“Here,” He says, passing me a giant T-shirt and a pair of sweats. “These are going to swallow you whole, but they’re clean.”
I reach for them and smile, “Thanks. Are you sure this is okay? I mean, I don’t want to make things harder for you. I know we’re friends, but I’m probably just another reminder of Hanna.”
He laughs, “Jolene, It’s weird, but you don’t remind me of her. You don’t remind me of anyone. You only remind me of you.”
I swoon, and I don’t even mean to. I basically float my way to his shower and run my fingers over the bottles of shampoo and body wash, reveling in the fact that they smell like him. I allow the water to run over my body, and the heat feels good on my tired legs. My mind also wanders into a place where I could be in this shower with him, running my hands over his wet, broad shoulders.
Jesus, snap out of it, Karly!
I turn the water off and wrap myself into a towel, drying off. I leave my undergarments off and slip into Eric’s clothes. They’re huge, but I love the way that it makes me feel surrounded by him. I mean, I have wanted to crawl into his clothes since the moment I first laid eyes on him, so it’s fitting.
“There you are,” he smiles from behind the counter, chopping some tomatoes. “Thought I was gonna have to come and drag you out.”
“Your hot water heater is better than mine,” I shrug, popping a chip into my mouth. “Thanks for the clothes.”
“You’re welcome. You can throw yours into the wash if you want.”
I grin, placing my hand on my heart. “My knight in shining armor.”
He rolls his eyes, “Yeah, yeah. Want a margarita?”
“You know that I do,” I laugh.
He picks up the pitcher and pours us each a glass. I take my extra limes and squeeze them into the cup before taking a sip. “These are really good!”
“Better than Abuela’s?” He teases, tipping his glass back.
“I don’t know about all that.”
He sets his drink down, and his eyes fall to mine, “You remember that night at Hanna’s parents’ after her dad’s funeral?”
The thought of that day makes my heart break for him. “Oh, you mean Jameson showing up? How could I forget.”
“Yeah, total shit show,” I sigh, “I just think back and see all the warning signs, you know? Every red flag. Everything that should’ve opened my eyes.”
“Eric…”
“No,” he begs, “Let me finish.”
I nod, biting my bottom lip nervously, afraid of what he might say.
“You were always there. Cheering me up. I just want you to know that I might’ve been too stupid to pick up on how Hanna felt about Jameson, but I never overlooked you. Not once.”
I part my lips, stunned, and watch as he rounds the counter. My heart is beating out of my chest, and heat is racing through my veins. His arm snakes around my waist, gripping the loose fabric of his shirt. I can’t even breathe. I don’t even try.
I stare at him hopelessly. Waiting, wishing, begging for him to kiss me.
“I’m not drunk this time, and I,” he pauses, taking a deep breath, “Still want to kiss you.”
“Then kiss me,” I whisper.
I watch his chest as his breathing slows, and the whole world stops spinning when his lips graze mine. Just barely at first, and I feel like I might faint. Like my legs won’t even hold me up. Eric must sense it because he lifts me effortlessly and sits me on the counter, deepening our kiss.
My hands find the nape of his neck, and the ends of his hair between my fingers are perfection. As I pull him closer to me, my legs open more and more. His tongue slides against mine, and with every single ounce of self-control that I can muster, I pull away.
His forehead is pressed against mine, our breathing labored, minds confused.
“Wow,” he whispers.