Let Me Go (29 page)

IT’S UNUSUAL SHARING
a bathroom with your date for the night. Although, after Paige showered, she’s been locked up in her room. After she snuck out, I went downstairs to find Chrissy propped up on the couch with a book between her legs. Dex was nowhere around, which hasn’t been out of the realm lately. He mentioned the other day about having to start sending resumes out and making sure after he graduates he’s set to take care of him and Chrissy. Which only makes my own mind linger about my future and what I want.

The garage is nice, but I don’t want to work on cars the rest of my life. As it is, it’s not as exciting working on my own now after working on other people’s all day. That excited flutter doesn’t fester in my stomach when I clock in anymore. Going to the auto part store is more of a task than a fun trip. Back in the day, I would stroll down each aisle, talk to the other guys about new gadgets or add-ons. Now I go in, grab my shit and leave.

Even though my dad ruined fixing cars up for me by sleeping with my Godmother, that love is still rooted inside of me and I want to carry that on someday if I’m ever blessed with a kid. Just because my dad destroyed the memories he made with me all those years growing up by refuting the man I thought he was, doesn’t mean I’ll do the same.

“What’s up?” I sink down in the chair opposite her and she glances my way.

“Hey.” She highlights a line and concentrates on her book.

“Listen.” I prop my feet on the coffee table and cross my ankles. “We have a good friendship, right?”

She inspects me from the corner of her eyes and then back down to her book.

“Yeah.”

“You would never murder me, right?” She gives me that glance from the corner of her eye again.

“No.”

“Ever?”

“No. What’s this about?” The highlighter rolls into the bind of her book and she shuts it, giving me her full attention.

“Can you leave at seven? Go over to Sadie’s.”

I’ve seen Chrissy mad, I’ve seen Chrissy sad, but I’ve never seen this side of Chrissy. Her jaw cocks to the side, her teeth grinding against each other.

“Why?” The word comes out slow.

“No murder, right?” I clarify again, but no laugh escapes her mouth.

“Rob.” She’s losing patience with me.

“I may have a date.”

“With?” She knows the answer before I expose the name. Chrissy and I have a friendship and I don’t want to ruin it by keeping Paige a secret.

“A girl.” I chuckle, she doesn’t.

“Does the girl live here?” Her eyes bore far into me; I fear lasers are about to zero in on me and fire.

“Yes.” Simple and it’s out there. Done.

“Rob, is this your sly way of asking me out?” She brings humor in, but then her face straightens. “I asked you not to touch her.”

“Chrissy.” I break the distance, moving over to the couch. I pick up the book and place it on the coffee table so I can be closer. “It’s a date, not a suck me off in my room.”

I’m honest with her because last year we bonded over her own troubles. I know she’s someone I can trust.

“You actually like her?” She’s not as angry as I feared she might be.

“Yeah.” The word is straight and low, but hopefully it reveals the conviction.

“Where are you taking her?” I want to jump up, yank her up to her feet, and wrap her in a big bear hug for not being bitchy about this.

“To Cleveland. Rock N Roll Hall of Fame Museum.” A slow smile creeps up Chrissy’s lips.

“A date. That’s perfect.”

“Really? We have to jet up there though. It’s only open until nine.”

“You figure it’s a half hour away, you’ll have an hour and a half. That’s plenty.”

“So, you aren’t mad at me?” I ask her.

She pokes her finger into my chest. “I should be. You know that, right?”

“Yeah,” I sigh.

“But you need to find love.” Her arms move to wrap around my shoulders and she kisses my cheek. “I like you like this.”

“Is this what happens when I’m gone?” Dex trudges in, eyeing me on his way to Chrissy. “Find your own girl,” he jokes and Chrissy releases me, rising to her feet up to Dex.

“Don’t worry baby, he found her.” She giggles and I get up, shaking my head.

“What? Who?” Dex holds Chrissy tight in his arms, kissing her neck.

“Paige,” Chrissy whispers loud enough for me to overhear.

“Nice, Chris.” I begin to leave the room, but I should have been prepared for a call out from Dex.

“Who would have ever guessed? Rob Winters falling for a girl? Thought I’d die before that happened.” I flip him off, not gracing him with my pissed off face.

I leave the room, not wanting to hear the bullshit from their mouths. When I run up the stairs, I hear a blow-dryer going in Paige’s room. Sneaking into the bathroom, it’s time I prepare to look mouthwateringly delicious for our date.

A HALF HOUR
later, I’m spraying some cologne on when the back door shuts. My phone chimes a minute later.

Chrissy: We’re gone.

Me: Thanks. I owe you one.

Chrissy: More than one, but who’s counting.

Me: You I guess.

Not wanting to wait, I step out into the hallway and falter back when Paige emerges from her bedroom. Tight ass jeans, a too loose of a shirt for my liking, but her fuck me heels make up for no cleavage
.
All my restraint is tested to not say screw the museum, let me explore you.

“You ready?” I ask, breaking the distance between us.

She shifts her stance and fiddles with her purse swung over her shoulder.

“Yeah.” I love when her voice shifts to shy and timid. Even though, I know without a doubt Paige is comfortable in her own skin, I affect her and something about that thrills me.

Unable to keep my hands off her, my hand cups her cheek and she lays into it like she always does. “Sometimes I struggle looking at you.” Her lips falter and I realize my mouth slipped before my head filtered it. “You’re so beautiful . . . gorgeous . . . sexy.” Her lips flip back up and I inhale a relieved breath.

“Keep going.” The smile on her face signals she’s joking.

“You’re like the sun, so bright and warm, it’s hard to stare right at you.”

She laughs. “Let’s stop with the lines. Beautiful is sufficient.”

She breezes by me and then stops when I don’t follow.

“Sorry, poetry and romantic shit isn’t my forte.” I focus on the carpeted floor beneath my chucks.

Her footsteps rush back to me like I knew they would. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

I peek my eyes up to her with a Cheshire grin splashed across my face.

“You asshole.” She swats at my chest and I grab her wrist before she can escape.

I spin her fast, slamming her body against the wall. With my one hand pinning her wrist to the wall, I lean in. My lips don’t wait for permission. My tongue snakes out and licks to part her lips. It dives into her mouth and her tongue meets mine with the same intensity. Melding my body flush against hers, she wiggles under me just like hours ago. The way her body responds is so fucking hot, I can’t get enough.

Tearing away, I back up, entwine our hands and lead her down the hall. She wobbles behind me and then catches her footing.

“Um . . . I’m going to need you to refrain from making my panties wet before the date.”

I stop us at the landing, awaiting the date I planned for her. To show her she isn’t the fuck buddy I originally pegged her as. That she’s more. That she’s mine. My eyes rake over her body and my heart picks up a faster beat.

“What?” she asks, crossing her legs and I hope it’s from the heat from my eyes surging her to the core.

“You’re too tempting, baby. Let’s go.”

Before I have a chance to second guess my decision to leave the house, I usher her forward to descend the stairs. The creaks from the old staircase echoes on the walls, it’s eerily quiet and makes me want to scream just to fill the air.

“Where’s Chrissy and Dex?” Her voice is shy and timid when she stops and spins around at the bottom of the stairs.

“Out.” I grab her hand again, unable to stop from fondling her. My body craves having her warm heat mixed with mine.

“Oh. Do you think they suspect?”

“I told Chrissy.”

Her feet freeze in the doorway from our living room to our kitchen and she yanks my arm.

“What?”

I twist around and give her my undivided attention, figuring I probably should have talked to her about that. “Chrissy helped me last year. She’s one of the people who dragged me up from the bottom of the shit storm. I couldn’t keep it from her and I knew she’d understand if I told her straight.”

“She’s okay with it?” Relief floods her face.

“Yeah.” I watch her shoulders deflate.

“Oh, good. I didn’t want her to hate me, you know? She’s a good friend.” A small smile forms on her face and I’m thankful I didn’t fuck this up before it even started.

“That she is.” I glance to the door and back to her. “Let’s get out of here.”

She nods and I lead us on our date. I lock the door and she waits behind me like this isn’t her house, too. When we get to the Mustang, she stays back, allowing me to open the door for her. By the time I climb in myself and move to insert the key into the ignition, she’s twisted my way. When my eyes dart to her, her head bolts to the side.

“What?”

She’s releases a short breath. “What did you mean about give it to her straight?” She studies me with confused eyes. “I mean, like that we’re just starting out and it’s no big deal, or—”

“Or?”

Her eyes flash down to my stick shift and she swallows deep.

“Paige.” I wait for her to focus back on me. She doesn’t grant me her hurt eyes that she wants more out of this than she believes I’m ready to give. Placing my finger under her chin, I guide it up so she can see how truthful I am in this moment. That there’s no stopping until she wakes up one day and breaks my heart. I’ll swap the pain for only snippets of memories with her forever. “I told her I like you. That I wanted to go on a date.” Her chin trembles, but she recovers fast. “This isn’t about fucking you, Paige. I thought that was clear in my bed this afternoon?”

She nods. “You did. I’m sorry.” Straightening her back, she spins in her seat, focusing on the garage wall.

“Baby?” I try to grab her attention, but she shakes her head as though she wants to will the tears in her eyes away.

“No, Rob. You shouldn’t have to constantly claim your feelings for me. Remember those demons I told you that haunt me? Well, it’s trust that a guy can actually love a woman for an extended period of time, if at all.”

I reach over and squeeze her hand. “I’ll prove you wrong.”

Her head whips to me and the tears that were brimming now trickle down her cheeks. “You don’t have to. This is my issue to overcome,” she argues, but I shake my head.

“I’ll prove it. Believe me, Paige, you’ll be the one breaking me.” I start the car unable to continue this conversation about the peace I’ve already made with myself that I’m undeserving of her and one day she’ll wake up like Sleeping Beauty, to her real prince.

She professes nothing, letting my promise linger in the small confines of my car. This isn’t the laughing and smiling date I assumed we’d have, but if she needs reassurances from me, I’ll hand them over. What do I have to lose? She’s already broken me. She flicked the last chip stuck on my shoulder off. Unleashed me from the pain that’s occupied my heart for so long. That’s why I’ll grab whatever she gives me and never ask for more.

Once I follow the signs for the freeway, she faces me again. “Enough demons, where are you taking me today?” Her voice much happier than a few minutes ago. Another reason I’m falling for her. She never allows anything bad to occupy her mind for long.

“Rock N Roll Museum.” She chokes on the sip of water she helped herself to in my center console. Although, I didn’t think we were at that point, I love that she did. “Is that okay?” I ask her, reaching over for the open bottle in her hands.

“Of course.” There’s a hint of doubt in her voice, but I’ll assume it’s from the talk before we left.

“I just figured you’re always listening to all that classic rock. It should be right up your alley.” She nods, but uncomfortable to say the least.

“Yes.”
Who is this chick?
Not the Paige I know.

“Have you ever been there? If you don’t want to go?” I try to hide the dryness in my throat that I picked wrong.

“No.” She reaches across and squeezes my knee with her hand. “It’s perfect.” Too bad when I glance over that gorgeous smile doesn’t lift her cheeks.