Page 52 of Without Bound
“Just pull up to the curb,” he replies and points to an open spot.
I slow down and sidle up next to the sidewalk without scuffing my rims.
“Will it be okay to park here overnight?”
“Listen Anais,” he starts, and I know nothing good follows those words. “I really like you, but I get the feeling things are a lot more complicated than you are letting on. I’d like to continue this, but not if this is a game to you.”
“Not at all,” I reassure him.
“Good. Then how about I give you my number and you go sleep on it. If you still feel this way in the morning, I’ll take you out on a proper date tomorrow night? Okay?”
I feel the sting of tears in my eyes and I blink them away. Cole reaches over and slides his hand across my cheek until it tangles in my hair. He licks his lips then proceeds to kiss me slow and hard. We moan into each other's mouth and I find myself promptly trying to crawl over the middle console.
Too soon, he pulls away. “Give me your phone.”
I pull it from my purse that I hastily draped over my seat and unlock. He types in his information then hands it back. I get one more chaste kiss, and he’s opening the car door.
“G’night beautiful. Drive safely.” He winks and shuts the door, jogging towards the entrance.
He disappears through the doors and my mood immediately sours. Once again, Bishop has ruined a hookup with his behavior. He’s giving me whiplash. Pull, push, kiss, ignore, orgasms, stay away.
I’m going to have to grow a spine and tell him no more because right now, his attitude is allI don’t want you, but I don’t want anyone else to have you.
Something has got to change, and I guess it will have to be me.
18
Bishop
I slam my foot into my kickstand and start up my bike. Anger rages through my body. At Anais for leaving with that guy. At that guy for existing. And at myself for being so upset by the whole thing.
I’ve repeated the wordslet her goover and over again. I keep trying to convince myself that what I feel for her is misplaced. But seeing her tonight when I turned that corner, the two of them locked in a passionate kiss, made me realize that the only thing misplaced is my denial.
I weave in and out of the lanes, bypassing cars without a care for my safety. My mind is swirling with images of her in his arms, in his bed, and my anger reaches epic proportions. I black out as I drive and when I come to, I find myself sitting in the parking lot nearest Anais’ dorm.
I know damn well she isn’t here, but I still search the sea of cars for hers, but there’s no sight of the little blue car. I drop my head back, breathing in the thick and humid air, and war with myself over what to do now.
The smart thing to do is start this bike back up, drive home andbury every memory I have of Anais, never to be revisited. I just can’t get my body to do what my brain tells me to. I sit there, perched on my bike for five more minutes then decide it’s time to go home.
I replace my helmet on my head and take one last look around before starting up my bike. In the distance, a pair of headlights comes into view and begins circling the lot, looking for a place to park. I watch it and when the street lamp hits it, illuminating the bright blue, I pull my helmet off and begin stomping my way towards it.
The car finally comes to rest near the back in a dark corner, the most dangerous spot for a young woman to park, and the engine falls silent. I wait for the door to open but after a minute of no movement, I decide to approach.
I step up to the driver's side door and spot Anais with her head resting against the steering wheel, eyes closed and mouth moving as if she’s talking to herself. I tap on the window and it has her yelping with fright.
She looks at me and glares, grabbing her purse and flinging the door open.
“What are you doing here?” she seethes.
“I don’t know.” My voice is far louder than it needs to be, and I dial it back. “What are you doing here? I thought you went home with baseball boy.”
She begins walking away, the lights on her car flashing, and says, “Well that was the plan until you came and fucked it all up. He told me to go home and think about it because he won’t be played. Funny thing,I’mthe one being played like a fucking fiddle.”
I follow closely behind her as she makes her way closer to her dorm.
“Smart man. I’m sure you would have woken up and regretted your decision.”
She screeches to halt and spins around. “The only decision I regret is thinking you cared about me. You’re a bastard, Bishop Michaels, and you used me. You used me then tossed me aside like I didn’t even matter.”
