Twenty-Four
Noa
After Ransom had cleaned his ejaculation off me with a towel, he’d grinned at me, then left the bedroom, telling me he’d see me in the kitchen for breakfast. I sat there, staring at the closed door, not sure what to think.
We hadn’t actually had sex, but just because he’d called that friendly did not make it a fact.
That hadn’t been friendly. At least not by any standards I’d ever heard of.
I got dressed and packed up the rest of my things in a daze of sorts. He was in the kitchen when I arrived and frowned at my suitcase, telling me he was going to get that for me. We ate. He asked about what I had planned for the day when I got back home.
Then we’d gone out to his truck, and now, here we were, driving to the airport like nothing had ever happened.
It was weird.
I had questions.
Unlike in the kitchen, our drive was mostly silent.
Either he’d run out of small talk or what we had done was finally sinking in and he was panicking.
I really hoped it wasn’t the latter. The fear that he’d pull away and we would grow apart was slowly gaining traction in my head, and it might be me who panicked.
The departures line at the airport in Jackson wasn’t that busy, and I found myself wishing it were, but when he didn’t turn toward it but headed for short-term parking, I felt a wave of relief. He was going to park and go inside with me. That meant something … right? Not just a drop-off and run.
I clung to that as he found a spot close to the walkway over to the main terminal.
When he cut the engine, he glanced over at me. I could see the concern in his eyes, and I’d been right. It had sunk in, and he was dealing with it.
Here we go.
My hands fisted tightly in my lap, and I waited.
“We should talk about what happened before you leave.”
Yeah … we should .
I nodded, saying nothing.
He ran a hand over his head, mussing his hair, and I wanted to do the same to it. Feel it in my fingers. Press my lips to his. All the non-friendly things I couldn’t do.
“I got carried away. You’re sexy as hell—I’ve told you that.
And I woke up with your body tucked against me, which I take full responsibility for.
I have no doubt I did that shit in my sleep.
” He shook his head and grinned at me sheepishly.
“We’re good, right? I didn’t fuck up our friendship, did I? ”
I wasn’t sure what to feel. Disappointed? Relieved? He wasn’t tossing me aside. That was a good thing. But having had a taste of what it was like to be touched by him, well, that might have ruined me for all other men.
“No. I was a willing partner in that. You didn’t mess up anything.” Except for my heart because I’d be lying if I said a part of it wasn’t breaking a little.
He let out a heavy sigh. “Thank fuck. You’ve not said much, and I was getting my head all twisted up with shit. I can’t lose you, Shakespeare. You might not realize it, but I need you. Your friendship.”
He needed my friendship. That was … just great.
I managed to smile. “You’ll always have that.” And most likely my heart—oh, and my soul. I’m pretty sure you also snatched that, but no biggie. I’ll survive this.
His smile made his eyes brighten with relief, and then he reached for the door. “That’s good. I’d hate to show up at your door and force you to answer my texts and calls.”
I laughed, but it wasn’t genuine. My heart was hurting too much for that.
Taking my purse, I climbed out and walked around the back while he got my suitcase and rolled it over to me. I reached for it, and he shook his head.
“I got it.”
Yes, please keep being chivalrous and slowly killing me with all I will never truly have.
We walked toward the front entrance, and I tried to ignore the women who blatantly stopped what they were doing to look at Ransom. They thought he was mine. They were probably all envious of me right now.
HA! Joke was on them.
He stopped at the door and turned to me. “I’ll handle your mom’s ashes when they’re ready. You tell me where to take them, and I’ll do it.”
“Thanks,” I told him.
He pushed the suitcase toward me. “Have a safe flight, Shakespeare.”
“Bye,” I said, wondering if it would be years before I saw him again. I wanted to cry, but there was no way I’d do that in front of him.
He nodded his head once, and his eyes dropped to my mouth.
I waited, watching him. Neither of us moved, and when I said every fiber in my body was pleading with him to take a step forward, I was not exaggerating.
But he didn’t move. Moments passed. A horn in the distance, however, broke whatever trance we’d seemed to fall into, and his gaze snapped back up to meet mine. His smile was tighter.
“Talk soon, yeah?” he said.
“Yeah,” I agreed.
Then he walked away. Not turning back once to look. I know because I watched him until he was completely out of sight. Taking my heart with him.