I open the door for him, feeling everyone’s eyes on my back, and go inside. He pulls it closed behind us. My heart is racing faster than it did last night. There’s a charge in the air between us. Did he come here because he couldn’t stay away?
“I swear I was going to text you back …” I start. His gaze is pinned on me as he murmurs, “That’s fine.”
We both know it’s not.
“Is that why you came?” I ask and he shakes his head no, his gaze slipping down over my body. We were so close last night. It felt like being able to breathe again after two years underwater. I try not to feel his hands on my skin and the heat between my legs at the memories.
When he’s finished looking at me, Asher takes a quick look around the kitchen. He’ll be looking for anything that’s out of place. Anything that needs a handyman. He must not find anything, because his eyes return to mine.
“Tell me why you came,” I insist. It’s too hard to stand here in the kitchen with him, struggling through the silence. “Seriously, Asher. Just tell me.”
Asher
It’s been a year since I’ve stepped foot in this kitchen. Her mom had it redone while Bri was away last summer and it fucking killed me to be in here without her. New paint and counters and fixtures. It was mostly just a facelift, but the space looks so much better with the updates. I love being hands on, but I couldn’t do it. I passed over the work to Tom and Ben. They’re brothers and the two of them constantly help me out. I wouldn’t have been able to get Brody and Griffin’s bar done so quickly without their help.
I couldn’t stop playing back every memory I had with Bri and cursing myself for letting her think I didn’t want her anymore.
I saw it when it was finished, though, smiled and shook her dad’s hand. I could barely look him in the eyes. All I saw reflected back was pity.
Looking at Bri, standing in the same damn spot, all I see is uncertainty. She shifts left, then right, holding onto the counter and then crossing her arms all in the same minute. She’s uncomfortable as hell. She’s standing up tall, like I came here to break up with her all over again. The one thing I love about her is how she refuses to back down or cower. It was never toward me, though. “So what did you want to say?” I fucking hate this.
Guilt clenches my heart. I bet she thinks I’m going to tell her last night was a mistake. Fucking hell. Silence eats up a moment as I run my hands through my hair.
No wonder she’d think that. No wonder she’d be nervous. The way she holds it is different now. Fiercer. More confident. But that look in her eyes is something she can’t hide. I know it all too well.
Just like that, I’m back in school again, wishing on everything I had to get to sit next to her in class. Hell. Just seeing her in the hallway was enough to get my heart racing. I’m being an asshole, making her wait. I just feel like I’m about to ask her to prom. Or propose.
“You want to go to Robert’s after-party with me?”
A beat passes. She narrows her eyes, obviously not expecting that from me. “After-party?”
“He just got the approval for some funding for the schools. Robert and Gary are throwing a thing to celebrate.”
Brianna laughs a little, glancing down at the floor.
“That funny?”
“No, it’s just …” She smiles up at me. “Times are changing, huh? You used to skip school and drink. Now look at all of you.”
A chuckle leaves me in a breath. That’s true, I guess. I’m drawn into the warmth between us. It’s so easy with us. Taking a step, I close the distance and breathe her in. Just like last night. I couldn’t stop if I tried. I’ve wanted to be near her every second since I dropped her off last night. There’s a nagging bit in my chest, an ache that wants to know why she didn’t text me back. But I let it go.
“So, come with me then? To the bar tomorrow night?”
She hesitates, her grip tightening on the counter behind her. “To the bar tomorrow night?” she repeats back and I smirk at her, running my thumb over my bottom lip before taking another step closer and teasing her. “That’s what I said.”
Heat blisters between us as she stares back wordlessly and then her gaze drops to my mouth.
Our lips are an inch apart when Bri pulls away.
I’m hot all over, pain going through my chest. What the hell’s happening?
“Are you all right?” I ask. Clearly she’s not. If everything was okay, she’d have kissed me. All the heat from my body disappears.
Bri shifts against the countertop, putting a little space between us, looking as uncomfortable as I’ve ever seen her. “I don’t know.” I take the hint and take a step back as well. Giving her space, but not leaving.
“Is everything okay with last night, Bri?” It’s another question I already know the answer to. She hasn’t been texting me back.
“Yeah,” she answers quickly but also like she’s shrugging off the question.