Page 83 of Counting On You

“You lied to me,” I say. “I think that’s the point we should be discussing.”

“It’s private. It doesn’t concern you.”

“Nothing’s private on my phone.”

She purses her lips, waves of anger wafting from her. “You still had no right to tell others all that I confided in you.”

“I didn’t really get the chance to say a lot.” I shake my head grimly. “You lied, Vicky. What the hell? I thought we had reached the point where you could trust me. Why didn’t you confide in me that he was back with his ex? I could have been there for you.”

“Because I wasn’t sure.”

I frown. “There is a picture of them at the beach on vacation. What’s there to doubt?”

“Fine.” She lets out a sharp breath. “What do you want to hear? That my relationship isn’t going anywhere? That I’m a failure?”

I stare at her, at a loss for words. “He’s a grown man who’s still living with his parents, and you’re the failure? You know what they say about men who are attached to momma’s apron strings?” I don’t wait for her reply. “I’ll give you a clue. It starts with P and ends with Y.”

“Stop it, Kade. This is not the time for jokes.” In spite of her attempt at looking annoyed, her lips twitch.

“Why not?”

“You’re making me angry.” She grabs the handle but doesn’t open the door. I press my open palm against the door, planting myself before her.

“If making you angry is the only way to make you realize you’re wasting your time with this guy, then it’s worth it.”

“Why do you even care?” Her voice is soft now.

I don’t understand the anger I’m feeling or the fact that I do care.

I don’t understand why I need to protect her while shaking some sense into her.

“I would hate seeing you wasting your time over this loser. I hate knowing that this piece of shit makes you feel bad about yourself.” I grab her chin, forcing her to look at me, fighting the sudden urge to kiss her. “No woman deserves to feel the way you do. I don’t know what his fucking problem is, but Vicky, I do know that you’re hot. I have to restrain myself around you, and it’s not easy.”

“You find me attractive?” she whispers, her eyes wide.

“Yeah. Without a doubt.” I brush my fingertips over her lips, tracing the contours. “You’re weird but sexy as hell. Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me? How much you leave me in want? I don’t think you do.”

She stares at me in silence. Seconds pass. Her proximity is both beauty and agony. I want to crush her lips with mine. I want to push my tongue into her mouth and find out whether she tastes as sweet as she looks.

At last, she pulls away from me, breaking our eye contact.

“Then why do you keep pushing me away?” she asks quietly.

The words hang heavy between us.

It takes me a full three seconds to understand what they mean.

She still remembers that night. The night I thought the alcohol would wipe her memory.

I let out a shaky breath. “I’m not pushing you away, Vicky. But I don’t want to hurt you. You’re too fragile for what I can give you.”

“Oh, please.” She laughs. “It was you who suggested we hook up. We both know what it means.”

What it used to mean.

Outside the door, the hall’s getting busy, and I realize only a piece of wood separates us from the world. And yet we couldn’t be farther away.

“You’re right, but it was before…” I break off, unsure what the hell I was just about to say.

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