He grabs my hand, leading me toward the car while he tells me about his baby sister.
“Oh my god! Van Van, is that you?!”
The screech hit first. Then I am pushed aside.
“Uh. Hi, Elaine,” Donovan says, holding her at arm’s length by the shoulders.
“When did you get back into town?! Oh my god, we should totally hang out sometime!” Elaine reaches for Donovan. “You know, like we did the night of prom,” Elaine adds, the words laced with a kind of longing that makes my stomach twist.
Without saying a word, I turn and head toward my car. She just had to bring up prom. Damn it. I hate her so much.
“Star, wait, please don’t leave!”
Donovan chases after me.
“What, Donovan? Want to try and tell me she doesn’t hate me?” I grab the car door handle. He pushes it shut.
“Stella, stop it. I don’t talk to Elaine. I don’t even like Elaine.”
“Sure as hell didn’t do anything with her prom night,” he adds, his voice pleading.
“I can’t do this right now, Donovan. You said you needed to talk to me about something, and you made it sound serious.” I turn away so he can’t see the hurt in my eyes.
“We didn’t talk about anything of importance. Then she shows up, like a giant reminder of everything I lost—and you try to take me home for a quick fuck? It feels like you’re using me while I’m here.”
Oh shit. Did I just say that out loud?
The look that crosses Donovan’s face is nothing short of devastation.
“Stella Carrington,” he growls, “I will say this once, and only once, so you better listen real fucking close.”
His voice is a mess of rage and heartbreak, venom barely masking the ache beneath. “I’m not using you. I’m not here for a goddamn quick fuck while you’re in town.”
He steps closer, eyes dark.
“If that’s all I wanted, trust me—I could have any woman I wanted. But I don’t. I don’t want them.”
A pause, sharp and loaded.
“I want you. Only you. It’s always been you. There has only ever been one goddamn woman I’ve wanted to be with.”
He turned away, letting out a shaky breath.
“I wanted to talk to you about two things.”
“One”—he pushes me against my car. “You,” he kisses my neck, “are” his hand slides around my throat in a way that feels possessive, “mine.” He devours my lips, one hand tangled in my hair, pulling just enough to tilt my mouth up to meet his.
I push him back, heat still simmering in my voice. “And the second thing?”
He looks nervous. Unsure. He takes a breath to steady himself.
“I was offered a job at Virginia Bay Preparatory School. I start in two weeks.”
I stare at him, confused.
“Baby girl, I’m moving to Virginia. Our relationship doesn’t have to be long-distance.”
He leans in and kisses me again.
