to the bar to take care of our tab, something he always insists on doing. And we let him because,hello, billionaire casino owner.

“Call me later,” I say to Sophie, then head toward the exit with Zeke hot on my heels.

We walk to his car, and he opens my door for me like he always does for Zoey. I climb in without a word, and he closes the door behind me before jogging around to the driver’s side. Something about his chivalry irritates me, and I jerk the seatbelt across my body a little too roughly.

I’m stewing in silence––something I’m not very good at––and it’s only a matter of time before the dam breaks. The worst part is, I don’t even know why I’m upset. Maybe it’s the memories of before-Samantha that I dredged up earlier. Maybe I’m just PMS-ing. No, it’s not the right time of the month for that. Maybe it’s the booze. Fuck, I don’t know, and I don’t care.

“What’s wrong with you?”

I turn my head slowly in his direction, my eyes wide with angry disbelief.

“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong withyou?”

“I’m not the one sitting there seething,” he says, his eyes never leaving the road. “I can feel it radiating off of you from here.”

“Maybe I’m just mad I’m stuck riding home with you instead of going home with some hot stud,” I grit out without thinking.

“Sorry to disappoint,” he says evenly. Then quieter, he adds, “I should’ve known.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means I think you have a sex addiction.”

“A…what?” I ask, my mouth hanging open. “Are you fucking serious right now?”

“Only calling it like I see it.”

“And pray tell, what have you seen, exactly? You fucking drive me home every time I go out.Jesus, Zeke. I haven’t had sex in over ayear.”

The car stops suddenly, and I look up to see my house looming before us. It’s a sprawling ranch style home I inherited when my parents passed away, and I’ve lived here my whole life. I roughly unbuckle my seatbelt, but as my hand reaches for the door handle, Zeke’s palm lands on my arm.

“Ava, wait. I’m sorry, okay?”

His words and soft, pleading tone give me pause, and I look over at him to see the apology in his eyes. He quickly pulls his hand away, and I settle back into my seat and watch him expectantly.

“I don’t know why I said that,” he whispers. “I don’t think it, and I never have.”

I swallow thickly, deciding to accept his apology. God knows, it’s not like I’ve never blurted something I didn’t mean in the heat of the moment…like five minutes ago when I said I was mad I wasn’t going home with someone else. I give him a slight nod, and he exhales audibly like he’d been holding his breath.

“Tell me why you were so angry,” he says. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Yes, Zeke,” I say on a sigh. “You opened my door for me. It was nice. And it reminded me of who you used to be.”

“And who did I used to be?” he asks, his lips tightening.

“I don’t know,” I say, leaning closer. “But you weren’t this uptight, standoffish hermit you’ve turned into since––”

“Don’t,” he barks, cutting me off before I can mentionher.

“Why not?” I shout. “I don’t know what Samantha did to you. No one does. But fuck, I could stab her in the kidney for hurting you so badly that you’ve lost all sense of who you were before her. Imissyou, God damn it. I fucking miss you.”

Those last four words come out slower, quieter. Zeke’s chest is heaving as he stares at me with hooded eyes. I stare back, unblinking, waiting for him to respond to my unplanned confession.

He lunges toward me, his hot, hungry mouth landing on mine. And like this whole thing isn’t completely bizarre, I kiss him back. My fingers find their way into his hair, tugging it roughly, trying to pull him closer as our tongues tangle in a heated frenzy.

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