A deep scoff comes from behind us that has Tully shooting to her feet. I spin around to see Rivers standing right behinds us with nothing but a deflated look on his face. “That’s fucking perfect,” he mutters, looking at Tully with a deep betrayal. “And here I thought I was coming to apologize for being such a dick these past few weeks. Good fucking job, babe.”
Tully sucks in a breath, her eyes filling with unshed tears as Rivers turns on his heel and walks away.
And just like that, whatever hope was growing inside Tully is crushed. A heartbroken sob comes tearing out of her and she looks down at me with the tears finally starting to fall.
I’m about to pull her back down to the sand and wrap her in my arms when she takes off down the beach at a near sprint. “Tully?” I call after her, but it’s no use. She needs to be alone.
I look back up at where Rivers had walked away to find him looking after her, still with that same devastation on his face. He goes to go after her before hesitating and changing his mind. Not a second later, he’s gone, making me realize that whatever they had is completely gone.
They’re done.
Tully and Rivers have run their course and it breaks me even more because all this time I had thought that out of anyone, they were the couple that would make it. I thought they’d fight through all the bullshit and somehow come together, realizing where they belong, but now, I don’t think there’s a way back for them.
Now I fear both their hearts are hurting and they’re both too stubborn to find their way back to one another.
Knowing this, I pull myself up out of the sand and dust off my ass. I suddenly have an overwhelming need to find my place in Noah’s arms and let him know that no matter what, I’m not going anywhere.
There’s something that’s been swirling around inside my brain and seeing the struggle that Tully and Rivers have been going through, makes me realize that I’m a damn fool for holding it back.
Chapter 21
I slam my way through Noah’s front door to find him walking up the hallway and into the living room. His eyes roam over me, making sure I’m alright as the way I just stormed in here would make anyone think otherwise.
“What the fuck is going on?” he demands, hurrying to me and pulling me into his warm arms. “Rivers just stormed through here as though he was about ready to kill someone, Tully just hung up on me, telling me to go fuck myself, and now you’re busting your way through the door as though the fucking Angel of Death is after you.”
“I’m fine, we’re fine,” I rush out. “They’re…fine.” Or well, mostly fine. I mean, they’re not physically hurt and I guess that’s all that matters right now. Their lives aren’t in danger and their hearts will eventually stop hurting, but Noah doesn’t need to know all that.
Though, I do suppose Spencer’s life is in danger. Damn, I could just imagine what Noah would do if he was there to overhear that little conversation too. Shit would hit the motherfucking fan.
Noah runs his hands up and down my arms. “If you’re fine, why the fuck do you look so freaked out?”
I suck in a breath. “I don’t look freaked out,” I defend, “I look fucking badass.”
Noah rolls his eyes, trying to appear unaffected, but let’s face it, he can’t pull it off. “Yeah alright,” he grins, bringing his lips down on my neck. “You looking fucking badass and sexy, and damn near dangerous.”
I tilt my neck, loving how his warm lips feel against my skin. “Are we alone?” I murmur, scrunching his shirt between my fingers and desperately needing to feel his skin against mine.
His response is his hands winding down my body until he’s lifting me from under my ass. I wrap my legs around his waist as his lips meet mine.
I’d dare say we’re alone.
Noah walks us down to his room, kicking the door closed with his foot behind us before crashing down onto his bed. He sits up against the headboard with me straddled on his lap, feeling every bit of him as he grinds up into me.
His desperate kisses meet mine and it’s like a fight for dominance – who can take charge and run the show, but when it comes down to it, Noah will always win, and let me tell you, he always lets me win before he brings home the grand prize.
I distantly remember that I wanted to tell him something, but as for right now. It’s going to have to wait until my brain isn’t so foggy, besides, this is so much better than whatever crap was going to come pouring out of my mouth.