I nodded, my gaze still forward, my insides shaking. “At E’s?”
“No,” he chuckled. “It’s a new spot. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
My stomach turned, and my veins constricted at the idea of riding anywhere with Enzo. But I wasn’t strong enough to give up a chance to see E, just like he knew I wouldn’t be.
I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t say the words. I was afraid I would actually vomit on the bar. I simply nodded in agreement, eyes closed tight, and swallowed the sickness down further.
It was a huge risk to take, a huge burden to carry, but I was willing to do it to get E back into my life.
When Jake showed up, his eyes went wide at the sight of me. He stopped two feet from me as he took me in.
I worked hard to forget my uneasiness, and I turned around to face him, the man I was here to see. His eyes moved up and down the length of me with a satisfied grin.
“Wow,” he said and I blushed. He came in and swallowed me up in his big, strong embrace and I smiled into his chest, forcing all my thoughts away.
We carried on as usual, talking and laughing like it was any other day. I didn’t mention my run-in with Enzo. I didn’t mention the party. And I didn’t mention that I was ready to be his girlfriend—because suddenly, I no longer was.
On Saturday, Enzo was nearly two hours late, and I was pissed as hell. I didn’t want to be with him in the first place, and I knew he was late just to mess with me. Just so I’d have to bury my hatred for him all the more.
And I did have to. Because I didn’t know where E was. I didn’t know where we were going. Enzo was my only way to him, my bridge to E, and I had to work impossibly hard not to burn it.
Enzo finally arrived, high as a kite, and gave some sorry excuse for being late. I knew it was drug-related the second I saw him, so I dropped it and climbed into the car without a word.
I turned the radio all the way up and refused to speak the entire way there. Enzo was so high, I don’t think he noticed. He tried to hold my hand at one point, and I visibly gagged. I pretended I was coughing and jerked my hand to my mouth to get it out of his reach, covering the reflex. He must’ve bought it because he asked if I needed water, and I just shook my head no, claiming, “I’m alright.”
Thirty minutes later, we pulled up to E’s house, and I looked at Enzo with palpable annoyance. “I thought you said it wasn’t at E’s.”
He shrugged with a glint in his midnight blues and a twist of his mouth. “Guess I forgot.” I wanted to smack the sly grin right off his face.
The party was outside, thanks to warm summer nights, and by the time we got there, it was well underway. People were everywhere, and I didn’t recognize a single one, but I didn’t mind, because I was only there for E.
I grabbed a beer and made my way through the crowd around the pool, but E was nowhere to be found. If we weren’t at his house, I would’ve thought he wasn’t there at all.
Thirty minutes in, I moved to the deck, hoping the higher vantage point would give me better odds of finding him. I took my post at the railing, quietly scanning the crowd as I thought of what my first words would be. To my utter surprise, he found me first.
He scooped me up from behind and spun me around, my beer flying everywhere as he yelled in excitement. “My girl is back!” he exclaimed, and my heart opened up at his term of endearment. I only ever wanted to behisgirl.
He placed me on my feet, and with the widest smile I’d ever had, I turned around to face him.
“Sydney,” he said with the sexiest smile. “Where have you been all my life?” He tilted his head as he held his hand to his heart, and I felt mine explode.
I reached my arms around his neck as he dipped down, wrapping his around my waist and tucking his head into me. I could feel the smile on his lips against my skin, and I almost shivered from delight. We swayed side to side in the longest embrace, and I closed my eyes as I memorized the feel of him.
He was stronger now. Bigger. He even seemed taller, and sexy as ever, maybe even more so. He was in his classic ‘Guinea tee’ and basketball shorts with a backward cap, and I loved that he was just as I left him.
We spent the next hour catching up, focusing on the details of life and everything in between, just like old times. It was easy and familiar, and it relit a spark in me I swore had died. I was happy it was still alive.
“So, college is going great. Work is going great. What about a boyfriend?” His eyebrows shot up with his last question.
“No boyfriend.”
“Really?” His brows fell and furrowed. “Enzo said you were waiting for your boyfriend when he saw you.”
“Oh.” I felt my cheeks flush. “It’s…” I shook my head. “He’s a boy, and a friend. That’s all.”
He nodded with a grin. “That’s all, huh?”
“Yes,” I smiled. “What about you? No girl—” My words were cut short by her entrance.
