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My hand moves to cup her face and I lean down into her ear. “If I wanted to run my fingers through your hair and tug, what would you say?”
She sighs again, soft and sweet before looking down and shaking her head. “What? Josh did you brush your teeth?”
“Mom, I did that like ten minutes ago.”
“Okay, then let’s go!” She turns away, clearly shaken, before making her way toward her coat that’s hung by the front door.
Josh rushes out in front of her and jumps into her car. “We’ll follow you to your mom’s. I have to stop off at the bakery and grab a pie.”
“What? No. You’ll ride with me.”
“No.” She opens the back door for Josh and stares toward me. “The plan was to meet at the bakery. I can’t show up empty-handed.”
“Then we’ll meet at the bakery.”
“I want an escape plan now.”
“Why now?”
She shrugs and turns away.
“No.” I grip her arm and turn her toward me. “I asked you a question.”
“What? What question?” She’s playing dumb, and I want to hear why.
I narrow my gaze. “If I wanted to run my fingers through your hair and then tug on it, what would you say?”
She looks away. “I’d say you’re sick.”
“No,” I growl low, leaning into her ear. “What would you say?”
Her gaze rises to meet mine. This time her tone is softer as she says, “I told you. I’d say you’re sick.”
“Do you like that I’m sick, Mae? Something tells me you do,” I growl low in her ear.
“No.” Her tone melts against my cheek. “Stop. You’re crazy. We have so much to do today.”
“So then tell me the truth. Do you feel this? Whatever it is.”
She leans back and glances up at me. “We can’t go back from this, Luke. I need this job. I can’t have things awkward every day at work. You’re not thinking straight. Text me the address and I’ll meet you there, but no more of this… okay? This isn’t real. We’re pretending. That’s the deal.”
I stare toward her, knowing now what a fucking mess I’ve gotten myself in. Nothing will stop this ache… nothing but her. And deep down, I know she feels it too.
Nodding my head, I take a step back and brush my hand down over my beard. “Right. Pretend.”
Chapter Five
Mae
Josh pops on his headphones in the backseat and gets lost in an episode ofBionic Cats. He has limited screen time at home, so letting him watch his videos while we drive has always been a treat he loves. Plus, it keeps me sane while trying to navigate twisting back roads. I’ve never been the best driver, and with the snow that falls here nine months of the year, I’m thankful for every episode ever made. Besides that, I need to talk to Dee and flush all these weird thoughts out of my head before the party.
She answers on the first ring. “It’s so early. Why are you calling me?”
“Not sorry. I’m in crisis and I need you to make sense of everything, like right now.”
“Okay…” She sounds groggy, like she hasn’t sat up from bed yet. “Talk.”
I huff. “I have that thing with Luke today, and we kissed… but like it was supposed to be fake, but I liked it. I really liked it. He’s so big and everything was so natural. I didn’t want it to stop.” I pause for a long moment, and she doesn’t say a word. I even check the screen to make sure I haven’t been talking to an empty line.
