“Wait. Let me say something.” He stopped me. “I want to make time for us. For me and you.”
He seemed sure and sincere, but I couldn’t believe him anymore.
“You’re only gonna invent another excuse not to see me tomorrow,” I said, running my fingers through my messy hair.
I tried to hide that I was primping right in front of him, but Will was so focused that he didn’t seem to notice.
“Yeah, and I wouldn’t fault you for thinking that. I’m just saying—”
There were two steps between us, but he rushed over and kissed me. I parted my lips, letting his tongue seek mine, and I suddenly felt my head get lighter.
William stopped only to put my face in his hands.
“All I do is think about you. That has to mean something, right?”
“Well, are you coming in, or are we just gonna stand at the door like two idiots?” I chuckled before letting him in.
I saw him crane his neck to familiarize himself with his surroundings.
“Were you eating?” he asked, when he smelled the delicious scent in the kitchen.
“Not yet, my mom left me lasagna. I was just heating it up in the microwave. In fact, I need to take it out. I got distracted with my science homework.”
“Only you could forget to eat because you’re too busy studying.” And then my hips were in his hands, and his mouth was on my lips.
Everything was wonderful, but I had to remember the roller coasters, a little voice in my head told me.
I pulled back slowly.
It was weird seeing William at my house. “Is your mom out?”
“Yeah, she told me she had a painting class. But I think it’s all excuses to hide the fact that she’s dating someone.” I groaned, pulling the tray out of the microwave.
“Eh, put yourself in her shoes. She’d wanna meet someone after the divorce.”
“Depends on who.” I swallowed. “Wanna eat with me?” I asked, showing him the generous portion.
William Cooper was at my house in the flesh, but I was hungry. And when I was hungry, not even the hottest guy in the world could match up to a nice plate of lasagna.
“Are you only gonna eat that?” Will said as he helped me set the table.
“Will, of course not,” I chuckled. “My freezer’s full.” He laughed with me.
“Where are your parents?” I asked him as we sat at the table sharing the food.
“In the Middle East for work.”
He told me about their pharmaceutical company. He explained that his parents were trying to patent a drug that they’d been testing. What he told me gave me the impression that he came from a wealthy but rather absent family.
We ended up splitting three servings of lasagna, and dinner went by without a hitch. A few minutes later I got up to brush my teeth and freshen up in the mirror. I was wearing an oversized white T-shirt over a pair of jean shorts. If I’d known he would be visiting, I would’ve at least fixed my hair, put on socks that were a color other than fluorescent yellow, and maybe I’d . . . But who was I kidding?
I caught him on the phone when I went back to the kitchen.
“Was that James?”
“Jackson,” he answered as he hung up. He looked deep in thought.
“Wanna talk about it?”
