We ended the call and I focused on the fields speeding past the window.

“Baby? Is everything all right?”

I swallowed once, twice. The way he saidbabymade me want to lean into him, to seek comfort. That wasn’t a good idea, though. We were home. This, what we’d been the last few days, was over. My throat ached and my eyes stung. I would not cry. “I’m fine. That was my aunt Macy’s boyfriend. He has something for me.”

“Addie?”

“I’m okay, Levi. I promise.”

He didn’t push, and as we drove around the edge of the lake, I opened the window and let in the crisp afternoon air. The town was just ahead, and suddenly, I was finding it hard to breathe.

All too soon, Manic was pulling up outside the café.

He shut off the truck and the cab filled with silence. I turned from the window and made myself smile when my emotions were whipping through me like a wild storm, so many thoughts and feelings hammering me all at once.

I thought about the box Noah had for me, a box of memories from people who I loved, who had loved me but weren’t here anymore, and all the reasons why I could never be with Manic sharpened into focus. “Well, I guess this is it.” I tried to laugh, to make light of things, but it came out strained. “I had fun.”

Manic watched me, a look on his face I couldn’t read. “Glad you enjoyed yourself, cupcake.”

I smiled at him, leaned in, and pressed a kiss to his whiskered cheek, then opened my door to climb out.

He grabbed my hand and tugged me back, then his mouth was on mine, kissing me hard and deep. I needed to stop this, but I couldn’t do it, and my eyes were stinging from fighting off tears when he finally lifted his head.

He stared at me like he was waiting for something, something more from me that I couldn’t give him.

“Bye, Levi. I’ll see you around,” I said instead.

He was watching me intently with those deep brown eyes and his brows lowered. “See you around.”

The way he said it felt like a question, but I couldn’t stay and hear whatever he was going to say. I couldn’t laugh and flirt and talk and act like this was nothing but a good time. I was on the verge of losing it completely.

Pulling away, I scrambled out of his truck, grabbed my bag from the back, and rushed down the side of the cottage toward the door.

Nearly there.I could fall apart once I was inside. My hand shook as I tried to put the key in the lock.

“See you around?” Manic’s deep voice rumbled behind me.

* * *

Manic

Addie jumped and spun around. She hadn’t even heard me follow, probably because she was breathing so hard as if she were on the verge of freaking out.

She stared up at me, eyes wide.

I cradled the side of her face. There was panic in that gaze, like she was running from something. She’d walked away from me, but she didn’t want that. I knew it with everything in me. “What are you doing, baby?”

Her pulse was fluttering like mad at her throat. “I’m going inside.”

I shook my head. “No.What are you doing?” She was still gonna deny this, what was between us. She was going to let fear stop her from reaching for what she truly wanted. “You’re really ready for this to end? You’re ready for me to drop you here and drive off and not look back?”

“Levi—”

“You’re gonna climb into your bed tonight, ass aching, pussy still tender from me riding it all weekend, and just close your eyes and go to sleep without me beside you? And you’re okay with that?”

She opened her mouth, then closed it again, those deep brown eyes damn near wild.

I was done, so over this game of pretend. I’d never fucking forgive myself if I walked away from her without at least trying to get through to her. “Because I’m not. I’m not fucking okay with that.”

Tags: Sherilee Gray Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net