“We’ll never be together the way we used to be.” He rubs his jaw across my head in a tender gesture. “We’re not kids anymore, Jas.”
No, we’re not. And tomorrow I return to my real life.
I don’t want to think about leaving Ty again.
He eases back, and it takes all my willpower to let him go. “Give me your keys,” he says.
“My keys?” I frown at him, uncomprehending.
“Yeah. You’re not driving anywhere, and you’re in no state to get on the back of the bike. Give me the keys to the rental.”
“But you don’t drive cars.”
“Not often. But I am today. Now give me the keys.”
Wordlessly, I fish the keys from my purse and hand them to him. My heart hurts, in a good way, that he cares enough to make sure I get back to the apartment safely, but the fact he’s prepared to drive a car in order to do it takes it to another level.
He never liked being caged. That he didn’t expect me to climb on the back of his bike while I’m wearing completely inappropriate clothing is…well, I guess it’s just another reminder of how much he’s changed.
As if the other night when he walked away from a fight wasn’t proof enough.
I glance along the street to where his Harley’s parked. “What about your bike?”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal, when I know he loves his Harley almost as much as his MC.
“I’ll ask Zach to take it back to my place.”
He opens the door and waits until I’m seated before handing me the urn. I clutch it on my lap and watch him shrug off his cut and place it on the back seat before he swings himself in beside me.
He handles the car with expert ease, but what else did I expect? My tense muscles relax, and I’m relieved he doesn’t try and fill the silence with idle chatter.
As if he would…
We’re almost there before he speaks. “Have you finished sorting out the apartment?”
The empty rooms flash through my mind. All the junk’s been dumped, and the only things left to pack are the sheets on my bed. A painful, hollow sensation slithers through my chest. “Yes.”
He shoots me a sideways glance. “Okay.”
I don’t know why disappointment washes through me. What else was he going to say? I thought his question was leading to something.
I close my eyes, and this time he doesn’t interrupt the silence that stretches between us.
Ty unlocks the door to the apartment, since I’m still clutching the urn with both hands, and we walk through to the kitchen. It’s so bare and sad with everything gone. I’d originally intended to spend tonight in a hotel near the airport, but those plans slid when I hooked up with Ty.
I carefully place the urn on the counter. “Did you want to stay?” He’s slept over most every other night. Why am I suddenly so unsure that he’ll want to tonight? “I’ll order takeout.”
“No.” His tone is uncompromising, and disbelief stabs through me. Is this how it’s going to end? “Get your things. You’re coming back to my place.”
“I’m…what?”
“You’re not staying here.” His voice is no longer harsh, and he gives me a faint smile. “Come on, Jas. You’ve finished here. You don’t need to spend another night in this place.”
He told me the other day he’s buying his own house, but he hadn’t invited me there. I tried to pretend I didn’t care, because it’s not like we’re serious, but it did hurt.
I clear my throat, but it doesn’t help. “I’d like that.”
…
