Page 70 of After Care

“I’m fine, Max. I’ll be back upstairs in a minute.”

“Who the fuck is this?” Tommy barked, and my head snapped back to him.

“This is my boss, Max Hartcore, the owner of the company,” I hissed through clenched teeth, cursing in my head how unbelievable this situation seemed.

“And you are?” Max asked, extending a hand. Tommy gripped it and held a moment.

“I’m Tommy Carrigan.” Tommy looked to me, waiting for me to clarify who he was, but I didn’t know anymore. Every time I turned around there was a new piece to the puzzle of him, and too often I was dazed by the sex to see clearly how the pieces never matched. Tommy released Max’s hand, and swiped his other one through his hair again. Looking away from me, he muttered, “Fine.” He took a step back, twisting toward the door. “Great,” he mumbled. I reached out for him, but he took another step before I could reach him. Turning completely, he headed for the double glass panes.

I spun to face my boss. Max’s expression held a smug look, his mouth curled in an ominous smile.

“I just need another minute.” My eyes pleaded with him, and to my surprise, his fingers came up to my hair. Brushing short curls behind my ear, he lingered a second. “A minute,” he said, his eyes searching my face. My heart hammered. Then he stepped back, and I twisted to find Tommy walking out the door.

Quickly, I stalked after him, cursing my skirt for the tightness at my thighs, preventing me from actually sprinting.

“Tommy,” I yelled after him as he hit the curb. His phone was in his hand, and he was typing. “Tommy, wait.”

He spun to face me. “What the fucking hell was that?” I’d never heard him so angry, not like that, not at me.

“He’s my boss.”

“He wants to fuck you.” My mouth fell open, and my arms crossed, cupping my elbows.

“He does not,” I stammered, shocked and appalled by the comment.

“Don’t be so stupid, Edie.”

“Excuse me?” My mouth fell open again, my eyes wide and staring in disbelief. Who was the stupid one? Oh right, me, for thinking he cared about me, for hoping he’d no longer hold the truth from me.

“He totally wants all over you.”

“How did this get turned around to me?” My arms released and slapped at my hips. The chilly, late January air finally hit me. My body shivered.

“Go back inside,” Tommy snapped. “Go back to work.” I crossed my arms again, rubbing up and down my sweater sleeves.

“I don’t want you to leave like this,” I said, lowering the wall a little. He looked out at the street, narrowing his eyes.

“Look, Edie, being apart is hard. It involves trust.” He sighed and looked back at me. My body was beginning to tremble, but it wasn’t the cold winter air. Shock was kicking in. He was going to break up with me. We weren’t even dating, and he was going to break up with me.

“You want the truth, Edie? I wanted that baby, the one she never had. And I wanted her to love me, but that wasn’t love. Tricking a man into thinking he’s going to be a father—that was treachery. Did I love her? I don’t think so, but I’ve written songs about it, about heartbreak and lost love and ruined dreams. But it wasn’t her. It was the emotion after a tragedy, but not her.”

His whole body twisted, and he removed his leather jacket. Wrapping it around me, the soft material was heavy over my shoulders, but the heat of his body lingered in the fabric, warming me. His scent filled my nostrils.

“Darlin’, I love you, but if you don’t trust me, there’s nothing between us.”

My eyes shot up to his. I couldn’t even blink. The cold seemed to freeze my eyelids. He couldn’t mean it. He couldn’t have even known what he said.

“What?” He asked, growing nervous as my eyes remained wide and dazed.

“You…you just said you loved me.” I blinked. “But of course, it was just a slip. I mean…” Hands cupped my face, and he stepped into me, his lips stealing any other words. This was his kiss—aggressive, pressing, and demanding. He parted my lips, commandeering my tongue, and took his time to cover every inch of my mouth. Pulling back, he looked at me, and I shivered.

“You can be so stubborn, darlin’,” he said, ignoring my comment and adjusting the jacket. I didn’t speak.

“I didn’t want to do this here. Not like this. I had it all planned out, repeating it over and over in my head, but it never came out.” I continued to stare, not taking his meaning. “I love you, Edie. I know it’s been a bit fast, and I said don’t make me love you, but you can’t seem to help yourself. And I can’t help myself either. I love you.”

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring him from my sight.

“Darlin’?” he questioned, pressing his thumb against my cheek and swiping at a tear that threatened to freeze in the chilly air.