Page 37 of Ruined
Instead of voicing the question still shining bright in his beautiful eyes, one dark eyebrow arched.
Why was he questioning this? Did he not feel the way I’d kissed him back? I opened my mouth to ask him as much when the room was illuminated by headlights. Another curse fell from his lips the moment he too realized that we would have to continue this conversation another time.
Eli took my hand in his and stooped so we were eye to eye. “I’m not sorry for kissing you…but I am sorry for scaring you by coming on too strong…I’m out of practice and I guess it shows.”
I was certain that we weren’t on the same page. It was my turn to pull my brows together. “I don’t understand.”’
The sound of car doors being shut rang through the air. Eli glanced at the door before looking at me again. “Dinner? Thursday?”
All I could do was breathe out a “Yes.”
Eli’s smile was big and bright, and utterly breath-stealing. “Good, that’s good.” As his face started to inch closer, I heard keys jangling. He must’ve heard it too because he took a step back, collected our mugs from the coffee table and then walked to the kitchen.
I could only stare.
“You’re back,” he said cheerily as he re-entered the living room. It was only then that I realized Brett and Kenzie were already inside, studying me with stupid grins on their faces. I was still eyeing the pair of them when a voice sounded to my left. “Here.” The way his dark eyes bore into me turned my insides to mush.
My breath hitched when he took my hand, turned it over and pressed a scrap of paper against my palm. His stare got more intense as he slowly closed my fingers around it. “See you Thursday, sunshine.”
There was no doubt in my mind that I looked like a freaking moron with my jaw slack and my eyes pinned to the empty doorway. What the hell was that?
“Sunshine?” Kenzie’s amused voice pulled me from my daze. I looked over at my friends in time to see Brett stalk off while muttering a surprised, “Who knew.”
Kenzie curiously approached me. “What did he give you before he left?” I swear her smirk stretched wider with every step she took.
Opening my fist, I gawked at the digits scribbled on the paper. How did we go from whatever it had been to this in mere hours? Frowning at the number resting in my hand, my mind immediately went to the way it had felt to have his mouth on mine.
It hadn’t felt like that day at the creek. No, as short as it had been, this kiss felt more intense. My body became alive in a way it had never been and then panic had set in. Why? Was it possible that my brain hadn’t fully recovered from the trauma with John?
“Zoe?” Kenzie placed a hand on my shoulder. Glancing at her, I hoped she wasn’t about to add more questions to the ones floating around in my head.
“Yeah.”
“What happened…at Logan and Harper’s house, I mean. It seemed like you were having a good time and then you just stormed off.” She eyed the hallway down which Brett had disappeared earlier. When she spoke again her tone was hushed, “Was ithim?”
With a nod, I confirmed her suspicions. Reaching up, I patted her hand on my shoulder., “Don’t worry, I’m going to take care of it.”
“You told Eli?” I couldn’t blame her for sounding hopeful.
Shaking my head, I said, “No, but I’m done doing nothing.”
