Poison & Wine - Melissa Toppen Page 0,52
little Miss Impatient.” She smiles in the rearview mirror before closing the door. Seconds later, Keira’s backing out of the driveway, waving at me as she drives away.
“So, that’s Keira.” Jace pulls my attention back to his.
“It is.”
“She seems nice.”
“She can be. But don’t let her fool you. She can also be a major pain in the ass.”
“Can’t we all.” He laughs, a nervous twitch to his voice.
“So you said you needed to talk to me?”
“Yeah, I um, I hate to ask you this, but do you think there’s any way you could give me a ride over to Tommy’s apartment? I need to get my things before Tuesday or they’ll end up tossing them out.”
“I’m on my way to work.”
“No, I know. Not right now, obviously. But tomorrow, maybe?”
I think over my schedule. I’m off for the next three days after tonight, so as long as Gianna is okay keeping Ellie an extra hour tomorrow I could run him over after I get up.
“It’s just, well, I kind of need my clothes. Especially since I’m going back to work in a couple of days.”
“Yeah, no that’s fine. I should be able to run you over tomorrow afternoon.”
“Tomorrow afternoon would be perfect. I would walk but it’s a few miles away. Getting there wouldn’t be a problem but walking back with all my things might be.”
“It’s no problem.”
“Thank you.” He shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “So, um, are we going to talk about what happened the other night or are you going to continue to avoid me?”
“I’m not avoiding you. I’ve been working.”
He gives me a look that says he doesn’t buy my excuse. “I know you, Oakley. This doesn’t have to be weird. We had sex. It’s nothing we haven’t done a thousand times before.”
“But this time is different.”
“How so?”
“Because I don’t want to lead you on. Because I don’t want to give you the wrong impression about what’s happening here.”
“Right, because you have a boyfriend.”
“Actually, I don’t.”
“Oh.” He seems surprised by this news. “What happened?”
“I don’t want to get into that right now. I just think if we want to make this living arrangement work, then we need to keep things as uncomplicated as possible. Friends. Nothing more.”
“If that’s what you really want.” He tries to act unaffected by my words, but I can see the disappointment he’s trying to hide.
Was he hoping we’d be more? That we’d pick back up like nothing had happened over the last four years?
“It is.” I nod. “But, I do have a question…” It takes me a moment to gather the strength to say the words. “We, uh, we didn’t use protection.”
“We never have. Why? Are you not on birth control?”
“No, I am. But back then I had only been with you and you had only been with me.”
“Is that what you’re worried about? That maybe I gave you something?” His shoulders go tight and I can tell he’s offended. Hell, I would be too. But it’s a legitimate concern.
I crinkle my forehead in apology. “Can you blame me?”
He thinks on that for a moment.
“No, I guess I can’t. But I will say, I don’t recall a time that I’ve ever slept with someone without protection.”
The confirmation that he’s been with other women is like a sucker punch to the stomach. Of course I knew he had, but hearing him say it? It hurts a lot more than I thought it would.
“That you recall.” I swallow past the hard knot in my throat.
“Look, I get why you’d be concerned. But rest assured, I’m clean.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because there’s a lot that can be contracted through needles. I had a full panel done while I was in rehab. Other than some useless veins and a mildly damaged liver, I received a clean bill of health.”
I blow out a sigh of relief. I knew I had been worried, but I didn’t realize just how worried until this exact moment.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t…”
“Don’t apologize. I get it. I’d be worried too if I were you.”
“You still have it.” I completely change direction, pointing to his t-shirt.
“Of course I do. You gave it to me.” My heart does a little flip in my chest.
“Well, I should probably get inside and finish getting ready. My shift starts in twenty.”
“Okay.” He steps to the side to let me pass. “Hey, Oak,” he calls just as I reach the front porch. “For what it’s worth, the other night… I don’t regret it. Not