AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He walks around to my side of the car and opens the door for me. I had forgotten to unbuckle my seatbelt, so he leaned down to do it for me. As he starts to rise, he stops when we are a breath away from each other. I don’t expect what comes next.
He leans over and kisses me. On the lips. And not gently.
I would’ve pulled back, but my head was against the seat already. He takes the kiss deeper, and I find myself responding, but only for the barest fraction of a second. I come to my senses and push against his chest.
When his lips reluctantly pull away from mine, I speak before he can try again. “Trent, no. I don’t want this.”
He pauses to look at me. I think he’s going to try again but decides against it. He stands back stiffly. “Of course. Like I said, I’m willing to wait for you.”
He doesn’t give me his hand to help me out of the car. I have to wiggle myself out and use the door frame to help pull myself up. This pregnancy is getting hard to maneuver.
“It’s okay, let’s just forget that happened,” I say.
“I won’t be forgetting that kiss anytime soon,” he responds ardently.
We walk into the building together, and he walks me to my apartment. Neither of us speaks.
The kiss was pleasantish. He’s a good kisser; however, pulling back wasn’t difficult. Something is missing. He doesn’t set my body on fire. He doesn’t make my heart race.
Only Ethan can do that.
And there also is a very insistent voice in my head that says something was off tonight. To put it simply, I don’t like the way Trent acted.
As we reach the top of the stairs, I pause to give my poor feet a rest. As I look down the hallway toward my apartment, I notice flowers sitting by my doorway. I swear I smell the sweet scent of roses in the air.
I stop walking abruptly and turn to Trent.
“Have you been sending me flowers?” I ask.
“No. Would you like me to?” he asks with a hint of confusion.
“No, it’s nothing like that. It’s just that I received some flowers, and I wasn’t sure who they were from. I just wondered if it was you.”
“It wasn’t me. Now I’m disappointed that I didn’t think of it, though,” he declares.
A knot of unease forms in my stomach.
“I’m exhausted. Do you mind if we just say goodnight here? I need to get to bed,” I lie.
“Sure, if that’s what you want.”
“I’ll text you later,” I promise.
He kisses my cheek. “I look forward to it.”
As I continue the walk to my apartment door, my trepidation grows stronger and stronger. This now marks the third set of identical flowers. I mentally cross my fingers. Please let this one say who they’re from.
I gingerly pluck the note from the vase. And my heart drops.
Lizzie, I’ve been watching from afar, and I wanted you to know that I see you . . . the real you. For months, you haven’t let me get close to you. Youhave no clue what you have done to me, how you have made me feel. I’m trying not to be jealous of you or the pregnancy, but seeing you spend time with him . . . is too much. You shouldn’t be with him. He’s not the one for you, and sooner or later, you will realize this even if I have to take matters into my own hands. I’m sorry I have to be the one to tell you this. -Sincerely
I sink against the wall. My legs are unable to hold me up. Once the shaking starts, I can’t stop it. I do the first thing that comes to mind. I search frantically for the phone in my bag. I can’t control my fingers. They can barely grasp the phone.
Ethan. I need Ethan. That’s the only thought I can hold onto.
I scroll through my contacts and pass his name a dozen times before I realize what I’m doing.
I focus long enough to hit his name and wait for the ringing.
