I’m mad at her for being so generous with her beautiful smile, which makes me feel enraged, even without trying.
When the driver finally leaves,I stalk up to her, gently grab her arm, and drag her behind a wall for some privacy.
“Got a minute, princess?” I wasn’t planning on showing up with anger in my veins, but I’m at a breaking point.
I need some of her time, and my patience is hanging by a thread from seeing her so careless around the other drivers.
“First of all, I’m not your princess; you made sure of that. Secondly, no, I don’t have a minute, especially not for you.”
She starts to turn around, and she’s matching my temper, which is good.
She’s hopefully experiencing the same feelings as me.
Sadness. Anger. Hurt. Pain. Hope.
“Huh, would think that a reporter like yourself would take the time out of your day to interview the driver who just won another race.”
That does the trick; she turns around with anger written all over her.
“Don’t you fucking dare come here and say something like that after everything you’ve put me through! Do you know how hard it is to see you everywhere? Everyone is talking about the great Luke Hastings, when all I can feel is how you ripped my fuckingheart out of my chest.” She’s closer now and breathing hard, looking at me with so much anger and hurt in her eyes.
“Jessica, I’ve been so fucking stupid, and I’m sorry. My agent cornered me with pictures of us kissing, and she told me that a relationship between us could only result in your dreams being crushed, that your career as a reporter would be over before it even started, and I panicked. I didn’t want to stand in the way of your dreams, even if it devastated me to walk away.”
I get it all out in one breath, desperate to make her see that I had my reasons.
I didn’t break her heart without a cause.
Some of her anger melts away, but she quickly gathers herself again.
“And you thought that deciding what’s best for us was just that you took the choice away from me? Luke, I was ready to take that risk with you, and you just turned your back on us like nothing.” Her voice breaks at the end of her sentence, and I grab her hands in mine.
“Baby girl, I’m so sorry, and I know I don’t deserve you, but hell, I can’t go another day without at least letting you know and telling the truth. Turning my back on you was a huge mistake, and I want to make it up to you if you’ll giveme a chance.” Her gaze holds so much pain but also hope as she stands in front of me, holding the key to my heart.
She gives me a small smile.
“I don’t know, Luke, I’ve kind of been getting to know Peter, and he seems—” I don’t let her finish that sentence by pressing my lips hard to hers.
When she sighs and kisses me back with the same passion, I feel my world slowly coming back together.
It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, making it easier to breathe. I circle my arms around her and hold her tight against me.
Her hands grip my shirt, and she holds on to me like she’s afraid I’ll fly away.
We break apart, and I rest my forehead against hers.
“Fucking Peter. Please don’t ever mention his name again,” I say, and she smirks up at me.
“I was hoping his name would trigger some action, glad I was right,” she tells me before pressing her lips to mine again.
I can’t help but chuckle at her.
Of course, she would use him to push me past my breaking point.
I can’t even be mad about it, knowing that she knows all the right buttons to push.
“Did you dance with him at the gala for the samereason?” I ask her as I tangle my hands in her hair. She gives me the most innocent eyes, looking smug as hell, before she lifts her shoulders.
“Maybe.” I kiss her again, and she meets me halfway.
