“Sara.” I rasped.
“You want to play our game?” She murmured.
I swallowed hard, knowing exactly where this was going. “Sar, this isn’t a good idea.”
“Didn’t you miss me while I was gone?” She asked softly, her expression shifting to something more sensuous.
“Yes.” I swallowed hard.So damn bad.
“Truth or dare.” She started slowly, but didn’t wait for me to answer at all. “I dare you to tell me what you’re thinking right now.”
It wasn’t hard to guess. “Sara.” I pleaded, not exactly sure what I was pleading for.
“Fine.” Her eyes dropped to my mouth again. “I’ll go first.” She swallowed thickly. “Truth. I’m thinking your lips look… so incredibly soft.” Her wide brown eyes searched mine. “Dare.” The word lingered between us like a bomb ready to go off.
“Carter?” She breathed, and time probably stopped as she hesitated, searching my eyes, trepidation and longing there as she inched forward.
Even with heartbreak already pulsing through my veins, I gently stopped her, detonating an entirely different kind of bomb. “Sara, I have to tell you something.”
She tensed in my arms, and while she didn’t physically move a muscle, everything in her body recoiled. The hurt that instantly bloomed across her expression made my stomach twist as I watched it all play out on her face, like my own personal horror film. Watched her discover that I would in-fact hurt her, and that I just did.
“Sara, you know why we can’t. We’d never—you’re so amazing but,” I was grasping at straws, trying tofind the right words, but everything was coming out so wrong. Why did I always get so tongue-tied around her? Every word seemed to etch the hurt and rejection deeper and deeper into her expression, when all I was trying to do was protect her. Or maybe I was trying to protect myself. Fuck, this was all happening, all wrong.
Just then the car announced, text message from Blonde Reporter, before it auto-played.
Where are you, Carter? I can’t wait to get you out of that suit, so I can taste every inch of your body tonight.
I scrambled for the dashboard, but it was too late. My traitorous car continued reading the text message that was going to seal my damnation.
I’ll even let you do that thing you did to me last time.
I could have curled up and died as it ended the message, listing a long string of sexual emojis, one after the other.
Sara was already reaching for the door when I grabbed her.
“I’m so sorry.” What could I even say? It had only been a one-time thing, but it didn’t matter.
“Don’t worry about it.” Sara said flatly. “I got it. You’re not interested.”
I grabbed her hand. “Please don’t be like that.”
She lunged for the door handle with her other hand, and I grabbed that one too. “I’m not being like anything.” She snapped, her eyes already filling with tears.
I held on tight enough not to hurt her, but tight enough that she couldn’t go anywhere because I just couldn’t bear to let her go. “Please don’t get out of this car right now.” I begged.
“Carter, I’m tired.” Her gaze dropped, and she refused to look at me. “Please just let me go.”
Could I do it? Let her go?
“You’ve had a shit night and your judgment is clouded. I can’t let you out of the car. Not until I know you’re not mad at me.” It was selfish, but I didn’t care, because in a matter of hours all this was going away.Forever.
“We’ll be sitting here for a long time.” She muttered.
“Please don’t be upset, Sara. I can’tleaveknowing you’re upset with me.”
Her eyes snapped up to mine, and I swallowed hard, knowing I should have told her sooner. Why the hell didn’t I tell her sooner?
“Leave?” She narrowed her eyes.
