Page 64 of Illicit

“I’m saying, I’m ready to figure out what this is. Just the two of us. No one knows.”

I shake my head and put a hand to his chest. He finally allows me the space to get up. I scramble to my feet, but he’s right on my heels. Taking a step back, I put as much space between us as I can in his room full of boxes. “No. No way. It’s taken me two years to get over you rejecting me once. There’s no way I can live through that twice.”

He's standing there almost naked in only his boxers as he frowns at me. “You can’t deny there’s something between us. Not after the last few days.”

“It doesn’t matter. I refuse to go through that again. And there’s the fact I’m moving to New York.” I shake my head and put my hand up. “And you’re not talking me into anything. I love Landyn as much as you do, but I can’t. I’ve got a job that I’m looking forward to. I’m going.”

I turn for the door. I need to get through the next few days. Once we get back to Miami, there will be no more alone time with Rocco, and I’ll be mesmerized by my niece or nephew.

Life will be easy again.

“Teagan, we need to talk about this.” He follows me out of the bedroom, but we’re interrupted by a banging on the door. “Fuck. It’s the movers. My head is spinning. I have no concept of time when you’re around.”

He turns back to his room to get dressed, and I go straight to the bathroom. Once I’m locked inside, I pull in a deep breath and flip on hot water. When I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I pause.

Hell.

I just slept in Rocco’s arms.

Rocco Monroe.

And he wants to see where this is going. I drag my hands through my messy hair and sit on the closed toilet.

What’s happening?

And why could he not have come to this realization two years ago when it mattered?

Two whole miserable years.

My heart can’t go through that again. If it doesn’t end in some fantasy happily ever after, I’ll never recover.

I hear the movers shuffle through the apartment. I’ve moved with the government, I know how it goes. And Rocco doesn’t have that much. They’ll be done soon, and we can pick up my car.

Then it’s back to school, call Stella, and get through graduation. Rocco might be following me home, but at least I won’t be in the same car as him.

I’ve done harder shit than this.

But there’s one thing I refuse to do.

And that’s ask Rocco to kiss me.

That ship has long since sailed.

14

AT LEAST THREE FUCKS

Rocco

Today has been like a laundry list from hell.

Movers … check.

Hand in the keys to my home for the last three years … check.

Pick up Teagan’s car … check.

Tailgate Teagan all the way to Mississippi … check.

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