She shakes her head but doesn’t look at me. “Nothing.”
I think back to everything, and then it hits me. “Look, if you’re interested in Trick...”
She gives me a look of pure disgust. “I’m not.”
I clench the steering wheel. “Did he do something? Say something?”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Forget it, Matt. It’s not a big deal.”
I look over at her and have to jerk back onto the road. “What the fuck did he say?”
“Nothing. I’m not even worried about it. I’m used to men like him, Matt. I can handle it.”
I lean up in my seat. “Obviously he upset you. You haven’t said a word the whole way. Why are you mad if it’s not Trick?”
“I’m not mad.”
I blow out a breath. “April, talk to me. There’s obviously something wrong. I’m about to turn around and go find Trick.”
“It’s not him.”
“Then what is it?”
She takes a deep breath, and I’m waiting for her to fall back into silence, but she surprises me when she starts to ramble. “Look, this is a one-night stand. One night and we’re already into night two. You’re leaving in a week—well, less than a week; it’s four days. I had a good time, but it’s over. It is what it is. Right? I mean, this is it. I’m just melancholy, I guess. It’s no big deal. Thank you for tonight. I promise that I’ll watch more football next season.”
Luckily, I’m pulling into her driveway because everything in me tells me to slam on the brakes. As soon as I stop, she grabs her purse and is out the door. “Thank you again for tonight. I had a great time with you.”
She is briskly walking away from me, but there’s no way I’m letting her go. Fuck!
I get out and slam the truck door and jog after her. I get to her just as she gets the front door unlocked and is about to walk inside. “Matt... please don’t make this harder than it is. It was fun. Let’s just...”
I put my hand on her shoulder and turn her around to face me. She’s staring at my chest, and her eyes are filled with tears. I swear, one little blink and they’re overflowing. I know she’ll freak out if I tell her what I’m thinking. So I try to keep it casual.
“Four days, April. I don’t leave for four days.”
She shrugs, and all at once, two big tear drops trail down her cheeks. I cup her face and use my thumbs to wipe them away. “Let’s enjoy the next four days.”
She starts to argue like I knew she would. “Seriously, if you’re asking me to walk away right now, I will, if that’s what you really want. But I need you to know that I don’t want to. I want to stay.”
She sniffles. She’s searching my face. “What do you want to do tonight then?”
I push her hair off her face and start to walk her into her house. She’s walking backwards, but there’s no way I’d let her fall. “I was hoping to get another taste of that pussy... Unless you’re too tired.”
“No!” she says, and her face turns red. “I mean, I’m not too tired.”
I kick the door closed with my boot and walk with her hand in hand to her room.
Chapter 11
April
“She’s smiling again,” Tara says.
It’s one of those random days where Emery, Becca, Tara, and I are all in the bakery together. “I’m a happy person, Becca,” I say with a roll of my eyes and then burst into laughter. Quite honestly, I’m not the happy-go-lucky person I’m claiming to be. But it seems the last few days I am. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop smiling.
Emery chimes in. “Yeah, and we all know why you’re happy. It’s some football player that brings you to work, eats half his weight in pastries, and then takes you home.”
“Emery!” I start.
She holds her hands up, laughing. “What? I’m not complaining. This has been our best week.”
We all laugh because it’s true. Matt definitely loves the treats.
I look over at Becca, and she’s the only one that seems distracted. I hate being this happy, especially right now. Her boyfriend broke up with her. He’s a dumbass, but we can’t help who we like.
Just like I can’t help that I like a football player that leaves tomorrow.
My smile instantly drops. I’ve tried to put it out of my mind all day long, but I can’t. Matt is leaving tomorrow. We’ve spent every possible minute together when I haven’t been at work. Being with him has me hoping for things I shouldn’t be hoping for, but try and tell that to my heart.
I rub my palm over my chest, right over my heart. Darn, tomorrow’s going to suck.
Tara points out the door. “Speaking of the football players. Get ready. Incoming.”