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“Soon.” He’s right. I’m being incredibly selfish, but just the thought of him leaving has me wanting to breathe into a brown paper bag. “Hey, it’ll be fine. I won’t be gone for too long.”
“Any time away from you is too long.”
He smirks, a lazy tug of those sinful lips. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
“My heart misses you when you’re in the other room. I can’t imagine what’ll happen when you’re in another state.” It may sound melodramatic, but it’s the truth. “You don’t want to be held responsible for such an atrocity, do you?”
His husky laugh sends goose bumps all the way to my toes. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” He places his fist over the hub in question. “You could always come with me.”
I blink once, taken off guard. “To Oregon?”
“Yes. Not to live. Just to scope it out on the off chance that you fall in love and never want to leave.”
Once I get everything figured out, nothing would be holding me back. I owe this to Saxon. He has stayed for me. “I suppose I could.”
“That’s better than no.”
“See, this is called compromise.” He laughs, kissing my lips softly. I hunger for this man, and each taste has me craving more.
“I have another compromise for you…” No guessing what that entails when he smirks.
I’m about to take him up on his offer when in strolls Sam, wearing the same clothes as yesterday. His disheveled state hints he had a late night. Or early morning—whichever way you want to look at it. “Oh, shit, sorry.” He’s about to turn around and exit the way he came, but I stop him.
“It’s okay.” If we’re going to do this, then we have to stop walking on eggshells. I subtly untangle myself from Saxon’s embrace because although I’m all for us acting normal, I want to behave with tact.
However, the red hickey on the side of his neck the size of Texas has me thinking he’s slowly coming to terms with this new reality. “Where have you been?” I quickly bite my lip because that came out a lot more judgmental than I meant.
“Out,” he replies with a shit-eating grin.
Fair enough. I don’t lay any claim on him anymore. He can come and go as he pleases. I pale at the thought. “Great, I’m glad.” So why does it feel like I’ve just received a swift kick to my solar plexus? “When you’re cleaned up, maybe we could go over some realtors?”
His mood instantly sours, but he nods. “Sure. I’ll just grab a shower.” He reaches for an apple on the way out. I can’t help but linger on the spot he once stood, attempting to dissect what the hell that was.
Saxon’s body language speaks volumes. “I’ll leave you to it.”
“Saxon, stop.” I latch onto his forearm. He has every right to be angry with me.I’mangry with me. “I’m sorry. I have no idea what that was. I just… I wasn’t expecting to react that way. Force of habit, I guess.”
“It’s fine. I understand.” But the palpable anger pulsating through him makes that a lie.
“I’m trying my best.” I use the same words he said to me last night, hoping to explain something I don’t even comprehend.
It has the desired effect, and his shoulders slump. “I know. This is just so fucking weird.” He pulls me into his arms. “It’s not even been a week, and already he’s chasing tail. I don’t buy it. You and me… it’s been a long time coming. But he’s obviously just shacked up with the first bimbo he could find.”
I swallow down my revulsion at that very vivid image. “Maybe this is him moving on?” I offer. But Saxon isn’t convinced. I know what he’s going to say, so I place my hand over his mouth. “No more conspiracy theories, okay? Whatever or whomever he does is none of my business. All I care about is selling this house and then moving on…with you.”
He kisses my palm, before gently removing it. “Okay. The sooner, the better.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Looping my hands around his nape, I grin as I’m struck with a brilliant idea. “How about we go on that date tonight? I feel like getting drunk. Maybe get a little crazy?” I wink to emphasize my point, though I probably look like I have something in my eye.
Saxon erupts into a husky fit of laughter. “You’re too cute for your own good.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “Okay, it’s a date.”
A wave of giddiness passes over me, and I feel like I’m sixteen again. However, I squash down the sadness to that thought. “Yay!” I cheer, feeling somewhat normal again. “FYI—” I bat my eyelashes “—this date will definitely end in you getting laid,” I confirm in a loud whisper behind my hand.
He tongues his upper lip, his eyes turning sultry and disintegrating my underwear. “I’ll skip dinner then and head straight for dessert.” Saxon doesn’t just speak, he makes love to every word.
“I can’t wait.” And I honestly can’t.
With the earlier incident behind me, I only focus on the positives. I wanted Sam to move on. And even though the bitter aftertaste still lingers, I tell myself one step at a time. This is all part of making new memories and learning from the mistakes we’ve all made.
