Page 59 of The Second Deal

Adriangrabs my arm and snatches me back. “Youare my business,” he says lowly. “Keeppushing me away, andI’llkeep fighting back.”

Itry to move away. “Usdating is a terrible idea that should never happen.”

Heforces me to turn and face him. “Whydo you keep comin’ around, then, huh?” he demands. “Whydo you keep fuckin’ me?”

Iwrench my arm free from his grip. “Youever think the sex is good?Dree—”Iswear all the hardness in his eyes melts away asIcall him by his nickname for the first time in so long, “—even us being ‘just friends’ has been toxic.Neitherof us have proven we’re decent people.Idon’t see how anything could go right if we got together.”

Movingto grab the doorknob,Adriancalls out, “Youever think nothing’s been right because we’ve never given things between us a shot?Areal one?”

Iraise an eyebrow and take a deep breath before angling around. “Whatd’you mean?”

I’mused toAdrianbeing the cocky asshole who thinks his shit don’t stink, but the guy before me now is desperate.

Enamored.

“Youkeep coming back to me,Steph.I—let’s—” he stammers, searching for words.Hecloses his eyes and takes a deep breath before uttering, “Letme take you out on a date.Areal date.And-and if things don’t work out from there, then fine.Butat least give me a fair shot.We’vebeen bullshitting this long enough that we owe each other that much.”

Asmuch asIhate it,Adrianhas a point.Ileft because of him.AndnowI’mhome,I’vecome back to him.Twice.

Ifinally did the impossible last night and apologized toZak.Icame clean, admitted my wrongdoing to his face, and, hell,Ieven picked him up from the goddamn bridge and saved his ass from things getting any worse out there, twice, too.

WhatIdid was unforgivable, though, and he’s made it clear he won’t forgive me.

It’sslight, butIfinally nod. “Okay.”Ipoint a finger at him. “Butyou’re not tellin’ a soul about this, you hear me?”

Heraises his hands in surrender. “Yougot it, boss.”

Histattooed hands fall to his sides, and that’s whenInotice the large white stain encompassing the entirety of his crotch.

Isnort, hiding a smile behind my hand. “You, uh, you should change.”

Adrianlooks down and chuckles.Hiseyes are bright on me asIback away a couple of steps before heading outside.

“Tonight, then?”

Hotgusts of wind push me back and forth asIfaceAdrian.Thebright sun has already made any trace of rain from last night disappear, but the humidity still boils up from the earth and leaves a thin film of ick covering my skin. “Tonight, what?”

“Let’sgo out tonight.Iwon’t pick you up, if you don’t want me to.Butlet’s go out.”

Istart to roll my eyes and huff, butAdriancontinues, “Lookat it as getting it out of the way, if you want, alright?”

Mouthpinching to the side,IsumAdrianup as he stands before me in his black jeans with a white stain on the crotch from us fucking.Myeyelids linger on a close, relishing the orgasm that coursed through me so hard.

“Okay,”Ifinally relent. “Butyou have to surprise me.Andnot with no goddamnApplebee’sor some shit.Arealdate.Gotit?”

Adrianflashes his pearly teeth. “Yes, ma’am.”

Ican’t stand that he waits at the door, watching me get into my car and drive away.Prettysure that beam is stuck to his face now.

Theroad leading home comes up quickly.Theslight curve partially blocking the bridge from view sends a weird chill down my spine and into my stomach, even though the heat in my car is baking me alive.

Thecut on my arm throbs.Burns.

Ipull off to the side of the road just across the way from the road home, staring at what littleIcan see of the bridge from here.Thewound pulses and stings.

Thethought of seeingKrisas la lechuza makes me try to swallow the drought suddenly forming in my mouth.

Thiscat ain’t about to get killed by curiosity.SoIstart to turn down the road home.

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