coming out of my nose and ears. I risk a glance at the check and cringe. “I feel bad.”
“I don’t.” He puts his credit card down. “I’m sure I’ll hear about this tomorrow.”
At the mention of tomorrow Kent is gone again. He is anger and resentment.
I sulk on the way out the restaurant, surprised to find the taxi is still waiting for us. The meter is out of this world.
“Take me to Enterprise,” Kent orders. “We’re renting a car.”
I keep my mouth shut as Kent rents the most expensive car they possess. I image the credit card is burning at this point. When we drive to the mall I am highly reluctant. But Kent is in a mood and I don’t want to push him as his arms become weighed down with shopping bags.
What did his dad do that’s worth blowing thousands for?
The look in his eyes reminds me that not too long ago Kent was running from something, and he is far from done.
Chapter Eleven
That night something wakes me. I roll over in Kent’s arms as I listen intently. However, I have a feeling the screaming I heard was in my dreams. A male voice sounding suspiciously like my father was screaming into my ear. His insults were strung together, indistinguishable obscenities that squeezed my heart.
“What’s wrong?” Kent asks, flinging his arm around me and pulling my naked body against his chest.
After we got home he’d dragged me into the room and ripped off my clothes, making love to me so roughly I had to admit I was a little tender. “I’m sore,” I chastise him.
He reaches down and gently slides his fingers into my middle, parting my lips and massaging me. My nightmare fades away. I jerk involuntarily and moan, opening my legs for him.
“Does this feel better?”
“Mhm,” I moan. His fingers find my clitoris and he massages me in a slow damaging circle until I’m falling apart in his arms. I lie there, breathless and immobile, until I can function again. I roll over and touch his face, finding his eyes in the dark. “What is it you’re not telling me?”
“All of the things we bought and we forgot condoms.” He sounds genuinely disappointed. “Maybe I’ll go buy some.”
What are we going to Tampa for? Kent could easily celebrate his birthday here.
“Maybe you’ll tell me what you’re running from.”
“Maybe you’ll marry me.”
“Maybe,” I agree, “if you’re honest with me. Always be honest with me.”
“You want to go to Tampa now?” He sounds so sad, so beaten. “We’ll get there a little after five if we leave now.”
Is this his way of being honest with me?
“Are you worried?”
“I’m not excited to meet your pregnant ex.” I roll my eyes at him, getting up and getting dressed with the new clothes he bought.
“Don’t remind me,” he grumbles, grabbing a black suitcase out of his closet. He starts packing it with his things. “How am I supposed to be happy for them?”
“You’re not. You don’t have to be negative either.”
He laughs once without humor. “They’re there. They told Mom the news over a week ago. Mom’s having them stay until my birthday is over. It’s a double party.” He sounds so bitter and angry I become bitter and angry too.
I bite my lip and step into my new gold sandals. “Why does she care about Willow?” I don’t get it.
“You ready? You want to call your sister before we leave?”
I look at myself in the mirror, admitting I look nice in my new skinny jeans and pink blouse. “No.”
“Then let’s jet.” Dressed in a white shirt and black jeans, he grabs his suitcase. He ties his boots and then grabs his keys and wallet out of his old jeans. “I’ll bring your things down,” he promises.
“Oh, I wasn’t going to lift a finger,” I assure him.
He laughs and shakes his head as we head downstairs. I sit in the passenger seat of the rental car as he loads everything into the back. It’s a sleek sports car, I will admit, with white leather seats and televisions in the headrest. I feel small in the carnivorous interior. Before he pulls out, Kent makes a face that scares me.
He’s heading toward the pain instead of away from it.
On the highway I settle down. One weekend can’t cause that much damage. I feel slightly selfish that all I’m worrying about is our relationship and not Kent’s feelings. But I can no longer sympathize with his sadness over Willow. A part of me refuses