Her dad nods. “When he found that notebook, he called us up right away.”
“He did?” She continues to nod, her arms crossed, her nipples spiking through the thin sundress she wears.
This is going to be hell. I should’ve accounted for that.
“I need you to confirm,” she continues, “that thisisMr. Wilder’s idea?”
“No,” her mother flips her silver hair back over her shoulder and interjects before I get a chance to respond, “it’s mine. I’ve been in contact with Mr. Wilder since you and Adam broke up. I mentioned how uncomfortable I was with him following you around. Silas did some investigating and found the notebook. It’s not his fault, Ellie. He’s helping us. Now mind your manners, get your bags, and get on your way. It’s getting late.”
Ellie’s chest rises and falls quickly. “What? I’m not leaving until morning.”
I clear my throat, guilt rolling through me as I see how steamrolled Ellie is feeling. “Adam knows what car you drive. Some of the notes he’s taken lead me to believe he has some sort of tracker on you. It’s best if you leave your car here and I drive you back to the mountain.” My heart pounds at the thought ofher sitting next to me in the truck, those thick thighs spilling out of that short dress while I try to maintain my composure.
Jesus Christ, I need to get my head right before I step out of this house. I need to erase any sexual thought of her. I’m not here to satiate some carnal, fucked-up part of me that’s lusting after my son’s ex. I’m here to keep her safe and to get Adam into treatment.
Ellie’s shoulders roll forward as though she’s contemplating defeat. “This is a mess. You all know that, right?”
No one speaks.
“Fine!” she snaps. “I’ll play the game foroneweek. After that, I’m doing things on my own.”
Adam has been missing for at least two weeks, so I doubt that’s enough time to settle all of this, but I can have that argument later. Right now, I’m just happy I don’t have to pick her up kicking and screaming.
“Let’s play this day by day.” Her father sets his plate down onto the kitchen counter as he says, “You listen to Silas and everything will be fine.”
A flash of her on her kneeslisteningto me crowds my rational thinking.
“Listen to Silas?” She hides a Cheshire grin as she grabs her backpack by the front door. “Right.” I can’t tell by the tone if she’s disgusted by the thought. A year ago, I’d have told you without a shadow of a doubt she wanted me as badly as I wanted her. Now, I’m not so sure.
Not that it matters.
“I’ll text with necessary updates,” I say, opening the door for the girl I’m struggling not to touch, as I nod toward her parents. “Call me if you see anything worth noting.”
There’s a moment of goodbyes before the door closes shut, and I’m alone with the woman I’ve wanted to be alone with for far too long. That said, I’ve made a vow to keep my hands tomyself. I’m not breaking it. She’s off-limits, and no matter how desperate my cock aches, I’m not giving in. We’ve stayed apart for a year. We’ve done the hard work. I can’t mess it up now.
No more hopscotching the lines!
She tosses her backpack into the back seat of the truck and lets herself in before I can get to the door. I sense an aura of defiance, though there’s an independent streak in there too.
Once in the truck, she rests her pretty bare foot on my dash, her toenails painted a delicate pink. It’s cute and innocent, and there’s no fucking reason for me to imagine sliding them into my mouth one by one until she’s squirming, though it’s what my brain keeps screaming.
What the fuck? I’m spiraling!
“You’ve really got everyone under your spell, don’t you?” She weaves her fingers through her long dark hair and glances toward me as I take my place in the driver’s side of the truck.
“You say it like I sent Adam after you.”
She shrugs. “Did you?”
“No, Ellie,” I don’t bother glancing toward her, “but I wish I had. It would make this whole thing a lot easier.”
There’s silence for a moment. A time when the only thing between us is the scent of peach on her skin and the soft rise and fall of her breath.
“Sorry.” She lowers her foot and twists towards me as I pull out of the driveway and away from her parents’ Cape Cod style house, making my way toward the main road. “I know you’re probably doing your best, and if all this is really true, I’m sorry, but… you’ve gotta admit, this is really weird. I’m supposed to start a new job tomorrow and move into my new apartment. This is a big day for me, and I imagined it going…differently.”
“I won’t be in your way. You should live your life as normally as possible.”
She laughs. “And how am I supposed to do that? I mean… you felt it too, right?”
