AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The driver rolls down the passenger side window and says something to her. She steps toward the back door, and I see fucking red.
“Carys, stop.”
“Sorry, Coop. I’m not Wanda. I don’t like commands.” She opens the door, and I push it closed.
I pass the driver a twenty. “Sorry, man. She’s going home with me.”
“Shecan speak for herself. And she doesn’t want to be stuck in a car with you.”
A cheer comes from the family behind us, and I drag my hand over my face.
I wrap my hand around the back of her head and hold her still. “Baby, I’m leaving in a few days. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, but I was just so damn happy to see you that I wasn’t even thinking about it. I was only thinking aboutyou.” My thumb caresses her cheekbone. “Now, will you please get in the goddamned Jeep so I can grovel in fucking private? I don’t want to waste any of the next few days fighting.”
My strong girl breaks down in tears, then buries her face in my neck. “I don’t want you to go.”
“I don’t want to either, baby. But I have to.” I hold her in my arms, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair.
“Girl. Don’t let him play you like that,” comes from the same family as before, and my grip on Carys tightens.
“Can we get in the Jeep now?” I groan.
She lifts her head and runs her fingers along my jaw, then nods.
I press my lips to her forehead and offer up a silent prayer she’s going to forgive me. We’re quiet as we get in and head back to the house while I try to figure out what to say, but Carys isn’t in the mood for quiet.
“When do you leave?” She crosses her legs and angles her body toward mine. “And why doesn’t it sound like Linc’s going too?”
“First things first. Are we going back to my house or yours?” Not that it makes much difference for the drive home.
“Depends... Has Emerson been sleeping at your house or mine? Because I’d rather not continue this fight, knowing Linc and she are in the next room.”
“Mine it is then. Linc’s been crashing at your place most of this past week.” I place my hand, palm up, between us and wait to see if she’ll take it. And my girl doesn’t disappoint.
She laces her fingers through mine and tugs our joined hands into her lap. “Ready to answer my questions now?”
“I’m being sent to Virginia Beach for six to eight months to help out Bravo Team. I just found out yesterday.” I come to a stop at a red light and turn to look at this gorgeous woman who I know I’m hurting. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything earlier today. I was just so damn relieved to see you, baby.”
Carys runs the pad of her thumb over our joined hands, sending electricity coursing through my body. Her voice trembles as she asks, “When do you leave?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
She exhales a stuttered breath, and I lean into her.
The light changes to green, and the car behind us honks impatiently.
“Take me home, Coop.” She grips my hand tighter.
“Toyourhouse?” I have zero fucking clue how to read this woman right now, but I know I’m treading a fine line.
“No.” She squeezes our hands. “To yours.”
We drive for the next few minutes in silence.
It’s not until we’re parked in my driveway that she drops my hand and then climbs into my lap, her legs on either side of mine. She’s so small against me, so fragile and yet so strong.
I rest one hand between her shoulder blades and the other possessively on her thigh.
How the fuck am I supposed to go months without her?
