With my luck, he’s probably some kind of mafia boss or something. No one that hot comes without trouble. It’s practically a proven fact. And as tempting as it is to stay and figure him out, I have to go.
“Positive. I was only going to wear it once anyway.”
He seems confused for a second, and then tosses the cash onto the bed. “Well, at least let me walk you to the door.”
Apparently, having to see his abs again wasn’t enough. The universe has to torture me with seeing him in his boxers, walking toward me with fuck-me-eyes and a smirk that could melt the clothing right off my body. I swallow hard and try to focus on literally anything else as he places his hand on the small of my back and leads me to the door of the suite.
He steps in front of me, blocking my exit. His knuckle goes under my chin, and he lifts my head up to face him. I stand completely still as he bends down and kisses me once more. It’s slow and calculated, but there’s an underlying want in the way he moves his lips against mine. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that if I could stay, the two of us would spend hours exploring each other’s bodies and bouncing between reality and sexual sub-space.
“It was nice meeting you, Tessa Davenport,” he says seductively.
“You too, Asher Hawthorne.”
With that, he opens the door and I walk out—knowing I’ll never see him again.
AS I STAND IN in my driveway, I don’t think I’ve ever dreaded something so much in my life. Delaney and Knox are putting their suitcases into the trunk of Laney’s car. Once they’re done, my sister turns to me and my heart drops. I can already see the waterworks building in her eyes.
“Don’t,” I plead. “If you cry, I’m going to cry.”
She chuckles, but it doesn’t stop the tear from escaping and sliding down her face. “I am going to miss you so much, Tess.”
“You’re not going to have a chance to miss me, because I’m going to come see you every fucking chance I get.”
Wiping her cheek with the back of her hand, she pulls me into a tight hug. “I’m holding you to that.”
We stand there and hold each other for a while, neither one of us wanting to let go, until our parents come out to say our goodbyes and we’re forced to part. While she focuses on them, I turn my attention to Knox. He’s standing by the car with his hands in his pockets, patiently waiting for Laney to get done. I walk toward him until we’re no more than a foot apart.
“Tessa.” He says my name like he’s completely unaffected, but I can hear the sadness in his voice.
I stand tall in a way that says I mean business. “Do you remember when Ainsley threatened to kill you if you ever hurt Delaney?”
He raises a single brow. “Yes?”
Smirking, I take one step closer. “Let me find out you ever do anything that makes her the slightest bit upset, and I’ll do things to you that will make the shit we went through this past year seem like a dream world.”
A wide grin spreads across his face, and he wraps his arms around me. “CBP, I’m going to miss your crazy ass.”
I can’t help but laugh, despite the fact that he’s using the nickname he refuses to tell me the meaning of. “Even after I almost burned your house down?”
“Even after that,” he promises.
As I take a step back, Delaney and our parents come up behind us. I hug my sister one last time and watch as our dad, who used to despise Knox with a passion, shakes his hand. I guess your opinion of someone changes when they literally take a bullet to save your daughter’s life.
“I swear to God, Delaney, you better text me every single day,” I tell her, my head resting on her shoulder.
“And I swear to God, you better answer every single day,” she retorts.
Knox’s focus moves from my dad to my sister, and you can see the love and admiration in his eyes. I can’t decide if it’s adorable or vomit-worthy. The one thing I can appreciate, however, is the fact that I know he will always do whatever it takes to protect her. He’s more than proven as much.
Delaney steps toward him with the biggest smile on her face. I’m happy for her, I am. But I’d be lying if I said my heart doesn’t crack a little with every bit of distance that spreads between us. They both wave goodbye and climb into the car, and I do my best to hold it all together as I watch them drive away. Once they’re gone, however, all bets are off.
“Tessa?” my mom asks as I turn around and race inside the house.
“Just give me some time,” I beg. “Please.”
Thankfully, neither of my parents make another attempt to stop me as I run up the stairs and into my bedroom. The second the door shuts behind me, I lean my back against it and slide down until I’m sitting on the floor. Sobs rip through me, the pain practically unbearable.
I’ve never had to know what life is like without my other half—never had to know how much it sucks to not have her close by all the time. And now, she’s moving to the other side of the country. A place where there is a three-hour time difference and thousands of miles between us.
I get up and crawl into my bed, letting the tears soak my pillow. It’s weak, and pathetic, and everything I never wanted to feel like, but I can’t help it. Everything is different now.
“How am I supposed to get through this without her?” I cry to no one but myself.
“By being the badass you know you are.”
Lennon’s voice catches me off guard, and I turn around to find her standing by my door. Her blonde hair is tied up in a bun, and the sweats she’s wearing show she plans on staying with me through every second of this massive pity party.
“What are you doing here?”
She shrugs, dropping her purse and coming to lay beside me. “Your sister may have told me you’d need someone today.”
I groan. “Fucking Delaney.”
Lennon and I stay in my bed for what feels like hours, with neither one of us saying anything. I’m too lost in my thoughts, and she’s smart enough to know that nothing she says right now can make me feel any better. But that’s the thing about her—she stays anyway and doesn’t complain once.
THE TASTE OF MINT chocolate chip ice cream coats my tongue as I laugh at Lennon’s impression of Principal Hyland. Okay, so we may be a little drunk, which is probably the reason she stumbles and falls to the ground. She lays on the floor, giggling, while staring up at the ceiling.
“This rug is like heaven,” she slurs.
“If that rug is heaven, you’ve never had good sex.”
I can practically hear her eyes roll. “Accurate, because I’ve never had sex at all. Oh, but how was last night? You disappeared pretty quickly.”
Thoughts of Asher fill my mind, and I find comfort in the distraction. The way he ran his hands over my skin, as if he was worshiping my body…even remembering it sends chills down my spine. It was hands down the most mind-blowing sex of my life.
“Do you know what the best part about being with an older guy is?” I question dreamily.
“No, but I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”
“They’re experienced. They know exactly what to do and how to do it in a way that makes you scream.”