Page 37 of The Rebound
“Did you just push me?” he asks.
“No.”
I try to go back to glaring, try to raise my gaze so I can look him in the eye and tell him all the ways he’s wrong about me, but I can’t seem to get past his mouth.
Just once. Just to see and maybe I’ll stop feeling this way.
And then I can… then…
“Now what are you thinking about?” he asks warily, and this time there’s no lying.
“You.” And before either of us can stop me, I surge up on my toes and kiss him.
8
It’s over in an instant.
Luke freezes as soon as I touch him, his mouth unmoving against mine, and even through the fog in my brain I’m able to sense it. Embarrassment roils through me and I’m about to drop back down, horrified with myself, when he inhales sharply, his head tilting just enough that the kiss becomes akiss.I sway in surprise, barely noticing when the grocery bag knocks off me once more as his hands rise to cup my face, holding me to him.
He’s a good kisser. Though the way my blood feels like it’s boiling beneath his touch, I think even if he were a bad one, I wouldn’t really mind. I cling to his biceps as one of his hands curves around the back of my neck, tangling deliciously in my hair. A gentle tug sends nerves tingling down my spine and I press myself against him as my imagination runs riot, the way he’s taking control sending a buzz of anticipation through me. And then his tongue slips into my mouth and I don’t think about anything at all.
I make a noise, high and breathy and very not me, and when I do he breaks away, running his thumb along his bottom lip as he stares at me.
“You kissed me back,” I say before he can deny it.
He doesn’t, but he doesn’t seem thrilled with himself either.
“With tongue,” I add.
That seems to break the spell. The slightly dazed look on his face vanishes as he rolls his eyes. “I’ll drive you home.” He opens the car door, but I don’t move, watching him with equal parts interest and confusion.
“You kissed me back,” I repeat. It comes out like a question. You can’t be mad at someone if you kiss them back.
“Please get in the car.”
“No.”
“Abby.”
“Luke.” I slap my hand against the wall, ignoring the vague stinging in my palm as I stake my claim. Plant my stake? Whatever. I’m not going to let him just ignore this, ignoreme.
There’s a few seconds of standoff as we watch each other. And then I win.
“Fine.” He closes the door and I feel a wave of victory as he locks it. The grocery bag slips down his wrist as he takes out a set of keys with one hand and his phone with the other.
“What are you doing?”
“Texting Louise so she doesn’t think you’re dead.”
“I think you should kiss me again.”
He ignores me, crouching to reach the steel padlock at the bottom of the café door. I use the opportunity to run my hand through his hair, reveling in the short strands.
“You like me,” I insist as he rises.
I can feel him looking at me, but I’m focused on his shirt now, specifically the top buttons. He lets me get two undone before his hands capture mine, prying them easily away. Only this time he doesn’t let go. Instead, he turns, shouldering open the café door and tugging me inside.
I stand in the dark, breathing in the smell of coffee beans as he locks up behind us.
