Page 54 of Wrapped in Hope
“I will see you again after today, right?” Fear is dripping from her words.
I turn and bring her into my arms. “This past month has been hell. I can’t deny what I want any longer.” I give her one more long kiss that stirs my body into a frenzy.
“So we will talk about this later?”
“Promise,” I say with a nod.
When we make it back outside, I feel everyone’s eyes on us. I take my seat between Gary and Jane.
Jane leans over. “Everything okay in there? You two were gone a while.”
I lean in towards her. “I found her in Dean’s room. She’s trying to process.” A ping of guilt washes over me for lying, but I know if she knows the truth it will only hurt her. We’re almost done with each other. I’d like to end it on good terms.
Jane looks up at me with sadness in her eyes but also something else I can’t place. I’m thankful when she turns her attention to Lisa.
Dinner goes by smoothly and after everything is put up and out of the way, Hope stands from the table. “I really should get back to the city before it gets too late.”
I stand. “I’ll walk you out.” I push away from the table while Gary, Lisa, and Jane continue with their coffee and dessert.
Hope tells her parents goodbye with a kiss to their cheeks and she thanks Jane before turning for the door with me following after her. I walk her across the street to the car she drove.
She opens the door and stands between it and the seat. I place my right hand on the top of the car, trapping her. “Can I come by tonight so we can talk about this?” Just asking her this feels like taking a knife and stabbing myself in the back with it. I shouldn’t be doing these things, but I have no control when it comes to her.
She smiles. “I’d like that.”
I quickly look over my shoulder to make sure nobody from the house is watching before leaning in and giving her one last kiss. She tastes so sweet, something I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of.
Her hand wraps around the back of my neck and she pulls me closer, letting a soft whimper fall from her lips. That sound shoots a bolt of pleasure right to my dick.
I break away. “If you don’t stop that we could get in a lot of trouble.”
She smiles as she looks up at me with her innocent brown eyes. “Why’s that?”
I feel a grin form as I say, “because I’ll be fucking you over the hood of this car.”
Her face flushes like she’s picturing it. I groan. “God, you’re a pain in my ass. Consider it done, but not here.”
She giggles and gives me one more quick kiss before I let her get behind the wheel and drives off. I stand in the middle of the road and watch her go, taking my heart with her.
I turn and walk into the house. Gary and Lisa are just walking out. “Thank you both for coming today. It means a lot to Jane,” I say, shaking Gary’s hand.
“It’s no problem at all. We’re happy to be included. I know you’ve moved across town now, but don’t be a stranger, eh? How about we plan a fishing trip soon?”
I smile and nod. “That sounds great.”
He slaps me softly on the back as Lisa leans in and gives me a hug. “If you need anything just let us know.”
“Thank you,” I say, feeling the guilt eating me alive. “Have a good night.” I open the door for them.
After they leave, I walk through to the kitchen. “Jane, I’m going to take off. You need anything before I go?”
She’s standing at the sink with her back turned toward me. She looks over her shoulder at me and I see the tears in her eyes. “I thought I was crazy, but I’ve always seen the way you look at her. I can’t believe you,” she whispers the last part with a shake of her head.
“What’s wrong? What are you talking about?” I ask, taking a step closer.
She spins around, leaning against the counter. She crosses her arms over her chest like she’s trying to hold herself together. “A few years ago at the pool party we went to, I saw it then but told myself I was crazy. I saw your eyes linger a little too long on a seventeen-year-old girl. I saw the way your jaw flexed and your muscles tensed like you had to force yourself to turn away.” She scoffs. “After all these years, you don’t think I know what you look like after sex? I saw your disheveled hair, her flushed cheeks, not to mention the guilt written all over your face when you sat down earlier. And I saw everything you two were just doing, Holden.”
Realization washes over me. “You saw everything?”