And with that, I’m no longer jealous. I’m heartbroken.
“Oh, Drew.” I sink to my knees. Right there on the street. In my dress and everything.
I watch him, but he doesn’t meet my gaze. He just keeps petting Gemini. I want, more than anything, to reach out and touch him. To acknowledge the pain that anyone who’s been through what he’s been through must feel. But I know, even though I know little else about him, he’d reject that.
So, instead, I lay a hand on Gem’s back and follow the stroking rhythm Drew has set. A moment later, Gemini heaves a great doggy sigh and sits on his haunches between us, clearly lavishing his good fortune.
“I think he likes you,” I say, seeing that the lines of Drew’s shoulders have relaxed.
“Hmmph.” Drew grunts, still moving his big hands in long, even strokes. “He’s as bad a judge of character as you are.”
“I was talking to Gemini.”
The night air quakes with his laughter, and I silently congratulate myself.
He shakes his head. “You have to admit, your friend Drake is a hamflower.”
“Awhat?”I snort, laughing already.
“An asshole.”
I open my mouth to argue, but no words come. “Um… Yeah. Yeah, he kind of is.”
Drew blows an amused breath out his nose, but he shakes his head again, eyeing me sharply. “Then why did you go out with him?”
I close my eyes, shrinking under his stare. The thought of giving him all the details is almost painful. “It’s a long story,” I say with a sigh.
I peek at him, and though it’s still dark, I can make out the frown creasing his brow. “And what was going on when I walked up?”
I remember Drake’s awkward proposal and wrinkle my nose in distaste. “He just wanted to come in,” I say quickly, ready to brush the topic aside.
“That didn’t sound like all he wanted.”
My neck heats. “Well, he wasn’t going to get more than a goodnight kiss, that’s for sure.”
Drew is silent for a moment, watching me. “But did youwantto give him a goodnight kiss?”
The question hangs on the night air as though suspended by late summer humidity.
“No,” I admit finally.
“But you would have let him kiss you.” He’s not asking. He seems sure this is fact, and I can hear he doesn’t like it.
But since he’s not asking, I feel no need to respond, so we stare at each other. His hands have stopped moving on Gem’s coat and those shoulders look strung tight again.
“My God, you would have let him kiss you?” The censure in his voice makes me squirm.
I shake my head like it doesn’t matter. “It’s just a kiss. What’s the big deal?”
His voice pitches higher, startling the night. “Because you didn’t want it!”
A porch light of the house nearest us comes on, and we both scramble to our feet.
“Shit,” Drew mutters. “I can’t get arrested for disturbing the peace.”
I grab his wrist and tug him in the direction of my house. “C’mon. It’s no crime to sit and talk on my front porch.”
He halts and pulls out of my hold. ”I’m not going to sit and talk on your front porch.”
