Voices cut into my words, and my face springs in their direction. There are too many people around. I need some privacy to get my head on straight… To talk to him and fix this.
Grabbing him by the arm, I drag him up the hall and around a corner. Then I push him against the wall. His eyes widen up at me and I witness his Adam’s apple bob in his throat sheeted in stubble. It makes me feel things… But I shove it down.
“I was just as shocked to seeyoucoming out of that stall, trust me,” I continue in a tone that’s hushed, but assertive. “I didn’t come here to confront you or anything, but honestly, I’m glad I ran into you.” He huffs and rolls his eyes again. “More than glad. For sixteen years, I’ve beenhatinghow we left things.”
“Then why haven’t you reached out??” He hisses. “You live in New Mexico now, Lance. You know I live here too. In fact, you probably even know that I only live, like, a few hours away from you.”
I can’t help how my lips curve. “Someone’s been cyber-stalking…”
“Please,” he scoffs. “Don’t flatter yourself. I just so happened to scroll across a few measly details.” He pauses and licks his lip. “You mean to tell me you haven’t checked up on me… at all?”
There’s something about the subtle dip in his voice, the rumble of it with us standing so close… The heat burning in the air around us.
“Maybe a little…” I hum. He smirks triumphantly. “But you never friended me on Facebook…”
“You didn’t either,” he says pointedly. “And we all know why…” I give him a blank look, to which he blinks slowly, like I’m testing his patience. “You’remarried, Hardy. You’re married to a woman, and you work in a fucking church. Those are the facts. We aren’t allowed to be in each other’s lives, and obviously you want it that way…”
“Okay, first of all, my church is very accepting, so that doesn’t matter.” I pause and his brows raise expectantly. “Second of all, why couldn’t we be friends? Just because I’m… married…” I swallow hard. “We could be… friends. Like we used to be.”
“Then why didn’t you reach out?” He repeats, speaking each word with conviction, like he knows the answer to the question already.
I have nothing to say. I can’t answer it. I just…can’t.
My eyes fall between us and I lift the bottle of beer in my hand, killing the rest of it before setting it down on the floor.
Tate watches me carefully. “I thought you didn’t drink anymore…”
“Yea well…” I sigh. “Being around you stresses me out.”
He laughs, and it brings a confusing tickle to my gut. “I guess some things don’t change, hm?”
“Do you forgive me?” I whisper, blinking at him. “For leaving…?”
“Like an asshole?” He adds, and I chuckle.
“Yea… Like an asshole.” I nod.
He inches in closer to me, and my heart begins to race. I back up, but he grabs me by the wrist.
“What do you want me to say, Hardy?” His hand feels like a branding iron searing into my flesh.
“I want you to tell me the truth.”
His grip on my wrist loosens, fingers sliding over mine. And he taps the band on my ring finger.
“Truthfully?” He rasps, easing in close until our chests bump. “I wish this wasn’t here, Sunshine.”
The tremble in my limbs has jacked up to a full shake. I bite my lip to make sure it’s not visibly quivering.
“You were right…” I croak. “A lot has changed since back then, Trouble.”
His head cocks. “Maybe not that much…” He leans in closer, his lips brushing my ear until I’m quaking. “You’re still following me around because you can’t help yourself.”
Fuck…
Fuck, this is so bad.
This is so painfully awful, because it feelsamazing, and it’s just reminding me of how amazing it felt back then, too.
