Page 14 of The Route to You

Kyle hung by the door. “I really need to get back,” he said quietly, glancing at his watch. “It’ll take me almost three hours before I’m back in Nashville.”

She stopped in her tracks, hair on the back of her neck standing up. He can’t be fucking serious.

Maybe I need a boyfriend who goes to UT instead of Vanderbilt.

Her jaw clenched, more determined than ever to convince him to stay. “Can you just hang out for like . . . ten minutes? I have something I want to show you.”

Kyle’s mouth pressed together, then he nodded. “All right. Ten minutes. But I really do need to get back. This is my hardest class.”

She took his hand and led him to her bed. “I’ll be right back. Hang out here for a second.”

Without waiting for his response, she grabbed a bag from her dresser and then left the room for the adjoining bathroom in the dorm suite. She locked the bathroom, then shimmied out of her clothes, quickly yanking the tags off the lingerie. Slipping into it, she adjusted her breasts, then stepped into a silky robe that had come with the set. She tied it, loosened her hair from her ponytail, then stuffed the clothes into the bag.

A glance in the mirror made her heart pound.

She looked . . . sexy.

Perfect.

Say no to this, Kyle.

She unlocked the bathroom door, then stepped back into her room. From the bed, Kyle lifted his head, his chin jerking sharply. “Sloan⁠—”

She grinned. “See? You’re not the only one who can do surprises.”

He stood as she crossed the room toward him. “I really can’t tonight.”

She draped her hands over his neck. “Oh, come on. You’re not seriously going to tell me no, are you?” She skimmed his lips gently, nipping at them. “I haven’t even shown you the surprise.”

“Sloan . . .” he groaned. “You’re making this really hard.”

She smiled. “It’s supposed to be. Spend the night. You know you want to.”

His head dropped back, he released a short huff, then he peeled her arms back. Bending down toward her, he kissed her. “Listen. I love you, babe, but I need to get back. So, if we have sex, I really can’t stay. I’m serious. All right?”

“All right,” she chirped, untying the robe. “You’ll change your mind.”

He caught her hand. “No, you’re not hearing me. I’m sorry, babe, but my exam is at eight thirty a.m. I can’t stay, even if I want to.”

He wouldn’t really just sleep with her and leave, would he? He said he loved her, and she needed this—needed him—right now. Needed someone she loved to make her feel safe and secure in something right now. Desperation coiled in her stomach.

She nudged her finger down the slope of her breast, teasing her robe open. “So, you can leave at five and still get there in time. You get up early all the time.”

He raked his fingers through his hair, closing his eyes. “Not the day of an important exam. If I fail this, it doesn’t matter that I got As on the first two tests—I’ll fail the class.” He shook his head slowly, then opened his eyes and looked at her. “I can’t believe I’m doing this, but I have to go. I know what you’re doing, and you’re probably right. I won’t want to get up afterward. So, I’m going to go.” He bent and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll call you when I get in.”

Releasing her, he started toward the door.

What. The. Fuck.

“Are you serious right now?” Her words were almost a screech. Blood flushed her cheeks, and she turned to face him, tying the robe quickly. “You’re seriously walking out on me—turning me down for sex—after all the shit I’ve been dealing with in the past few months?”

“Sloan . . .” His expression was pained. “I don’t want to turn you down⁠—”

“Then don’t.”

“Yeah, but I told you I need to leave and⁠—”

“What type of shitty boyfriend can’t stay to comfort his girlfriend?” Anger coursed through her. “I’m going through the hardest time in my life, if you haven’t forgotten.”