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“That dream’s dying.”
Whoa. “You’re a quitter?” I took a step back, and his hand fell away. “I guess I should really think about having this baby. If you quit so easily because things are tough, then how can I count on you to hang in there and be there for our child?” Tears stung my eyes, and I whirled around before he could see them and took off toward my dorm.
It didn’t take long to get there, and I was relieved that he hadn’t followed… or I thought he hadn’t. When I opened the door, I caught a glimpse of him not too far away. It hurt even more to know that he’d made sure I got back okay.
In the stairwell, my phone rang, and I answered it without thinking. Phoenix’s voice came through like a gentle hug, and I shuddered. I stopped and leaned against the railing, pressing the phone tight to my ear. “We have to stop doing this.” I was so confused. I wasn’t an all-or-nothing girl, but I was a something-or-nothing one.
“I know.” His voice was quiet. Calm.
I wondered if he was just outside the door. “I’m not asking for a relationship from you. That’s the last thing I need. But what terrifies me is how hot and cold you are. And I’m afraid any type of relationship with you would be the same crazy that my mom and dad have. I can’t live that way, even though you would only maybe be in our baby’s life sporadically.”
“Open the door, Aspen.”
His voice worked over me like a caress, and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to ward off his effect. Damn him. I was going to do it too. I reluctantly hung up the phone, slipped it into my pocket, and went to the door, where only the glass separated us. He was larger than life and so incredibly handsome. But there was a storm inside him, and I feared being caught in the middle. Maybe I already was.
My emotions were all over the place. I wanted him to leave me alone but also to want to be with me, and weirdly enough, not just because of the baby. Everything was so nauseatingly push and pull. I couldn’t understand myself, let alone begin to analyze how Phoenix felt.
With that last thought, I pressed on the bar, unlocking the door for him to enter. He filled the doorway, and I backed up as he prowled inside. A shiver ran down my spine, and my knees went weak. He looked at me like he was going to devour me, and I suddenly wanted precisely that.
Then his hand was at my hip, stopping me from retreat. He threaded the other through the hair at my nape, angling my head. He bent slowly, giving me time to tell him to stop, but there was no way I would. I wanted this just as badly as he seemed to.
His lips were an inch from mine, and I couldn’t stop myself from saying, “You can’t fix all the world’s problems by kissing them away.”
“These aren’t the world’s problems. Just ours.”
I melted as his lips slanted over mine. I couldn't resist him. I was in a world of trouble.
It was just like in the movies. He swooped in, his hand on the back of my head, gently but with absolute control. My knees went weak. It was the perfect head tilt, and I clung to him, wanting so much more.
Then he pulled back, the intensity crackling between us, looking every bit as wrecked as I felt from that kiss. His hand drew forward, flat against my cheek, and I closed my eyes, reveling in his touch. Neither of us spoke. His hand fell away, and I swayed until I opened my eyes to see him turning, stepping away, leaving.
I watched him go then did the same, feeling the chasm between us and wondering how we would ever build a bridge.
* * *
Icouldn’t stop thinking about that mind-blowing kiss as I walked back from classes the following afternoon. My head was so far into the clouds that I literally ran into someone.
“Watch where you’re going,” the girl snapped.
I’d walked into Shane’s ex, Tracey, and of course, she had Jillian with her. I had met both girls over the summer, just for a hot minute, and I’d known it was the bitch parade from the start.
The sidewalks were crowded with students moving from one class to the next, but the three of us were at a standstill. It was stupid. I shifted and stepped to the side to go around them. Jillian’s hand shot out, and I paused.
Guess we’re doing this. “Problem, Jillian?” I raised an eyebrow. “Have a come-to-Jesus-moment with Phoenix? Having to face reality that you’re not dating must have been hard for you. Or maybe it was learning that he has a new girlfriend that cracked your false-reality bubble?”
Jillian crowded me, but I held my ground against the taller brunette. Her overabundant chest was way too close. “Hey, I’m sorry—I’m into guys.” I glanced down in case she was dumb. She wasn’t, but whatever. My insult bank was low today.
“I’m not worried, Preggo.”
“Original.” I smirked.
“Pretty soon, you’re going to get fat. Phoenix won’t stick around for that and will be right back where he really wants to be—with me.” Her eyes flashed demon red. Okay, they didn’t, but they could have. It was how I pictured her. “I’m every guy’s fantasy,” she purred.
I peeked at Tracey, who frowned at that little tidbit from Jillian.
“But not Phoenix’s.” I couldn’t help but poke the beast. “Guess you’ll have to go look for that imaginary line of guys then.” I shoved around her, but she smacked her hand on my stomach.Oh no, she didn’t. Rage rose in me. My hands fisted at my sides at the threat to the life I carried.
A whirl of dark hair eclipsed my vision, and then Jillian was off me while someone put an arm around me and pulled me back. I glanced to the left to see who it was and frowned at the pretty girl with a cute chic haircut who had her arm around me before recognition clicked. It was Cass, a good friend of Riley’s, who’d shouldered Jillian away from me.
