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I release a boisterous laugh that draws the attention of a few wedding guests. “Are you joking me?”
I grab her hand and drag her out of the reception hall and down a long hallway. When I find a quiet spot, I twist her around and press her back against the sheetrock. With my hands on the wall next to her head, I cage her in. My cheek resting against hers.
“You like to test my limits. Now it’s time I test yours.” I trail a finger across her collarbone, over her heaving chest, down her stomach until I reach the button at her waistband. I push the button through the hole and slide my hand down the front of the now loose fabric.
Her breath hitches. “Van.” She pants. “We can’t do this. We shouldn’t do this here.” She lifts her knee and bucks her hips as I run a finger over the front of her panties.
“Are you sure you want me to stop? Because your body says otherwise.” I push the material to the side and run my finger through her folds. Sure enough, she’s already soaked for me. “If this is your body’s reaction to getting jealous when another girl talks to me, maybe I should make sure that happens more often.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” Her breathing increases with every dip and swipe of my fingers. She bites on her lip to hold back her moans. I know she’s struggling to keep quiet when her eyes pinch shut. “Van. You’re fingers…fuck. Keep going.”
“Tell me what I want to hear,” I whisper against her heated skin as I continue to rub my finger over her clit.
Between pants she replies, “Tell. You. What?”
“That you were jealous,” I mumble into her neck.
She huffs. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
I pull my hand from her panties. I wrap my lips around my digits and suck her arousal off. “Now, if you tell me what I want to hear, I’ll get on my knees right here, bury my head between your legs, and lick your pussy dry. What do you say?”
She drops her leg, pushes off the wall, and buttons her pants. “I say, not going to happen.”
She gently pats my cheek with her hand. Then she turns and saunters away, adding an extra sway to her hips. It shouldn’t be this fun to rile her up, but it is, and it’s my mission tonight to get her to admit she’s jealous. I can see it in her eyes, I can see it in her posture. Now I need to get her to admit her feelings.
A few minutes later, I’m entering the reception hall again. Hollyn is shoving German chocolate, champagne, and red velvet cake pop sticks into their holder.
She stomps her foot. “Ugh. I hate you. Fine, I was jealous. I hated her touching you. Hell, I hated her looking at you. Like she was undressing you with her eyes. Are you happy? Is that what you wanted to hear?” Her shoulders deflate.
I step into her space and cup her cheeks with both hands, forcing her gaze to meet mine. “Yes. Now I know the feeling is mutual. You’re the only one I want. When we get back to the bakery, I’ll show you.”
EIGHTEEN
SURPRISE RUN IN
Hollyn
The pavement pounds beneath my feet as “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd pumps through my ear buds. Each step matches the beat of the song. Bright blues cover the sky as the blazing sun shines above me. The nice weekday afternoon draws a crowd to the lake as I weave in and out of walkers on the boardwalk that snakes along the shoreline.
The past weekend with Van was one of the best I’ve had in a long time. After we left the wedding, we went back to the bakery where he finished what he started at the reception and then again when we arrived at my place. Waking up with his arms wrapped around me Sunday morning was bliss. Why is the sex so much more intense after we’ve gotten under each other's skin? After the birthday party when Lucas was flirting with me and now with the older woman flirting with Van. It was never like this with my ex-fiancé, even early in the relationship. Maybe those feelings were only superficial, and everything with Van runs deeper.
I round the final curve before I reach the long stretch before the boardwalk ends. I glance down at my watch to check my time. On my last mile, I push my legs forward to shave off a few extra seconds. As I approach the end of the boardwalk that stops before the lift bridge and the canal, I slow my pace to a brisk walk. My chest heaves as I catch my breath. The aroma of sugar rolled deep fried dough from Donut Dan’s food truck swirls through the air as a warm breeze circles around me. My belly rumbles from the sweet smell. Needing a distraction from my stomach wanting to eat itself, I tilt my head toward the sun. I close my eyes and soak up the warmth. Thoughts of the other night with Van flit through my mind.
A hand grips my bicep. I whirl around and throw my hands up as if I’m about to karate chop whoever’s in front of me.
“Whoa there, Kung Fu Panda.” Krystin holds up her hands in defense. “I’ve been yelling your name for the past five minutes. Didn’t you hear me?
I yank out my ear buds and hold them up. “Sorry. I didn’t hear you.”Or I was purposely ignoring you.
“I never took you for a runner.” She eyes me up and down. “It’s done well for you.” Most people would take her words as a compliment, but from her, it’s anything but.
“How are you, Krystin?” I wipe the sweat from my brow.
She scrunches her nose in disgust before talking about her favorite subject, herself. “I’ve been great. Enjoying the married life.” She flashes me her two-carat princess cut diamond ring as if I didn’t already see it when she shoved it in my face when she asked me to bake her wedding cake. “Also, I’m sorry to hear about Della passing. That must be really hard for you. Being out of a job and all now that she’s gone. What are you going to do?” She rests her hand on my forearm and leans into my space. “You know, if you need anything like a job, I’ll talk to my dad. I’m sure he can find something for you. It would only be entry level—”
“Thanks, but I still have a job,” I interrupt, mostly so I don’t have to listen to her talk anymore.
She claps her hands in front of her excitedly. “Oh great! So you can make some cupcakes for a gender reveal party.”
