“Hold up.” He raises a hand.
“What now?”
“You can’t just throw that out there right after telling me I’ve got a rep for being a bad kisser. I mean, this is vital information. I need to get some practice in, or else I’m screwed. Or you know,notscrewed,” he muses. “This could mess up all the hard work we’ve put into this…”
“Like you said, though—you’ve really improved lately.”
He rests his hands on my shoulders and tuts. “Let me kiss you, Carrie.”
“Oh my God! Drop it, already!”
I wrestle his hands off me, and glare at him.
“Just for a minute,” he argues. His eyes skim over me. “It’s been a while since we last—”
“That won’t be happening again.”
Why do I sound so breathless?
“Why not?”
“You seriously have to ask?” I stare at him. “You’re dating a girl, remember? Did you forget rule number one?”
“Always call her by her actual name?” He beams at me. “See? I do remember stuff you tell me. I even write it down in a little notebook. It’s Cheyenne—I won’t forget, I swear.”
“I was thinking more along the lines of ‘monogamy.’?”
“I know, but—”
“No buts. When are you going to start taking this seriously?”
I had been doing such a good job of staying focused on the end goal. I had managed to keep my cool, and now here I am, super pissed again.This guy is insane. Does he really think there’s any chance we would keep fucking around?Is he actually taking any of this in, or is the old Donovan Wolinski right there beneath the surface, ready to pop back up as soon as our one-on-ones end?
“Bad book boyfriend!” I admonish, poking at his chest.
It’s shaking, I realize. I look up. The asshole islaughing. If this were happening in some book, I’d be urging the heroine on, silently begging her to slit his throat with one perfectly manicured nail.But this is real life. And real life is way messier.
“You win, Carrie. I wasn’t thinking straight. I’m sorry.”
I frown. Is he messing with me?
“It’s not that I don’t give a shit,” he adds, like he can read my mind.
“Am I that transparent?”
“Compared to some, yeah.”
“Lovely,” I sigh. “Okay, I think that’s ‘date night’ covered. Any idea what you plan on wearing?”
“Once Adam finishes his last ride, we’re going to hit up the mall.”
“Wow. So, like—a shopping trip with the boys?” I snort. “Just remember—no ties. They’re unbelievably lame.”
He smiles at me so genuinely, it’s like the air is sucked out of my lungs. I focus back on my breathing. In, hold, out. I hate the feelings fighting for space inside me right now—like a murky cocktail of hurt and jealousy, and some more I don’t understand.It’s not like I want Donovan to…Want him to what? Want him to want me? Want him to be my boyfriend? I mentally bitch-slap myself. That can never happen. Images of my parents flash into my mind, and I’m suddenly surer than ever.
“Any questions, or are we done here?”
“There is one thing,” he starts. “About how to get to the kissing part. I mean, do I just go straight in for the kill? Or should I do something like this?”
