Page 134 of Where Roads Lead

“Or if you’re freaked out because you think I’ll somehow be around more often now, but—”

“You are way off base.”

“What? It makes sense. Maybe you’re just mad because you can’t wait for me to get the hell out of your town and—”

Will reached out, holding onto my arms as he anchored me in place. The contact stole the words from my mouth, forcing me to take a breath and swallow down the sob that was threatening to break free.

How could he do it? Make me furious and euphoric and devastated and hopeful all in a day. He pulled out the whole spectrum from me, forcing me to feel each and every feeling to an agonizing degree.

I didn’t know if I hated him for it or loved him.

“I’m not mad,” he said, staring down at me with blazing intensity.

“Then what?” I cried, desperate to see what he always kept so carefully guarded. That part of him I was finally getting more than just a glimpse of.

“I’m—” he started, then clenched his jaw shut. “I—”

“What, Will?” I stared up at him, daring and furious. “If you’re not mad, then what are you?”

He looked down at me, a million thoughts playing over his face in a single second before he threw away any semblance of restraint.

“I’m jealous.”

And then he pulled my face toward his and kissed me.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Elsie

“What are you doing?” I froze, not entirely convinced my imagination hadn’t conjured this moment up.

“Trying to show you what I’ve been too much of an idiot to figure out how to say out loud.”

“Are you trying to say you like me?” I asked, smiling, his face just an inch from my own.

“I think that’s pretty damn obvious.”

“I think it was not.”

“Elsie,” he said seriously.

“Will?” I responded, equally grave.

“For the first time since I’ve met you,” he said against my lips, “I want you to stop talking.”

And only because I was too dizzy for words, I complied.

Lost in the kiss, he pushed me against the counter, cradling the back of my head before it could hit the wall.

Then, dissatisfied with that position, lifted me up on top of the counter until our faces were more evenly aligned.

He kissed me, and kissed me, and kissed me again, the way I’d only ever seen done in a really good romance film.

I’d once read a line in a book about getting kissed breathless. This was the first time in my life I understood the truth of that line.

“Wow,” I rasped shakily, barely getting the words out before he kissed me again. “I guess I should go on dates with Theo more often if this is how I get treated after.”

He paused, only to shoot me a scathing glare that said more than words ever could.