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“Take me home, Link,” I whispered.
He put me down but didn’t immediately let me go. His head was still against mine. He was biting down on his lip and still holding onto my ass.
“Get in,” he said, looking down at me. His chest was rising and falling like he couldn’t catch his breath.
“I need you to let me go in order to get in,” I chuckled.
I heard a groan come from the back of his throat as he squeezed tighter. “I don’t want to; I don’t want you to change your mind, and I don’t want you to stop kissing me.” The side of his mouth curved up as he kissed me again and then he promptly put me in the car.
Lincoln
“Hey, so I know you have been helping Pops during the week, but I have a proposition for you.” I looked over at her in the passenger seat, and she seemed a bit intrigued.
“Is that so? Do tell,” she grinned.
“I do. I am directing the school play this year and was thinking of having a few songs use the acoustic arrangement.” Her eyes lit up. “I was wondering if you could help me with that. Maybe help out with some of the singers too and then—” she cut me off.
“I would love to.” She smiled and grabbed my hand. “That will be so much fun.”
“Really? Awesome, I’m glad you’re so excited about it. Some of the other teachers will be helping periodically too.” She smiled and looked back out the window.
We drove the rest of the way in silence, both of us with dumb grins on our faces, but hers was slowly fading. The closer we got to home, the more nervous she seemed.
She seemed reluctant to get out of the car when we got home like something terrible would happen if she did. I walked over to her door and reached my hand out to her. I was about to ask her to come in when she cut off my thought.
“Thank you for tonight. I really did have the best night ever.” She was rubbing my fingers in hers, and then she spoke again. “Is it okay if I just head off to bed? I’m kind of tired from all the dancing.”
She gave me a sweet smile, and I knew she was letting me know the night was over and anything that had happened before was simply an in-the-moment thing.
“Yeah, of course. Let me walk you in.”
She kissed my cheek goodnight, and I watched her go up the stairs and shut her door. I walked out to my house, almost in a daze. She is always allowed to change her mind, of course, and I would never try to force her into it. I just couldn’t help but wonder what had changed her mind.
I got into comfortable clothes and threw a movie on. I couldn’t clear my mind from how abruptly tonight had ended. I definitely thought it was going to end differently. I didn’t expect her to sleep with me, although I had hoped. I thought we would at least get a little hot and heavy. Lately, it’s all I think about.
I tried just watching the movie, but something was persistently nagging at me about how that all went down, so I texted her.
AUBREY
I shut the bedroom door and leaned against it. “Why did I do that?” I said it out loud even though I was alone. I walked over and flopped onto the bed.
What am I doing? We can’t really do this. I’m leaving, and he’s staying here. That’s the end of it.
Then why did it feel so wrong to walk away just now? I wanted to spend the night with him, and I just walked away like a damn coward. I haven’t wanted to spend this much time with anyone since Max, let alone even thought about sleeping with someone.
I changed clothes and attempted to relax. I lay in bed trying to process how fantastic tonight was, all while trying to also figure out what was happening in my head. I know I’m just afraid to share myself with someone again.
Link is not Max, and I’m just being a chicken shit— my thought was cut short when I heard a text notification.
Mr. Grumpy Butt: Hey. I hope you are settled in okay. I didn’t say it before, but I had a great time too. BEST DATE EVER in my book. I hope we can do it again soon. Maybe next time, a night in so it’s not overwhelming, and we can talk more. Goodnight, Songbird. Sweet dreams.
I laughed at the excited tone I got from the capital letters. I started to type, ‘Thanks, good night,’ but then I got a rush of courage and knew I needed to go to the cottage and talk to him in person. I deleted the message I was writing and headed to the backyard. I have to share my feelings with him or my brain will never let me relax, let alone sleep.
I got outside and realized how cold it was with only thin pajamas on. I was praying he opened the door quickly. If I had to stand outside for long I would turn around. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be coming back out. I got to the door and knocked. He answered the door quickly. His eyes went wide the moment he saw it was me. I looked down and saw that my nipples were pebbled against my top. I quickly put my arms around myself, and before I could say another word, he pulled me inside.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Lincoln
