He sighs and leans back in his chair. “I’m not looking for anything either—I’ve got a lot going on to have my hands full with a new relationship.” He lets his voice trail like he’s not saying something.
“But the sex was good,” I supply hopefully.
He chuckles. “Itwasgood.”
“I’m not here to stay, and you don’t need anything serious.” I sum it up.
“What are you saying?” He squints at me.
“I’m saying we can have fun.” I shrug my shoulder.
“All women say that and then get attached.” His words are supposed to rile me up because they are supposed to be thrown in the face of all womankind, but somehow, they sound so respectful coming from his mouth.
I shake my head, refusing his words. “I just got out of a relationship and don’t plan on starting a new one anytime soon.”
The air suddenly stiffens. “Oh yeah? How so?”
“Well, he dumped me. So I’m here.” I spread my arms with a sad chuckle, withholding some of the truth. He doesn’t need to know the whole story.
“Fucking moron,” Kenneth snorts and starts tapping on the wheel. I giggle in return.
“Tell me about it.”
He keeps tapping his fingers on the leather when he says, “No one can know.”
“Why?” I suddenly feel like a mistress. “Are you ashamed to be seen with me?”
“What?” He sends me a questioning glare. “No! Why would I be? The thing is—” He pauses and chews on his lip. “You’ll leave, and I’ll stay. And if they know about us, I’ll never hear the end of it from my family, who will think I fucked it up somehow and drove you from the town.”
“Why? You are a grown man.”
“Yeah?” He laughs. “You haven’t lived in a small town. You just wait and see.”
I actually have, but I’m not about to go into details about that. And this is one of the major reasons I’m not staying in Little Hope. Ever. In any small town really. I’ve had my share of them, and I’m done. The big city with its anonymousness is my way to go now. Plus, all my stuff is still in storage, and there is no way I’ll get rid of my furniture—I’ve spent hours hunting down those antique pieces, and I don’t see how I could move them somewhere without paying a fortune I don’t have.
“So what are you saying?”
He lets out a forceful breath and looks at me. “I don’t know what I’m saying, Joz, because I don’t know what you want. But I’ll roll with it.”
I dig myself deeper into the seat, bring my knees up, and hug them. Suddenly shy, I glance out the passenger window while asking him, “What were you doing at the club?”
The silence in the car says it all, so I slightly turn my head to look at him.
“Getting laid?”
Somehow, the idea of him being with someone else doesn’t seem so normal anymore. Yes, we have chemistry. Yes, we fucked, and it was good, but he doesn’t belong to me, nor do I belong to him. What do we do?
“You can’t blame me for wanting that when you were there for the same.”
“I don’t,” I whisper. “I don’t blame you.” I shrug lightly as if it doesn’t bother me at all. “I mean, you’re a grown man, and you can do anything you want, you know.”
I stare at the window again, chewing on my lower lip. If I don’t stop it, I’ll bite a piece of it. Forcing myself to relax, I place my open palms on my knees.
“I just don’t necessarily like the idea of it, you know.”
“I know.” His voice sounds gentler. “Let’s not talk about that today. I’ll get you home, and we can talk when you’re sober.”
“I’m sober now.”
