I pressed a kiss to the center of her palm. “Come on. Let’s get you inside. You look tired.”
I knew what I’d said when I’d said it. Instead of getting pissed at being turned down, she was pissed I said she looked tired. Living with my mom and Saoirse, I’d learned a thing or two about women, and they really didn’t fucking like being told they looked tired.
Elena stomped across the grass just ahead of me. I followed her onto her porch, crowding her as she unlocked her door. Before she stepped inside, I spun her around and pressed her back into the jamb.
“Are you going to bed?” I asked.
“Maybe.”
“Are you pissed at me?”
Her nose wrinkled. “I’m not sure.”
“You’re not. Are you going to let me give you a ride after Spanish without fighting me?”
“We’ll see.”
“You will.” Stooping, I touched my mouth to hers, holding there for a long beat before letting go. Then I took her by her shoulders and pushed her into the house. “Good night, Ellie.”
She closed the door harder than necessary. I stayed until I heard all the locks click. Rubbing the back of my neck, I trudged back home.
I should have been pissed at myself for going there with Elena again.
I should have been troubled.
I should have been forming a way to tell her it was all a mistake.
The only thing on my mind was how perfect she was when she went soft with me and how I’d denied both of us long enough. No more of that.
I pulled my truck in the garage and replaced my toolbox, then I popped the hood. The truck was good, but my hands needed something to do to calm down, so I got to work checking over everything.
There was always something to fix.