I blinked a few times, coming out of my stupor.
“I was sure it was because you just forgot my first name, and I was too lazy to correct you,” Kent joked.
Daniel gave him a doubtful look and shook his head. “I was the best thing that happened to you in college.”
“I remember you in college,” Mom said with her eyebrows raised. “I’m not sure how good you were for anyone with your wild ways.”
Daniel shrugged unapologetically and turned to me with the sincerity I always saw from him. Sometimes my parents got caught up in their lives, friends, and appearances, leaving our relationship nice but superficial. Daniel, however, had always been there. He’d guided me through the hardest parts of life, answered all the questions no matter how uncomfortable they were. He saw the real me, and that was a rare occurrence the older I got. “Speaking of crazy college students, are you keeping out of trouble?”
I fought to keep my eyes from flicking to Kent’s. “Of course, I’m an angel.”
Dad snorted, and Mom laughed. Then I did look at Kent, who had an eyebrow raised, and gave me a look that said he knew better. Everyone else was making a joke, knowing I kept my life pretty uninteresting. But Kent…Kent knew I was anything but an angel.
I copied Daniel’s movement and shrugged. “I keep good grades.”
“Speaking of good grades,” my mom said. I fought my eyes rolling back in my head. Here came the interrogation and suggestions for more. “Did you get the email I sent about the Honor Society. You’d be a shoo-in.”
My eyes met Daniel’s across the table, and I almost laughed at his eye-roll.
I kept my answer short without giving any ammo to continue the conversation. “Yeah, I saw it.”
“And…?”
“And, I’ll look it over.” No promises or guarantees, that way, she couldn’t hold it against me when I didn’t join. Nothing about what the Honor Society did enticed me. I didn’t care to go to the formals and stuffy meetings. If I wanted to do charity work, I didn’t need to do it with a bunch of people I didn’t even like.
“Would anyone like more to drink?” Mom asked. “Kent?”
“No, Julia. I’m good, thank you. Actually, I’m going to run to the restroom.”
“You remember where they are?” Daniel asked.
Kent nodded and disappeared around the corner.
“He’s been here before?” I asked, surprised I’d never met him in our home.
“Yeah, Kent and I go way back. He’s been here quite a few times. I guess you’ve always just missed him.”
And yet, I hadn’t missed him that night at Voyeur. Interesting how things played out.
I looked over at the empty seat and quickly cleared my plate of the last bite. “I’m going to run to my room real quick. I need to grab some books for class.”
I walked out and passed the stairs leading to my room and headed toward the bathroom in the hall. I needed to just say hi to him in private. I needed to look in his eyes without pretending we’d never met. I may not ever see him again after tonight. I mean, I’d somehow missed him for twenty years, what’s to say I wouldn’t miss him for another twenty.
I carefully twisted the knob, closing my eyes and sending a quick wish that it wasn’t locked. When it fully turned, I bit my lip to hold back the smile trying to break free. I pushed the door open quickly and stepped in, shutting it softly behind me.
Kent’s eyes widened over his shoulder as he rinsed his hands at the sink.
Leaning my back against the door, I stared for a moment, taking in his lean body, his dark hair sprinkled with bits of gray. I noticed his beard was trimmed and sporting more gray than it had when I’d last seen him. If anything, it made him sexier.
“Hi,” I whispered. My intentions were innocent when I stepped through the door, but if he were to ask, I’d do whatever he wanted; right here with my parents only a room over.
His brows furrowed, and he swallowed hard, snatching the towel off the rack and drying his hands with jerky movements. “What are you doing in here?” he whispered harshly.
I almost wanted to laugh at his nervous glances to the door like he expected someone else to barge in on us at any moment. “I was just saying hi, Kent.”
He took a deep breath and sighed; his shoulders finally relaxing as he dragged a hand through his hair. “You shouldn’t be in here, Olivia.”
“I know. I just wanted to say hi without pretending we don’t know each other.” I gave a small smile. “I promise to not force myself on you.”
He breathed a laugh. “Trust me, you wouldn’t have to force anything.” He fully faced me with all his attention. His features relaxed, and it reminded me of when we talked over snacks at midnight between fuck-sessions. He looked like the Kent I knew and not the frantic Alexander from ten minutes ago. One side of his lips tipped up, and he looked at me like a fond memory. One that wouldn’t be repeated.
A sinking weight dropped from my chest to my stomach. I wasn’t surprised by it—just surprised by how sad I was over the disappointment. I dropped my head to hide the deep breath I was taking to push past the weight tugging in my chest.
His shoes came into view, almost kissing the tips of mine. Then his hand appeared as it reached under to tip my chin. The heat from the singular, simple graze of his finger to my skin bloomed out from the spot, swelling my lips, making my nipples hard, and dipping down into my stomach, somehow mixing with the disappointment, fighting for dominance.
“You know I don’t regret anything about that night, but if Daniel found out, it wouldn’t go over well.”
He was only voicing what I’d seen in his eyes a moment before. The disappointment won, and I didn’t fight it this time. I cocked a brow and gave him my sexiest smirk, enjoying his fingers on my skin a bit longer before pulling back.
“I don’t regret anything either. You know, in the moment, nothing seemed very important besides feeling you.” I laughed softly, finally breaking the connection when I dropped my head back to the door. “But sitting with Mom and Dad at dinner with you was a strange situation, I wasn’t expecting to face.” He laughed with me, running his hand through his hair again. “Don’t worry though. I don’t plan on going out there and announcing that I know what it feels like to choke on your cock.”
His eyes flicked to mine, heat making the dark brown look almost black. A growl rumbled low in his chest. I squeezed my thighs at the predatory look, my smile growing at how I could still affect this man. I couldn’t help it. He stood there, so tall and broad—so mature. I knew how playful he could be, and I wanted to bring it out of him, just for me, in this tiny space.
“That’s a good call,” he managed to squeeze out past his clenched jaw.
I stepped away from the door and into him, fighting down the urge to push up to my toes and kiss his cheek. I wanted to smell his skin to see if it still smelled of the orange sandalwood that enticed me almost two years ago. But somehow, I did fight the craving and turned in the small space, my shoulder brushing his chest, and opened the door. I scanned the hall and before I stepped out, looked over my shoulder and gave a wink. “See you out there, Kent.”
I quickly ran to my room and picked some random book to shove into my bag before returning to the dinner table. Kent gave me a cursory glance and seemed to have relaxed since our little bathroom chat. Probably feeling relief that I hadn’t fallen at his feet and begged him for a repeat.