fleeting. I couldn’t remember anything beyond his hand gripping my nape and pulling me in. It didn’t escape my notice that he’d gone slow, giving me time to back out.
I didn’t. I couldn’t. It would be like cutting out my own heart.
His soft lips brushed back and forth against mine before pecking them. I lost count of how many times before my lips finally parted, and his tongue swept inside.
He tasted like sugar and smoke. So damn sinfully good.
I made a desperate sound, begging him for more, and he answered with a hungry groan. I’d wanted his kiss from the first. The very moment I’d stumbled back into his life and he’d charged back into mine.
Jamie had been right. The years apart hadn’t dulled my desire for him. It had only intensified.
When he pulled away, his eyes slowly opened much like the first time we kissed—as if he were reluctant to let go of the fantasy. The fantasy that we were right for each other, that we could be together.
“I really hate you, do you know that?” His eyes had never looked quite so bright before as he stared down at me. “So fucking much.”
My stomach twisted tight, hearing those words. I knew what he really wanted to say and knew he’d never trust me with the truth ever again.
A tear slipped from my eye. “I never promised you anything, Jamie.”
I truly wanted to believe that I hadn’t betrayed him. It was hard enough looking at myself in the mirror or closing my eyes without seeing his face, especially the moments after he discovered Ever and I together. Jamie had haunted my thoughts and dreams every day since.
“No?”
Coming to my senses, I hurriedly lowered my gown as he reached inside his tuxedo pocket. My traitorous heart thundered the moment he pulled out a folded slip of paper. Slowly, he unfolded it until I could see the tape holding the seams together—as if he’d torn it to shreds and then pieced it back together. I already knew what was written on it long before he began to hurl the words at me accusingly. He never once even glanced at the paper as he recited the words. He’d memorized them.
Longer days and shorter nights,
I think of summer, and I think of you.
Butterfly kisses and sunshine smiles,
Your laugh, my favorite melody.
The grass is greener when you’re here.
Was the sky always this blue?
The season has new meaning now.
I think of summer, and I think of you.
Fated to end, a fling like the wind,
I watch you sail away.
With your kiss and your promise,
I wait for you, solstice.
Your lighthouse, I’ll light the way.
“Gotta be honest,” he remarked with a smirk, “it’s a little elementary, but at least the meaning was clear. You said you’d always wait for me.” As he tucked the tattered poem back inside his tux, I started to speak, but the dark look in his eyes stopped me. “Tread very fucking carefully. If you say we were just kids one more time, you might not make it to prom.”
“That wasn’t what I was going to say,” I snapped even though it was a lie.
“Whatever you say, sweetheart.”
A shiver rippled through me. “Don’t use that tone with me,” I said, gritting my teeth as I crossed my arms under my breasts, pushing them up further. Any other time, his focus would have been drawn to them, but his gaze remained locked with mine, telling me he was really pissed.
“What tone?” he asked, playing coy.
“As if we’re the ones who are getting married.”
“According to this article, we are.”
“Yeah, well, I embellished a little.”
“No, you told it exactly as it happened, and apparently, it was a fairy tale to remember… I certainly do.”
“Jamie, don’t do this.”
“Do what?”
My gaze fell to my lap. “Woo me with memory lane.”
“I’m just stating facts… and I have no intention of wooing you. I tried that, remember?”
Frustrated, I pushed away the wisps of hair falling in my face, drawing his gaze to my temple. It was a few seconds before I realized why he was frowning.
“What happened?” he said, referring to the cut I’d made near my temple.
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
“How. Did. It. Happen?”
The longer I hesitated, the more his eyes narrowed to slits. I cursed myself for not thinking of a lie before now. Jamie had the power to distract me completely from the outside world. “I hit my head.”
Wordlessly, he peeled a corner of the Band-Aid back to inspect my injury himself. I held my breath the entire time.