“No,” I say, slowly shaking my head. “We’re not. He’s my boss. I wouldn’t screw around with my boss.”
Drew says nothing, but his silence fills up the truck’s cab just the same as an endless stream of words would.
“Listen, you left me, remember? I’m finally getting on with my life, moving on from you, and then you go and text me that stupid, stupid code word. You have a lot of nerve, you know. I don’t know why I bothered coming out here to rescue you. Accusing me of being with someone else like a complete jealous jerk.” I need to call him out on his shit so I can get to the truth. I need the truth. I’ve been in limbo waiting for him and hating him, loving him, wanting to kill him, wanting to save him, for way too long.
I’m done. He either needs to come clean with me and we can get to the bottom of this, or we’ll continue swimming in an endless circle that will both drive me crazy and exhilarate me, all at once.
“I didn’t know what to think,” he finally says. “What he said put thoughts in my head and fucked around with…everything.”
“You have no right to accuse me of this crap.” I take a deep breath. Drew may have jumped to conclusions, but I’m starting to think Colin didn’t help matters by implying that something’s going on between us. Which it’s so not. “Who are you going to believe? Some guy you don’t know or me?”
He lifts his lids, his gaze meeting mine. His eyes are bright, even in the dim light of the truck, and I wish I could lean into him. Touch him. Kiss him.
“You,” he whispers. “I’m going to believe you.”
Chapter Seven
Do magic. Enter her heart without touching her. – Unknown
Fable
I’m taken aback by Drew’s admission and all I can do is sit here and stare at him. I don’t know what to say, how to react, nothing. I think I’m still in shock that we’re sitting in his truck, together. Alone. Like the past two months haven’t happened and we’re right back where we started.
But I know all of his secrets. Well, most of them. And they’re horrible. He knows a few of mine, not that I have many. I was an open book for him from the start. My few remaining secrets aren’t as life altering as his. My mom is a drunken, no-job-having loser. My dad has never made contact with me my entire life. Drew already knows those facts about me.
Oh, and my brother is skipping class and smoking pot and there’s not much I can do about it. Drew doesn’t know much about Owen. Or about my own insecurities and fears, how they keep me trapped here in this going-nowhere life. How I feel like I have to take care of my little brother all the time because our mom sure as hell isn’t doing it.
The only thing I can completely control is me and my reaction to my life. At this very moment, I can control only my reaction to Drew. So I sit here and wait. Wait for him to say something first, because I’m not speaking until he does. It’s his turn to make the next move.
Despite the warning bells clanging in my head, I want him to make that first move.
“Fable, I…” He pauses and swallows hard. “I’m not sober enough to drive you home.”
Disappointment courses through me. There went the first move. “I’ll call a cab.” Like I can afford it, but what the hell else am I supposed to do?
“No.” He shakes his head. “I want you to stay with me. Tonight.”
Everything inside me screams to run far, far away. There’s also a tiny part of me that says I should stay. Crash out on his couch and wake up the next morning refreshed after spending the night in the same house with the one I love. We won’t do anything. Maybe we’ll talk. Maybe I’ll get him to confess why he asked me to rescue him with that beautiful, tragic note, then refused to answer my texts or voice mails.
Yes, I still want an answer in regard to that particular fiasco.
“I shouldn’t,” I whisper.
“Please.” He clears his throat. “Nothing will happen. I promise.”
I close my eyes, my thoughts and my wants conflicted. I’m at war with myself and I hate it. Maybe I want something to happen. Maybe I want to have outrageous, dirty, mind-blowing sex with Drew Callahan. But his words, his gentlemanly ways might overrule him. The guy is downright chivalrous.
I really don’t want chivalry tonight. I want comfort. Passion. I crave what Drew can give me. Delicious hot kisses, unbelievable pleasure…
“We can talk.” He reaches out and settles his hand on my arm. His palm is warm, his fingers slightly rough as they stroke my skin, and instantly my body reacts. I’m all tingly and my heart rate has kicked up. I think of how Colin touched me earlier and nothing happened.