Page 36 of The Overdue Kiss

“Hang on. Let me finish before you burst a vein. He somehow found my new number.”

Maya glances between us, pulling at the cross around her neck. “Who’s Burns?”

“My ex-boyfriend that refuses the ‘ex’ in his title.”

“Is he here in Rocosa?” I blurt. “Want me to call Thor?” For once, it’s convenient to have a friend who doubles as a bodyguard.

“No, he’s not here. Now that he’s on parole, he wanted to check on me and...” Reese grips the back of her neck, glancing away. “Well, he misses me.”

“Reese—‍”

“Des, I’m not interested in dating him again. Not when I’m finally starting to feel like my old self.” She turns to Maya and grimaces. “You still look confused. How do I sum up the worst mistake of my entire life? Every bad thing I’ve ever done, Burns has been right by my side cheering me on. He has this hot bad-boy persona that seems mysterious and romantic, but in reality, he’s controlling, manipulative, and possessive. I don’t want to be dragged back into the darkness, not when I’ve tried so hard to get out of it.”

“I’m proud of you,” I say, my heart swelling to the point I almost can’t contain it. Her recovery has been longer than expected, but even when she stumbled, she was always resilient, forcing herself to get better each day. All the hospital visits, withdrawal symptoms, and arguments were worth it to reach this point. When I put a hand on her shoulder, she melts into my side for a hug. “I’m sorry if I don’t tell you that more often.”

“It is nice to hear every once in a while.”

“So, he’s gone for good?” I ask, unable to hide the hopeful tone in my question.

She shrugs. “He asked me to meet him at The Cellar in Denver. I told him I’d rather have a root canal.”

“Sounds like you need a restraining order,” Maya suggests.

“I have one. That’s why he was in jail to begin with.”

“That and punching the arresting officer,” I mutter under my breath.

Maya’s eyes widen.

“Anyway, his call put me in a funk, and I took it out on you guys. It probably didn’t help that I was surrounded by the smell of alcohol. Can we have a do-over? Maybe not at Cliffys? I think I need more time before I go there again. I keep trying to rush myself back to normal... but I can’t take shortcuts with this. Plus, Tristen and I got into a heated argument after you left and he banned me for a month. Which reminds me that I need to go apologize to him next.”

“Tristen? The bartender?” Maya asks.

“Yeah. He’s one of Des’s high school friends, and it’s like having a babysitter hover around me all night when I’m there.”

“You’re welcome,” I say.

“I already have a bossy older brother—I don’t need another.” Reese chuckles and pulls away from me. “But I mean it about getting together. My place is kinda small, so maybe Des’s?”

My brain quickly scans the mess factor of my living space. Normally, I’m on top of these things, the neat freak that I am, but the last few days I’ve been distracted. Not because of school, riding with the group, or even worrying about Reese. Instead, a certain librarian with liquid brown eyes keeps occupying my thoughts.

Oh. Kinda like they are now.

I blink, realizing everyone is waiting for me to respond.

“He’s speechless,” Maya says, smiling. “But I don’t want to force him into anything. The poor man has been stuck with me three days in a row.”

“I want to,” I rush to say. Then I repeat it, hoping to sound a little less desperate the second time before adding, “I like being stuck with you.”

She ducks her head as if to hide the rosy glow in her cheeks.

I understand how she feels, what it’s like to veer away from any attention. But I find with her it’s the opposite. I’m drawn to her—to the warmth of her smile, the merriment in her laugh, and the twinkle in her eye. Even as she hides, I want to coax her out of her shell so she feels comfortable with me. To trust me. To see me. To want me as much as I want her.

Oh, man.That desire to reach out and touch her screams in my veins. How is it getting more intense the more time I spend with her?

Reason slaps me upside the head with a jolt. Things come in clear... crystal clear. It’s as if I solved one variable in a linear equation and all the other pieces fell into place to reveal the obvious solution—the one that’s been in front of my face the whole time.

I’m falling for Maya.

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