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He looks up after pulling a massive wad of hundred-dollar bills, and okay, what the fuck? “Are you sure?”
With my luck, he’s probably some kind of mafia boss or something. No one that hot comes without trouble. It’s practically a proven fact. And as tempting as it is to stay and figure him out, I have to go.
“Positive. I was only going to wear it once anyway.”
He seems confused for a second, and then tosses the cash onto the bed. “Well, at least let me walk you to the door.”
Apparently, having to see his abs again wasn’t enough. The universe has to torture me with seeing him in his boxers, walking toward me with fuck-me-eyes and a smirk that could melt the clothing right off my body. I swallow hard and try to focus on literally anything else as he places his hand on the small of my back and leads me to the door of the suite.
He steps in front of me, blocking my exit. His knuckle goes under my chin, and he lifts my head up to face him. I stand completely still as he bends down and kisses me once more. It’s slow and calculated, but there’s an underlying want in the way he moves his lips against mine. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that if I could stay, the two of us would spend hours exploring each other’s bodies and bouncing between reality and sexual sub-space.
“It was nice meeting you, Tessa Davenport,” he says seductively.
“You too, Asher Hawthorne.”
With that, he opens the door and I walk out—knowing I’ll never see him again.
AS I STAND IN in my driveway, I don’t think I’ve ever dreaded something so much in my life. Delaney and Knox are putting their suitcases
into the trunk of Laney’s car. Once they’re done, my sister turns to me and my heart drops. I can already see the waterworks building in her eyes.
“Don’t,” I plead. “If you cry, I’m going to cry.”
She chuckles, but it doesn’t stop the tear from escaping and sliding down her face. “I am going to miss you so much, Tess.”
“You’re not going to have a chance to miss me, because I’m going to come see you every fucking chance I get.”
Wiping her cheek with the back of her hand, she pulls me into a tight hug. “I’m holding you to that.”
We stand there and hold each other for a while, neither one of us wanting to let go, until our parents come out to say our goodbyes and we’re forced to part. While she focuses on them, I turn my attention to Knox. He’s standing by the car with his hands in his pockets, patiently waiting for Laney to get done. I walk toward him until we’re no more than a foot apart.
“Tessa.” He says my name like he’s completely unaffected, but I can hear the sadness in his voice.
I stand tall in a way that says I mean business. “Do you remember when Ainsley threatened to kill you if you ever hurt Delaney?”
He raises a single brow. “Yes?”
Smirking, I take one step closer. “Let me find out you ever do anything that makes her the slightest bit upset, and I’ll do things to you that will make the shit we went through this past year seem like a dream world.”
A wide grin spreads across his face, and he wraps his arms around me. “CBP, I’m going to miss your crazy ass.”
I can’t help but laugh, despite the fact that he’s using the nickname he refuses to tell me the meaning of. “Even after I almost burned your house down?”
“Even after that,” he promises.
As I take a step back, Delaney and our parents come up behind us. I hug my sister one last time and watch as our dad, who used to despise Knox with a passion, shakes his hand. I guess your opinion of someone changes when they literally take a bullet to save your daughter’s life.
“I swear to God, Delaney, you better text me every single day,” I tell her, my head resting on her shoulder.
“And I swear to God, you better answer every single day,” she retorts.
Knox’s focus moves from my dad to my sister, and you can see the love and admiration in his eyes. I can’t decide if it’s adorable or vomit-worthy. The one thing I can appreciate, however, is the fact that I know he will always do whatever it takes to protect her. He’s more than proven as much.
Delaney steps toward him with the biggest smile on her face. I’m happy for her, I am. But I’d be lying if I said my heart doesn’t crack a little with every bit of distance that spreads between us. They both wave goodbye and climb into the car, and I do my best to hold it all together as I watch them drive away. Once they’re gone, however, all bets are off.
“Tessa?” my mom asks as I turn around and race inside the house.
“Just give me some time,” I beg. “Please.”
