Wendy attempted to tug her hand free without garnering any attention from those closest to them. When he finally allowed it, she shook her head. “No, Tripp. This… what you’re saying… you don’t know.” Her head was swimming with the reality of what was happening. Olivia. The way he’d left a trail of broken hearts in his wake. He wasn’t the kind of guy she needed in her life no matter the strange feelings he managed to stir within her.
Without uttering another word, she spun away from him. Weaving through the crowd, she made her way toward the exit. She couldn’t stay here. She couldn’t risk Tripp cornering her and trying to convince her that they were… what? Destined for each other? The concept was utterly laughable.
She made it out to her car mere seconds before Tripp was at her side. When she opened the door, his hand came down on it and forcibly shut it. Wendy whirled around and gaped at him. “Tripp—” she started, breathless.
“Why?” he demanded, not an ounce of gentleness in his voice. His hair looked like he’d ran his hands through it or he’d gone through a windstorm. It was adorably mussed and only his voice dragged her attention from it. “Tell mewhy, Wendy.”
Wincing at his tone, she met his fiery gaze. “We’re not good for each other, Tripp.”
He laughed, but it was more bitter than joyous. “What makes you say that? We haven’t eventried.”
“Really? If you have to ask then you’re more clueless than I gave you credit for.”
His eyes narrowed.
She threw up her hands. It was clear he wasn’t going to step back. Already he’d crowded her against her car. If he wasn’t willing to back away, she wouldn’t be able to get inside and escape. “I’m not interested in a guy who goes through women like someone with a cold goes through tissues.”
His jaw tightened. “You don’t know me like you think you do.”
“Don’t I? Look, Tripp. It’s been nice—this little truce—but I know better than to fall for someone who isn’t available.”
“No.” He shook his head.
“No?” she barked with a laugh.
“No,” Tripp repeated. “I don’t think that’s it. I think this is about you and all your silly expectations. You want everything to beperfect, to fall in line just so. You can’t stand the unknown. You don’t like taking risks. You’re comfortable in your own little bubble, safe behind the walls you build around yourself.”
His words stung like a slap to the face. She couldn’t even come up with the words to respond to them.
Because she’d be lying to herself.
Tripp pushed off the car angrily enough the vehicle rocked a little. Without another word, he stormed a few steps then he paused. Quieter, but with no less frustration, he muttered, “I looked up that Junebug reference.”
She still couldn’t move. His words were holding her in place.
“You’re wrong. If anyone is stuck on a string, only capable of going as far as it’s safe, it’s you.” Then he was gone.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Tripp lacedhis fingers behind his head, breathing heavy as he made his way back to the party. His life had never felt this out of control before. Or maybe he’d never wanted something so bad that it put him in a tailspin when he couldn’t get it.
He was overheated and angry—not because she told him no.
Wendy had every right to turn a guy down.
It was the reasons she was giving him. How dare she tell him he wasn’t capable of everything she wanted and more? How could she judge him so easily when they barely knew each other? Something wasn’t adding up.
Yanking out the chair where he’d been sitting, he avoided looking at the empty one next to it. If he tried hard enough, he’d still be able to smell her sweet perfume. It was maddening.
Everything came back to one solitary thought.
He wanted more.
Not with just anyone. Tripp wanted more with that woman who had managed to get his heart into a chokehold. He wanted to bethe reason she smiled. He wanted her to stay up late thinking about him. He wanted to be her whole world.
Sighing, he tilted his head back and stared up at the starlit sky. How had his life changed so irrevocably in such a short time?
Sure, most anyone who knew him might say that this was a phase. Maybe he just wanted Wendy’s attention because she was the one he couldn’t have. But Tripp knew better.
