When she turned around, she had a smile on her face that could rival the Cheshire cat. “For being some sex God, you sure are easy to ruffle.”
Tilting my head, I looked her over, her hair down around her bare shoulders and her hand lightly pressed against her chest to keep her dress up. Whydidshe ruffle me so easily? And why did I have an overwhelming desire to take her hand, simultaneously causing her dress to fall to her waist and pulling her on top of me?
I cleared my throat. “Maybe you were right,” I said, finally getting words out and pushing my inappropriate thoughts away. “Being friends does make things different.”
We stared at each other for a moment longer before I noticed she was waiting for me to give her some privacy.
“I, uh, will let you get changed.” Reaching for the handle, I pushed the door open.
The cool night air was a welcome reprieve to the heat I had been feeling in the car. Closing the door, I looked out over the gravel parking lot with the large wood barn in the background. I’d wait out here until she was finished.
Toeing the gravel at my feet, I stared at the ground as if it could make sense of what had happened in the back seat. I mean, nothing had happened, but had something happened?
She didn’t seem fazed by any of it, only embarrassed at getting her zipper stuck. But me? I’d been all weird, not knowing how to handle myself in this new situation with her. We were friends, but we were now going to pretend like we were a couple, and I was also insanely attracted to her while also fighting my natural womanizing habits.
Man, I was so messed up. I hadn’t felt tangled up inside like this, not knowing how to act or who to be since…well, since I was fifteen. I kicked a piece of gravel, making it fly across the open lane and hit into another car’s tire.
Gosh, I hated thinking about that shit. Hated the memories, hated the emotions, hated how the weight of it seemed to be forever chained to me.
But most of all, I hated how much I missedher. I missed her laugh, her hugs, our talks, her support. She had been the best mom in the world.
The threatening feeling of tears stung at my eyes.
Looking up into the night sky, I wondered what she would think of me, what she would think of who I’d become. I didn’t know if I believed in life after death, but if she was out there somewhere in the clouds looking down on me, would she be disappointed or disgusted with who I’d become?
The car door opened behind me, and I blinked rapidly, hoping the darkness of the night would cloak me enough to hide my watery eyes.
“That was crazy,” Isla said, sounding breathless as she got out of the car.
A few gasps sounded to our right, causing both Isla and I to turn and see a group of people who had just exited the barn. One of them was Marabeth, along with some of her friends, who all wore horrified expressions. Soon I noticed Josh among them, looking at us with disgust.
“Isla, this is your best friend’s wedding. Have a little class,” Josh sneered. “Don’t let him drag you down.”
Wait, what? Looking between the group staring at us and Isla with the car door open behind her, it finally dawned on me that they thought Isla and I had just had sex in the back of my Jeep.
Seriously?
And what was up with how Josh talked to her? He would insult her but try to disguise it as if he actually cared about her. I wanted to punch him in the mouth every time he talked.
“When it’s that good,” Isla taunted, threading her arm with mine. “We just can’t help ourselves.”
She plastered on a self-satisfied smile and waved. “Hope you all have as good a night as we have.” Subtly she pulled my arm and I followed, walking around the Jeep so I could open her door for her, officially dismissing the little crowd that had come to gawk at us.
As I made my way to my side of the car, I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. Isla had pretty much given Josh the middle finger, and I couldn’t have been more proud.
Hopping in my jeep, I cranked the engine before pulling out of the parking lot, maybe even kicking up some gravel on purpose as I turned onto the paved road.
“Now,thatwas crazy,” I said, still smiling.
She threw her head back and laughed. “Did you see their faces? Gosh, it was priceless.”
I joined in her laughter. “You surprised me.”
“I surprised myself,” she admitted. “It felt so good, though.”
I glanced over at her. “You’re okay with them thinking you had sex with your new boyfriend in the backseat of his car at your best friend’s wedding?”
“Hell, yeah,” she exclaimed, riding the high of finally not caring what people thought of her.
