“I’m fine. Nothing happened,” I wince because it feels like that’s not entirely true.
A lot has happened.
“You’re lying,” her accusatory words feel like blows.
“No,” I rush out, “I’m not. I’m not here because of some traumatic thing that is going to end with you crying.” I look at her and hold her gaze so she can see the sincerity in my words. “That’s what you were asking, isn’t it?”
“Oh,” she breathes out and swallows while nodding slowly, “yeah, that’s what I was asking. I’m sorry.” Her eyebrows furrow together like she’s not sure how she feels about apologizing to me. “Then why are you here?”
“I think I owe you an apology as well.” When I lick my lips, her eyes dart down to my mouth. Interesting. I’ll fucking take it. “I’m sorry for all the times I pulled you over for the smallest infraction. It was childish.”
“Yeah,” she agrees, “why have you even been doing it? I mean, is this because of your dad? Is he trying to run us out one by one or something? York loves antagonizing Mayer,” she muses.
“No, it’s nothing like that,” I assure her. “He has never asked me to use my job, my position, against you or Green Mountain High.”
She studies me and it feels like being under the lens of a microscope. I want to squirm, but I force myself to stay still. I’m not even surprised that she’s considered the option and wondered.
Fuck, the idea of her thinking that I’m that guy guts me.
Iswallow hard. “Greylin,” her name feels like a dewdrop on my tongue, “I promise that’s not why I pulled you over.” Fuck, I’m an asshole, but I can’t get into that right now and it’s not why I’m here anyway. “I had dinner with Dad and York recently,” I start, a little unsure of where to go from here.
She jumps in, her free hand gesturing wildly, “Let me guess, they were plotting the demise of Green Mountain High.”
Greylin giggles softly and looks at me expectantly, like I’m going to join in on the joke.
I’m not.
When I don’t laugh, or smile, or fucking breathe, the amusement on her face drops.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she deadpans.
“I wish I was.”
Does she even realize we’re still holding hands?
“Are you here to tell me what he’s up to outright or do you have some ulterior motive?” The way she’s eyeing me is suspicious as hell.
And sexy.
My cock throbs behind the fly of my jeans and I can only hope she doesn’t notice. It’s uncomfortable but I try to ignore it as best I can. It’s nearly impossible with her sweet lemon verbena scent wrapping around me.
It’s everywhere and I want to roll around on this damn couch to cover myself in it.
But that would be weird and this whole situation is strange enough.
Some people would say this is the last place I should be. They would be wrong.
I’m right where I’m supposed to be. The realization slams into me and I’m quite sure the only thing holding me up is Greylin’s presence.
“I definitely have an ulterior motive,” I husk the words and her cheeks pink slightly.
It’s good to know I affect her, and I haven’t been imagining the pull between us. The ache in my chest eases slightly.
Greylin scoffs and rolls her eyes. The pout of her lips makes me want to kiss her. Fuck, I bet she tastes good.
“What do you want, Aiden?” The question is a challenge. To not push too far. To not ask for too much.
And to remember who we are to each other.
