“I want to believe you,” I groan, blowing out an exhausted breath. “I do, but we both know you're lying.”
He swallows hard. “I need to get away, Ingrid.”
I'm guessing this is the part where he tells me he's going whether I want to or not.
“But,” he continues, “if you don't want to go—if you want to stay here— then I'll stay with you.”
Not the answer I was expecting.
He’d choose me over Cash.
That’s not nothing.
Not for Wilder.
“You really want to go?” My eyebrows knit together as I scrutinize his response.
“I do,” he answers as the cords of his neck tighten.
There's something he's not telling me. A reason he needs to run.
But he's not runningfromme. He wants me to runwithhim. Which makes my stomach tie in knots.
I search his minty green eyes, their gold flecks warm and inviting.What are you running from, Wilder? What is it?
The door swings open and we both hear Cash audibly inhale. I move to get off Wilder, but his hands find my hips and he holds me in place.
“Am I interrupting?” Cash's voice comes out hard.
“Yeah,” Wilder answers. “Give us a few minutes?”
Cash tosses his backpack on his cot in the corner. “Yep.”
The door closes with a resoundingclickand Wilder presses his forehead to mine. I ignore the achy feeling in my lower stomach as his hands slide up my back.
He's not telling me something. He said no more secrets, but I know him. He has secrets. Ones he’s not ready to share.
I know I should push, but he's stubborn. He won't tell me until he's ready.
When are you going to be ready, Wilder?
“Let me talk to Isla,” I give in.
Wilder's face breaks into something achingly beautiful. “Yeah?”
“Rules,” I breathe. “We'll need rules.”
“And a bucket list,” Wilder grins.
“A road trip bucket list?”
He nods as his lips graze the corner of my lips. “Yes.”
“Wilder,” I exhale as his fingers slip under my shirt. “Cash is literally in the next room.”
“Shhh,” hetsksme.
Wilder's mouth finds the skin beneath my ear, and he sucks gently. I giggle against the top of his head as he drags his tongue along my collarbone. Every swipe a reminder that me he wants me.
