Page 16 of Waiting Forever
“What? No. Wait. Was he supposed to?” Did I miss that when I spoke with my dad about her coming here?
“Just making sure. He’s overprotective like that, and I want to make it clear one more time. I am not here for you to babysit, feed, or take care of in any way.” She stuffs a ten in one of the cup holders of the SUV. “I am perfectly fine with taking an Uber to get my groceries and to get where I need to go. I don’t want a car because I don’t want to put my parents out any more than I already have. Besides, I’ve mapped the area. I can walk to my classes and to Park Avenue to eat if necessary. I won’t be a burden to you. Once we’re at your house, you’ll hardly see me. In fact, I asked my dad if you had any rooms downstairs and he said you did. If it’s not an inconvenience, I’ll take the one in the farthest corner of the house, where no one will notice I’m even there, including you.”
“When did you get so stubborn?” I stare at her as if she’s crazy. The window to the McDonalds slides open and the cashier repeats my order to me. “Yes. That’s correct.” I hand her my debit card. I’m not taking Kensi’s money.
The girl gives me the receipt along with my card and two bags of food. I pass them and the drinks to Kensington and drive away.
She places the drinks in the cup holders, moving the ten she gave me to another compartment in the console, and holds the bags on her lap, not bothering to open them.
“You can eat.” I pull onto the main road, headed for my house.Ourhouse. I shouldn’t like the sound of that. I sure as shit shouldn’t want her in the room next to mine, either. She could hear me with Harper.
Harper.Ugh.What am I going to do about her? What do I want to do? A breakup would cause a lot of drama. Harper isn’t the kind of girl who walks away easily. She’d be pissed, and she’d blame Kensington. Maybe even take her anger out on her. I refuse to let that happen.
Kensington turns to me. “Do you want your food? I can get it out so you can eat.”
I smile. So accommodating, like I remember her. The stubborn side of hers will take some time getting used to. “Yes, please. Thank you.”
She unwraps my double cheeseburger, leaving the paper on the bottom part for catching drips.
“Thanks.” I wink at her and return to watching the road.
A second later, she’s reaching toward my groin.
I almost choke on the bite of burger in my mouth.
She stuffs the carton of fries between my legs, the container rubbing my dick through my jeans. Holy fuck.Why is that as hot as it is unnerving? Because it’sher.
“Sorry.” She giggles. “Didn’t mean to startle you or smoosh your man-goods. Next time I’ll warn you.” She lays a napkin on my lap and digs a fry out of her bag.
“My man-goods?” I chuckle and am floored over how casual she’s acting after just groping me with a French fry carton. Her flirtatious ways are still a shock to me. Maybe part of medoesstill see her as a young, innocent girl. I need to remember she’s a grown woman, an adult who’s probably dated a lot of guys, maybe even had a serious relationship. Hell, for all I know, she has a boyfriend now. Or maybe she likes someone back in Dallas. My grip tightens on the steering wheel and the paper around my burger crinkles. Shit. I’m crushing my food.
I try to relax, but the thought of Kensi with other guys makes me want to tear the hood off my Hummer and toss it across the road. Jesus.I don’t even get this possessive over Harper.
“So?” I clear my throat. “Do you have a special someone?” Why am I asking this?
She takes another French fry from the bag. “Nope. You?”
Damn.Walked into that one. “Is it because of what happened that you don’t, or because you haven’t met anyone worth keeping around?”
She eats the fry, chewing thoughtfully, and then licks her fingers.
I focus on her lips and the way they encircle her thin fingertip. She’s always had great lips. Not too full but enough to be soft when kissed. Right now, they’d taste salty.
I stop at a red light and without thought, run my thumb along her bottom lip. She gasps but doesn’t move away. With her eyes on me, she watches as I suck my thumb into my mouth, tasting a mix of fruity lip balm and salty fry.
“You had a crumb,” I lie and step on the gas a little too hard when the light turns green. I need to stop this kind of behavior. Now.I have a girlfriend who I’ve yet to bring up.
Seeming dazed, she sits motionless, her gaze out the windshield. She touches her lip, tracing where my thumb had been, and then follows the same path with her tongue.
It’s the hottest thing I’ve seen in—I don’t know, maybe ever. I also don’t know why it’s so hot. Harper has done stuff a thousand times more sexual, but this small little gesture from Kensington lights a fire in me. Why? Because she’s off-limits? Because I know I can never have her? Because although I’ve always thought she was pretty and would grow into a beauty one day, I never imagined I’d be so attracted to her? I’m sick in the head.
Our conversation forgotten, we drive the rest of the way to my house in silence. Nothing could prepare me for the white Audi convertible parked in my driveway when we reach our destination. Fuck.Harper is here.
I don’t see her outside, which means she used the key to enter the house. I don’t bother with the code and security alarm anymore. Not since Sebastian left.Left?I let out a small sigh. In such a short time, so much has changed.
“What’s the matter, Nathan?” Kensington’s hand lands on my thigh.
I tense, heat, and swallow deep in my throat. “What do you mean, what’s wrong?” I crumble the paper leftover from my burger. When had I finished it?
