Page 66 of Claiming What's Mine

Slowing to a stop, the shifter clicked into place, and the locks popped free. The motor for the window suddenly whirred, allowing the cool summer air to seep inside. Reaching my arm out, I was timid, waiting for my fingers to hit the glass.

“It's open all the way.” Jayden leaned in closer, his cologne swirling up around my face, reminding me just how close we actually were. A warm breath cascaded down my cheek as he exhaled.

I couldn't breathe. For a second time I was afraid to let this man invade my senses. It was a dangerous game we were playing.

He wasn't there to stay forever, he had only come to close a chapter to the horrible childhood he had endured. I could see it in his eyes at the wake, he enjoyed seeing his father in that casket. But it wasn't in an evil, psychotic way. Jayden was just happy he could finally shut the door to the torture, the pain, the horrific memories that made him hate this town.

And in my eyes, that was alright. He needed to see it to make it true, he had to be able to touch it and smell it, and know that it wasn't just a twisted joke.

Now he could finally move on. For the first time in his life, our little town we had grown up in didn't have to be the source of hate and resentment.

Whatever it was we were doing, it wasn't serious, it was just a fling, nothing more. Besides, even if I did still have feelings, deep seeded, undeniable feelings for that man, I had spent the last ten years living a lie.

How could I ever tell him the truth?

You can't, telling the truth will only hurt, it won't do any good.

He's hurt enough.

Jayden's hand cupped my elbow, pulling me back to reality. Manipulating my arm, he guided it out the open window. “Do you know where we are?”

With delicate fingers, I felt the air, pulling it in so I good take a deep breath of it. The air was slightly musty, reminding me of a late summer night after a really good rain. Everything had this damp, thick smell, but there was something mixed in those notes, something nostalgic, drawing me back in time.

It was a smell I would never forget. The scent of wet corn.

I know exactly where we are.

Twisting my face towards Jayden, I gave him a big toothy grin. “Of course I do. Did you really think you could pull one over on me?”

Bumping his shoulder against mine, I could tell he was looking out the window at my side. When he spoke, he spoke across my face, not to my face. He took a breath, his exhale moving past my face, and not against.

“Well then, tell me where we are.”

“We're at your old house.”

“Eh'nt,” he grunted like a buzzer.

“What? I know that smell, Jayden, it's your family's crops. I spent ten years living behind those fields.”

“I'm sorry, you're wrong. It's not my house.” Reaching up to my blindfold, he snatched my hand away so I couldn't take it off. “Nope, not yet.”

“Why not? We're here.”

“We're almost there.”

His door opened and shut, leaving me alone inside. I could hear him walking around outside the car, but he wasn't coming to help me out.

Leaning my face out the window, I called out into the darkness. “Jayden? Is this where the serial killer shows up?”

Jayden laughed from somewhere in front of the car. “No, but we—” His voice cut out, breaking away as he started gagging.

“Jay? Jayden? What's going on? Are you alright?” Digging my fingers into the rubber track of the window, I poked my head out more. “Jayden Henry, I swear, if you don't answer me right now—Ahh!” I screamed out as strong hands curled around my biceps.

“What? Did I scare you?” Jayden was cracking up, laughing hysterically as he squeezed my arms tighter. “You ready for the actual surprise now?”

Holding my chest, I snarled. “You scared the crap out of me.”

“That's what you get for not having any patience.”

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