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By the time we reach her car, she’s lost in thought. I reach for her hand. A small gasp escapes her as she raises her eyes to meet mine.
“Don’t let her get to you, okay?” I quickly say, not giving her a chance to overthink it. “You’re doing nothing wrong. Remember that.”
She smiles, her eyes glistening with the threat of tears.
“I go from guilt for not being with him, to excitement about how much I enjoy your company and I’m just tired…” She shakes her head. “I just wish everything could be easy.”
“Easy’s not always fun,” I say, curling her arm around my waist. She stiffens as I inch closer to her. With my hand raking the back of her hair, I press my lips against hers. For a brief second, she doesn’t respond, but then I feel it. Her lips move against mine with passion and urgency, her taste incredible. I know what I’m doing is wrong and my timing is shocking, but I can’t stop myself. I need her.
“I-I have to go.” She pushes me away, her expression shocked. Fumbling with the lock, she escapes into her car and drives off. Cursing, I turn around and kick a stray trash can, sending it flying across the parking lot, narrowly missing a nearby car. I couldn’t have fucked that up more if I tried.
Way too early.
I shouldn’t have kissed her. Who knows what damage I’ve done?
Fuck. I kick the stones beneath my feet, annoyed at myself. With one stupid kiss, I’ve probably ruined everything. I walk over to my car and get in, trying to contain my anger. I wish I could say I regretted the kiss, but the truth is it was amazing.
What’s crushing me the most is I might’ve blown my chance to ever be able to do it again.
Chapter Fourteen
Kiara
I’m shaking as I push through the heavy front door that leads to Max’s office. It’s 10:45, and my interview begins in fifteen minutes. I wipe my sweaty palms on the sides of my charcoal pencil skirt and walk up to the reception desk, a smile planted on my face.
“Hi, my name’s Kiara Drummond. I have an interview at eleven?”
“Take a seat, Ms. Drummond. I’ll let them know you’re here.”
I nod and walk over to the row of three chairs, choosing the middle one. Taking a deep breath, I try and push all negative thoughts out of my head. As if worrying about the interview isn’t enough, all I can think about is that damn kiss.
I barely slept last night. After getting home from our ‘date,’ all I could think about was Aiden, and what I’d done. Had I cheated on him? It was the first kiss I’d experienced since the morning of Aiden’s accident over three years ago. For so long I’ve stuck by him, convinced that it was the right thing for me to do. Not only that, nobody had ever come close to making me not want to.
Until last night.
As much as I didn’t instigate that kiss, I wanted it as much as Max did. The chemistry I felt when his lips met mine rivaled any I’ve ever felt, and I feel awful because of it. I was sure Aiden would always be the only man in my life—even after the accident. But now, I don’t know what I want. The thought of moving on and closing that chapter forever feels impossible, but at the same time, I’m not sure I can walk away from another chance at happiness.
Why does everything turn into such a mess with me?
At six this morning, when I was having breakfast, I still had no idea if I would be at this interview. I changed my mind about coming at least ten times, but in the end, desperation won out. I need this job, which means putting my feelings aside and just doing it. I couldn’t even think about how I’d cope if I were actually successful. Seeing Max every single day, combined with the stress of a new job I have no experience working in? My stomach lurches.
The minutes slip by, and with every passing secon
d my nerves double. By the time Max appears at his office door, I’m ready to throw up. He smiles at me. I stand up and walk over to him, letting him lead me into the conference room next door.
“I wasn’t sure if you would show,” he murmurs, his eyes full of concern.
I focus on the tiny twitch of his jaw and smile. I feel bad for ignoring his fifteen phone calls, but I needed space to make this decision.
“I wasn’t either,” I admit. “But I need this, Max.”
“You’ll be fine. Just focus on me.” He says it with such sincerity that I nearly laugh. Does he have no idea how much I like him? If I focus on him I’m likely to forget everything and turn into a rambling mess. We walk inside the room and the mood instantly changes.
“Our next applicant is Kiara Drummond.”
My heart pounds when I see the long table of people waiting expectantly for me. One I recognize as Tilly’s teacher, Ms. Walker. Seeing her doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence after our last engagement. They’re all smiling kindly at me, which calms my nerves a few notches.
“This is the superintendent, Rob Angliss, Thomas Hallick, our school board director, and you know Kelly Walker, our lead teacher,” Max says.
