Her tongue darts out to trace her bottom lip, and I’m hit with the temptation to replace her tongue with mine.
Our kiss the other night has lived rent-free in my head since it happened. Regardless of how hard I try to distract myself, it always returns to the forefront of my mind.
What would have happened if I had stayed?
What if we had talked out what happened rather than run away?
What if I had kissed her again, regrets be damned?
Instead, I drank until I was physically unable to walk back to the house and kiss her again.
“Mommy! Are you ready?”
I jolt. Lana pushes against me again, forcing me out of the car and away from the temptation of her lips.
Probably for the best.
“Let’s get you buckled in.” Lana’s voice comes out huskier than usual as she motions for Cami to come over. While Lana gets Cami buckled in, I put the Tupperware of cocadas in the trunk.
The awkward tension between Lana and me intensifies as we both get in the car. I don’t let anyone drive my car, yet here I am allowing Lana to do the very thing my brothers are prohibited from doing.
Only because she doesn’t trust you behind the wheel.
I tap my fingers against my thighs in a poor attempt to distract myself from the unbearable pressure building inside my chest.
I would never put her and Cami’s life at risk like that, so for her to think otherwise…
It fuckinghurts.
My dark thoughts are instantly driven out of my head as Lana peels out of the driveway. The tires squeal, and a car honks as Lana dictates that she had the right of way, although I know for certain she most definitely did not.
I use the safety handlebar for the first time in my life as she navigates through town. There aren’t many stop signs or traffic lights, but she manages to hit every single one in the same way—hard enough to make me suffer from whiplash.
My heart pounds against my chest. “You drive like a madman.”
She cackles. “It’s not my fault the light changed from yellow to red so fast.”
“You were going forty when it turned yellow!”
She shrugs.
I wipe the damp skin over my brow. “How do you still have a license?”
“Probably the same way you avoided staying out of jail after choking Wyatt.”
My mouth drops open. “You’re a menace.”
“I haven’t gotten in an accident.”
“Probably because everyone in town knows to avoid the road whenever you’re on it.”
She snaps her fingers. “That explains so much. No wonder I never get caught in any rush hour traffic.”
“Only because you’re the reason people rush in the first place.”
She laughs until her cheeks turn pink and her eyes water. I’m enraptured by the sound almost as much as the look on her face as she turns toward me with the brightest smile.
You’re absolutely helpless.I bite down on my cheek to stifle my groan.