No one has ever made me feel this wanted.
This sexy.
Thisinsatiable.
Still, I force myself to remember that the way he makes me feel is temporary.
Even though it is, at least I’ll know forever that I was wanted by someone for longer than a day.
“How did you get here?” Cole asks.
“I hitched a ride with the newlyweds,” I say with a smile, flicking my thumb over my shoulder toward Harley and Cassandra, who are hand in hand as they walk back over to our table.
“I have my rental car here if you want to come home with me,” he replies when they’re within earshot.
“We’re out of here, guys—early flight tomorrow,” Harley says, and Cassandra giggles as she looks up at him with hearts in her eyes. They leave for their honeymoon in Turks and Caicos for ten days, and I’m forced to be without her. Again.
“I assume you’ve got a ride?” Harley says to me before pulling me in for a hug.
“I guess I have no choice,” I reply sarcastically with a genuine laugh as he pulls back, shaking hands with Cole while Cassandra squeezes me in her arms.
“Are you going to be OK?” my best friend whispers in my ear, and I nod against the side of her head.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I whisper back, and she pulls away from me to eye me carefully.
Cassandra tilts her head to the side. “Don’t fight it, Jen. Just go with it. Let it happen.”
She’s so bossy, and so sure, and I wish I felt just a little bit of her confidence right now.
“Don’t let this,” she says, tapping my head, “Control this.” She taps my heart, and I swallow hard, scrunching up my nose.
“I will do whatever this,” I say, tapping the front of my lady bits, “tells me to do.” I laugh and she snorts, rolling her eyes. “Have fun while you’re gone. Ten whole days without you is going to suck.” I jokingly pout.
“I’ll FaceTime you on Thursday!”
“You will do no such thing. Enjoy your time as husband and wife. Drink cocktails, have lots of sex, and come back with a nice tan. Don’t forget to always wear—”
“Sunscreen. Yes,Mom,I know the drill. Love you.” She kisses my cheek, and I swat her arm. “Get my girl home safe, Green.” She briefly hugs Cole, and they head out the door.
He stares at me, waiting for me to make a move.
Any move at all.
Will I run?
Will I change my mind?
Will I tell him this whole arrangement needs to end before it’s even really begun?
I consider all my options, but when my phone rings in my hand with my mom’s name on the screen, any thoughts of runningfromCole, turn to thoughts of sprinting toward him, and away from the woman who birthed me.
I hesitate, my hand subtly shaking, but he grabs it to calm me down, and I draw a deep breath.
“Hi, Becky.” I don’t want to wake the dragon by calling her mom. Heaven forbid anyone around me finds out I have a mother.
“Jennifer, I’ve been trying to reach you for days. Is your phone broken or are you ignoring me?” A typical greeting for her, and I puff out a breath, knowing exactly where this is going to go.
“I’ve been busy,” I remind her. “You know, with the job I’ve wanted since I was sixteen.” Not like she would know, no matter how many times I told her.
