“Who are you?” His voice booms out to someone ahead of us.
I finally manage to get around the telephone pole–sized arm of his. And when I do, I can’t help the flutters setting ablaze in my stomach and chest.
“It’s okay, Claude. I know him,” I reassure him before he walks off.
Char giggles behind me.
Leaning against his motorcycle is Alec himself. He is grinning ear to ear when I finally meet his gaze.
I walk up to him with a thousand questions on the tip of my tongue, but not a word will come out. I’m scared once I start, I won’t stop.
He sets the helmet he’s holding on the seat before taking a step toward me. “Sorry to just show up. Reed said you guys were working tonight. And I wanted to see you. So, I thought I’d offer you a ride home. If you want it, of course.”
He smiles, and his gaze drops to my open jacket. He wets his bottom lip. “You’re gorgeous, Lu. I mean, you always were, but now … whew, absolutely beautiful.” He holds my stare the whole time.
I want to say,Find another girl to break.
Spinning on my heels, I have every intention to run off. But my body has something else in mind. It ignites from his words, and I can still feel the caress from his eyes. I spin back around to face him, wanting to smack myself.
Words are still struggling to come out. It’s really annoying how easy they seem to be for him. “Um, thank you.”
My eyes fall to his open leather bomber jacket. He’s wearing a plain white T-shirt underneath it. But boy, I didn’t know that could look so good. I can see how he fills it out, and I can’t imagine what he looks like without it.
Ever been disgusted with yourself?
He clears his throat. It’s hard to believe this is the same boy I loved so many years ago.
“How about that ride?” He smirks.
One thing hasn’t changed. That smirk of his still melts me to the core.Dammit. But this is all we’ll ever be—short sentences and longing.
I turn to see if Charlotte is waiting in her car. But when I look, there are no other cars in the lot.
Oh my God, that little bitch left me.Oh, she’s going to hear about this later.
Well, it looks like I’m walking.
I pull my coat around my waist. “Look, Alec, I agreed to catch up, and I am still willing to. But not tonight. Thanks for the offer, but I’m okay. I’m just gonna walk; it’s only a few blocks.”More like ten.I on my heel and start heading home.
He brings the bike to life, and I hear him catching up to me.
“Laura, you can’t be serious. There is no way in hell I’m letting you walk home. Especially alone in that damn outfit.”
What did he just say?
I slam my foot on the ground and abruptly turn around, and stomp up to him where he has stopped the bike. “Excuse me?” I shove my finger in his face. “One, you have no right when it comes to my choices. Two, if I want to walk home, I will. Because that is my decision. And three, keep your opinion of my outfit to yourself.”
I take off again, trying to leave him behind. The engine growls.
Fuck.
“Laura, come on. That’s not what I meant. I’m sorry. Just let me take you home. Please,” he pleads with me.
I remain silent, continuing my strut home.
“Laura, come on.” He keeps pace with me. “I just want you to get home safe, that’s all. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened because I rode off.”
“I can get home by myself, Alec, I’ve been doing it for quite a while. Thank you.” I stumble a step. If it wasn’t for this pent-up, boiling anger inside me, I would give in to the throbbing pain in my feet right now.
