A warning light went off in the corner of my mind. “Wait, is my brother one of the guys who’ll be there?”
He put his hands out. “Yes, and I know what you’re thinking. But I’m wondering if you would want to come with your mom then it wouldn’t be a big deal. We’re friends, right?”
“That sounds like a plan.” I was trying not to smile. Why did it have to feel so good being close to him?
“Well, it’s late. I don’t know what you’re thinking about this thing. I have to ask, are you leaning toward friends? Do you want me to go?”
His words hung in the air. Did I want him to leave? I stood there with zero ability to pull together even a flimsy thought.
Brain: we’re experiencing technical difficulties…please stand by. Hmm.
As I hit the refresh button in my mind, the visual of me bouncing over, straddling him, and asking him to give me the whole Gabe treatment, was playing on a loop. But I now knew what it felt like when he’s gone. And he would be gone. I’d spent nearly two weeks missing everything about him, and I was miserable. Unlike Taylor, I didn’t think I could do it with a broken heart.
Bottom line was that I would be leaving just days after the wedding, and if we started something up again, I would feel the raw bruise of Gabe not sharing the same oxygen as me again. No alluring green eyes or that crooked grin that melts my insides. There was no option for anything more than a fling. I just needed to tell him to leave. It was the only smart thing I could do. I swallowed hard and met his gaze.
“No, and don’t leave.” Feeerrrnnn, stoooppp!
He stood without breaking his intense eye contact and took a step toward me. “Good.” Another step kicked my heart rate up a notch because he was just inches away from my face. My stomach tied itself in a knot as his hand slid around to my lower back.
“You’ve missed me.” His eyes dropped to my lips, jump-starting my pulse. “I knew it wasn’t only me. I’ve done nothing but think about you.” His lips brushed my cheek. “You’ve got complete control of me, Fern. Do you even know what you do to me?”
Was I supposed to answer? Because the house could be on fire right now, and I wouldn’t be able to utter a word or move an inch.
He pulled me close, and his breath hit my neck while he whispered in my ear. “All I do is think about your beautiful eyes, freckles, and your hair in my face. How you move and how I’d tear through walls to get to you.”
I swear my panties just melted off.
“Tell me, Fern.”
My eyes shut as his kisses traveled down my neck.
“Tell, me.”
“What?” His lips were making me melty and incoherent.
“Tell me you’ve thought of me.” His whiskers scraped along my neck as slivers of electricity pinged through me. “Tell me your body’s craved me like I’ve craved you.”
His words were whipping up something inside.
“I have.” My legs were trembling. “So much.”
I felt the train leaving the station, and I knew there was no stopping it. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders as his lips overtook mine while his hands slid to the back of my neck.
“Fern?” The train came to a screeching stop at the sound of my mother’s voice on the other side of the door.
I pushed Gabe’s chest.
“Mom, hi.” I pointed to the closet, and Gabe nearly sprinted to it. “Just a sec, I have my, um, friendship beads on the floor!” WTF?
Her voice was flat. “You’re making friendship bracelets? That’s stupid, Fern.”
I walked to the closet to close the door as Gabe quickly finger brushed my hair before flashing me the thumbs up sign. I shut the closet door and jumped on my bed. “Come in.”
She entered and looked around. “Do you even have beads?”
I attempted to sit up casually. “What beads?”
Her eyes narrowed. “The friendship beads?”
