by E. L. Todd
He raised both hands in the air. “Fine.”
I got responses from the girls. “We’re going out tonight. You guys can join if you want.”
“We?” he asked, his interest piqued.
“Yes. Me, Denise, and Kat.”
He wasn’t going to say no to that. “I’m in. I’ll let Matt know.” He pulled out his phone and sent the text. “When are you going to talk to Kat?”
I sighed. “I don’t know, Charlie. I’ve had the week from hell…”
His eyes softened. “Yeah, I get it.”
“I’ll feel her out tonight and then go from there.”
“Okay.”
I did a few things on my laptop before I closed it and stood up. “I need to start getting ready.”
“Who are you trying to impress?”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t get ready to impress a guy. I do it for myself.”
Of course, Dax was the topic of discussion.
“Just take him back,” Denise said. “Come on, you guys have insane chemistry.”
“And he didn’t do anything that bad,” Kat said. “I get why you were mad for a while, but it’s been over a month and you guys are great together.”
“Girls.” I raised my hand. “The last thing I want to talk about is him, so let’s just discuss something else.”
The girls exchanged a look before sipping their drinks.
Charlie and Matt came to the table with their drinks. Charlie’s gaze immediately went to Denise before he abruptly looked away, like he was really trying not to make his feelings obvious in front of Kat.
“How are things with Nathan?” I asked.
“Good.” She took another drink. “We went to that new Chinese place on Seventh the other night. We’re getting along pretty well.”
“So, fireworks and butterflies?” I asked, hoping she was getting more detached from Charlie.
“I mean, there’s definitely chemistry.” Kat wasn’t as forthcoming as usual, probably because Charlie was standing there, which didn’t bode well for us.
“Still seeing that doctor?” Kat asked Denise.
“Oh no,” Denise said quickly. “He’d asked me out a couple times, and I just caved. He’s nice and everything, but it just wasn’t right.” She turned to Charlie. “What about you?”
Charlie looked like a deer in headlights. “I’m not seeing anyone, like, at all.”
I glared at him.
He drank from his beer and looked away.
Matt glanced past us. “Looks like Nathan and Dax are here.”
“They are?” Kat turned around to check.
My heart dropped into my stomach. I’d decided to go out to stop thinking about my situation with Dax, but instead, we were in the same place. We hadn’t spoken in person since that horrible birthday dinner. He said he didn’t want to be friends, but there was no way for us to never cross paths again since some of our friends were dating.
“Oh yeah,” Kat said.
I didn’t look.
Denise turned to me. “Are you going to climb out the bathroom window?”
I rolled my eyes. “If I want to leave, I’ll` just strut out. I don’t care. But no, I’m not a coward.”
“Ooh, Jeremy is here too.” Matt wiped his lips to make sure nothing was on his face.
There were a million bars, and we had to meet at the same one?
“I’m gonna go say hi.” Kat walked away.
Charlie shifted his gaze to me as he drank from his beer.
Denise stared at me too.
“What?” I asked, offended.
“How are you going to handle this?” Charlie asked.
I shrugged. “It’s his call, really. He’s the one who said he wanted nothing to do with me.”
After talking for a while, Dax and his crew came to join us.
Ugh.
Jeremy and Matt paired off, their arms around each other as they stood close together. Kat moved in near Nathan, either because she was genuinely happy to see him or she was trying to make Charlie jealous, which was pointless.
Dax joined the table—and acted like I didn’t exist.
He stood beside Charlie, and they talked like nothing had happened, like they were still the best of friends.
Denise kept glancing at me. “So, tell me about that article you’re working on.”
I knew she was trying to keep me distracted; that way, I wouldn’t focus on the man who wouldn’t even look at me. “I’ve been writing about…” I blabbed on, but my eyes kept shifting back to him. He had one arm on the table with his fingers wrapped around his beer, and he was in a black tee that made his frame look incredible…like always. His jawline was sprinkled with masculine scruff, and his eyes were bright with excitement, like he really enjoyed his conversation with Charlie…my best friend. And he wore a handsome smile like he didn’t have a care in the world.
Like this wasn’t painful at all.
“Ugh. Oh my god.” Denise’s entire composure changed, her drink moving to the table, her eyes unblinking. Her tone was different from usual, like something truly alarmed her.
“Girl, what is it?”
She stared across the bar at something, looking past Dax. “Oh fuck… It’s him.”
“Who?”
She turned back to me, looking too distressed to give an answer.
I looked to where she was staring.
Kat must have noticed him too because she ditched Nathan and came closer to me. “Carson, Evan is here.”
I didn’t need her to tell me that…because I saw him.
He was with his friends, people who used to be part of my life, people who used to play board games in the living room. They were people whose names had always been in my message box. But then they disappeared once the divorce happened.
I hadn’t seen Evan since I’d picked up my shit and left. We divided our things and never spoke again. It was a clean break. It was a big city, and I stopped going to all the spots we enjoyed to make sure we never bumped into each other. I got a new grocery store, gym, dentist, everything.
To make sure this moment never happened.
Now, I couldn’t stop staring…because he was wearing a wedding ring.
“That motherfucker.” Denise grabbed her drink. “I’m gonna throw this shit in his face.”
“Whoa, hold on.” I grabbed her wrist and brought her back. “You aren’t doing anything.”
The commotion brought the attention of everyone else at the table—including Dax.
Charlie looked over his shoulder, spotted Evan, and turned back to me. “Shit.”
God, this was a nightmare.
“He’s coming this way,” Kat said. “Quick, kiss a hot guy or something.”
“What?” I asked incredulously.
“He’s already married?” Charlie asked. He shook his head, clenched his jaw, and made a fist on the table. “Fucking piece of shit.”
“Best revenge is to show him how much better off you are than he is,” Kat said. “Jackass is married, so you need to make out with someone or something. Use Nathan.”
Nathan immediately looked uncomfortable.
“Okay, let’s just chill out…” I wasn’t going to make out with anyone.
“Then find a hot guy,” Denise said. “You can walk up to any guy you want, and he won’t mind.”
“Dude, he’s coming, and he’s totally going to see you,” Kat said. “Use Charlie.”
Charlie didn’t grimace because he was too pissed off. “How about I just punch him in the face instead?”
I covered my face with my hands. “Everyone, calm the fuck down. I don’t need to make out with anyone.” I dropped my hands and saw him come closer with his crew, smiling and having a good time like I was the last thing on his mind…and he hadn’t thought of me once since I left. He would definitely see me, and I didn’t know what to do. It seemed cowardly to pretend not to see him, but I didn’t know what kind of reaction to give? Should I smile like I was totally fine?
Should I glare at him because he was a piece of shit? I didn’t know. We were together for years, so he would read my reactions well, see the pain in my eyes…and would know I was still a wreck while he’d clearly moved on.
Dax moved around Charlie and came toward me, looking right into my face for the first time since he’d come over here. His movements were slow and he didn’t rush, but the intention in his gaze told me exactly what he was going to do.
Everyone stilled and watched us.
I was frozen to the spot, my heart pounding so damn hard.
He moved into me effortlessly, one hand sliding into my hair with a sexy tug, his other arm curving around my waist and pulling me hard against his chest. His lips dropped onto mine with a gentle landing, our mouths coming together like two pieces of a puzzle.
I forgot about Evan.
I forgot what I was doing.
One of my arms circled his neck, while the other rested on his arm, my fingers digging into his bicep through his sleeve. My mouth parted automatically to let him have me, to let that exquisite kiss light my entire body on fire and make my writhe.
It was such a good kiss, just like it used to be, with all the passion and desire that used to make my toes curl.
His fingers moved deeper into my hair, and the kiss became more intense, his lips taking charge of my mouth, sucking my bottom lip before giving me a flawlessly executed swipe of his tongue.
I brought him closer and let our mouths move together perfectly, the loud music suddenly quiet, the conversations nonexistent. It was just the two of us, a man and a woman caught in the deepest embrace.
I forgot my ex-husband entirely.
His arms hugged me hard, one hand moving to my ass like old times. If this was all show, he deserved an Academy Award. But I knew it was real, that he wanted to kiss me, wanted any excuse to have me.
And I wanted him to take as much as he wanted.
Once his lips were on mine, there was no reservation. It felt right, like this was the man who should have been my husband, not the jackass who had already moved on to wife number two. The kiss had gone on long enough, but we didn’t pull away. It continued like no one was there at all…except us.
Dax didn’t say a word to anyone there. He ended the kiss and took me by the hand, guiding me out of the bar. He led the way, his height and size parting a path through the crowd so we could make it outside.
I didn’t resist and didn’t ask any questions. Not only did I forget about Evan, but I forgot about my friends too, didn’t even think to look at their reactions to what just happened.
He took me outside and guided me to the curb where a blacked-out car sat. He got me in the back seat then joined me on the other side.
The driver pulled away, and he seemed to know where to go without instruction.
I turned to Dax, seeing the way the lights from the city moved over his face as he stared out the window.
He didn’t look at me.
I looked forward again, my heart still racing. He was either driving me to my place or his, but I didn’t know which one. I didn’t dare ask, because he seemed angry based on the energy that radiated from his exterior.
The driver eventually pulled up to my building.
How did the driver know where to go?
Dax got out but didn’t take my hand this time. We made the entire walk in silence.
When we got to the apartment door, I unlocked it, never so nervous in my life. I’d been to many places, done a lot of dangerous things, but this was terrifying. I walked inside, my heels tapping against the hardwood floor. I dropped my clutch on the entryway table then turned to him.
He stared me down, his height not towering over me because I was in a ridiculous pair of heels. His mouth was nearly level with mine, his eyes too. All he had to do was drop his chin a little bit and he could burn me with his dark gaze.
I stayed quiet…speechless.
His arms remained by his sides, and he continued to stare, his eyes shifting back and forth slightly. “We are together.” His voice was crisp, a sharp sound in a silent room. “Just you. Just me. No friendship. I’m your man. You’re my woman. Period. Do you understand me?”
I didn’t respond to orders well, but his authority rendered me silent.
“I asked you a question, sweetheart.” The affectionate nickname didn’t dim his aggression.
“Okay…”
He stared at me for a while, as if he was surprised by my agreement, as if he expected it to be harder than that. “We can do this however you want to. We can go as slow as you want. The details don’t make a difference to me. But no more bullshit about us being friends, about not being ready to be with me. Because I’m not ready to be with you either, but I want to be with you, regardless. That’s what a relationship is, working through the difficulties—together.”
All I could do was breathe. It was rare for anyone to shut me up, but he could make me quiet with his kiss and his words.
He stared at me for another minute before he turned to leave.
I grabbed him by the forearm and yanked him back, my body moving into his, and we thudded as we collided together. My fingers moved into his hair, and I kissed him, pulling him close, my hand gliding across his chest.
He kissed me back with the same passion, his anger making the kiss harsh and sexy. His large hands squeezed me, his fingers dug into my hair, his mouth ate mine with heavy breaths. Then he abruptly released me and walked off, leaving the door wide open without looking back.
Thirteen
Carson
I woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee since Charlie already had the drip going. In my sweatpants and a baggy shirt without a bra, I yawned as I walked past the living room to the kitchen.
Charlie was at the table, and he stared at me the second I walked inside.
I grabbed a mug and filled it with coffee, the aroma hitting me in the face with the steam. I took a sip then moved to the dining table, where my laptop remained since I’d left it there the night before.
Charlie continued his stare.
I drank my coffee and rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
He glanced at the hallway, like he expected someone else to join me. “Is Dax here?”
“No.”
“Then what happened last night?”
“He dropped me off and went home.” I yawned again.
He gave me a quizzical expression. “You better start elaborating. You guys had a make-out session worthy of the Notebook before it segues into a dirty porno.”
“Yeah…it was pretty great, wasn’t it?”
His eyes narrowed. “What does that mean? Are you back together or what?”
I shrugged.
“Okay, stop it.”
“What? Am I annoying you?”
“A bit,” he said sarcastically.
“He dropped me off and left. That’s it.”
“Come on, there’s more than that.”
“Well…he said we’re together, and that’s the end of the story.”
He grinned. “Good.”
“That was pretty much it.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t sleep together.”
“He seemed pretty angry, so…”
“He didn’t look it when he kissed you.” He grabbed his mug and took a drink. “And by the way, Evan saw…and stared.”
“Yeah?” Honestly, I didn’t really care.
“Dude, he stared hard.”
“Dude?”
“I’m just happy that we got back at him. I can’t believe he’s already remarried.”
“I’m sure his wife is his assistant…” The woman he cheated on me with.
He studied me for a while, his fingers around the handle of his mug. “You doing okay?”
I shrugged. “I’m not going to lie and pretend it doesn’t hurt…because it does. But I’m doing better than I thought I would be. It was weird to see Eric and Jason, people we used to see all the time. Eric and I planned Evan’s birthda
y party all those years ago, and now they’re strangers to me. Someone replaced me…like that.”
“Don’t let it get you down. It says more about them than it does you.”
“I know.”
“And if he cheated with her, he’ll cheat on her.”
“I hope not—no one should go through that.”
He watched me. “Even though she slept with your husband, knowing he was your husband?”
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.”
He shook his head. “He never deserved you.”
I drank my coffee and pulled my knees to my chest.
“What’s next with Dax?”
“Not sure.”
“You’re going to give this relationship a try, right? No more walls. No more running.”
“I guess.”
“Come on, I want to hear more confidence than that.”
“He told me we can do it however I want, so I guess that does give me some confidence. He won’t try to force me to be more than what I’m ready for. It’s kinda like a blank canvas.”
He nodded. “That’s right for you guys.”
“Yeah.” I drank from my coffee again.
“You don’t seem thrilled.”
I set my mug down. “It was just a crazy night, you know? And honestly, Dax and I didn’t really talk at all. He kinda just ordered me around and left, so I know he’s still mad at me. But when he kissed me…it made me realize it was right. It wasn’t just the kiss itself, but the fact that he stepped in and made me forget about the man who forgot me so easily. He’s been hurt, I’ve been hurt, and I know I could feel so much for him if I just let myself. Maybe it’s time to let myself.”
He pumped his fist in the air. “Hallelujah.”
“I haven’t been with anyone because he’s the only man I want to be with, so…maybe I should be with him.”
“Couldn’t agree more. I love Dax. He’s the man.”
“You loved Evan too.”
He rolled his eyes. “I was naïve then. He’s always been a piece of shit, I just didn’t see it. Now, Dax, on the other hand—real deal.”
“We’ll see.”
