13. Lucky – Brad
Areluctant sigh escapes as I meet Tess”s eyes across the table of the booth we”ve nested in for hours now. As much as I want to cling to this moment, the deserted restaurant reminds me that closing time can”t be too far off now.
My fingers drift distractedly along her forearm, tracing nonsense shapes and letters. Part of me still can”t believe how fast everything clicked into place once we stopped overthinking it all. Witnessing Tess so at ease, engaging with me, not some pre-conceived image she’s conjured of me in her head, eclipses any remaining what-if doubts.
Now new, more dangerous questions creep in. Like how difficult resisting the magnetic urge to capture her lips will prove walking her back to the studio. Or how long taking things slow and steady will last. I’m not exactly one to pace myself. Not when I want something.
Or someone.
Because I know one taste of her won”t satisfy what rapidly is going to grow into an insatiable hunger once I start. My restless hands itch, wanting to map every supple curve of hers.
But I can”t screw this up. For once my impatience can”t rule or push her trust too far too fast. This woman deserves to be handled with care as I peel back each hypnotic layer, blinding and wrecking me further.
“Looks like we’ve closed the place,” Tess says, reluctantly leaning back and sliding out of reach. Her eyes sparkle like she’s just woken up from a dream.
If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up.
“Guess so,” I say, not wanting this date to end. It’s hard to hide my disappointment.
Her hands slide around my waist as we walk, moving up from holding hands, and I can only stand having her so close for one block before I have to stop.
Under the glow of a streetlight, I turn her to face me, her eyes are bright and questioning, searching mine. God, she’s gorgeous. Pushing through my sudden nerves, I run my thumb along her soft cheek and ask, “Can I kiss you?”
She hesitates for a second, but smiles. “I wish you w?—”
I don’t let her finish, and brush my lips against hers gently, stealing her words, the warmth of her breath mingling with mine so sweetly. But it’s not enough.
I don’t want the sweet, I want the fire. I want more.
Delving deeper into the kiss, I pull her closer just as she pulls me in, meeting in the middle where there’s nothing left between us. Our guards are fully down, and the taste of her is exactly as perfect as I imagined.
My fingers run through her silky hair as her hands slide up my back under my jacket. She leans into the kiss, leans into me, and it’s all I can do not to grind against her. She’s stirring physical reactions in me that are undeniable, but way too early to consider.
I would love nothing more than to take her home and see this through, but I’ve already sworn to myself to take this slow. This can’t be like the rest. Tess isn’t like anybody else.
This is special.
I dig somewhere deep inside for strength I didn’t know I had and force myself to release the kiss, putting an inch or two between us. We’re both breathless, and as I gaze at Tess, her lips slightly swollen from the kiss, I have to fight myself not to dive in for more.
She blinks a few times, as if clearing her mind from a fog. “Whoa.”
“Whoa, indeed,” I chuckle, smoothing her hair that I’ve messed up during the kiss. “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself. I’ve been wanting to do that for days.” The admission slips out without thinking, and I internally kick myself for being so transparent.
“Days?” she asks, amused.
I sigh. The cat’s out of the bag, may as well feed it. “Yup. When I first met you, I knew you’d be trouble.”
Her amusement turns into confusion. “I’d be trouble? How?”
“I knew that if I got close, I’d get burned.”
The crease between her brows deepens. “Burned?”
“You’ve definitely set me on fire,” I admit, leaning down to kiss her again, and it’s a slow, meaningful exchange that expresses exactly what has been set ablaze inside of me since we met.
When I pull away this time, it’s even harder to do than the last time. This is insane. The emotions that are rolling through me the longer I spend time with Tess are going to overwhelm me. I’m not used to feeling this much outside of when I’m on stage. In fact, this feels a lot like that. Nobody has ever made me feel this way.
“Well, damn,” Tess whispers, her eyes opening slowly to meet mine. When they do, that electric connection between us sparks brighter again. “How much wine did I actually have?”
“Are you feeling drunk?” Now I’m worried I just took advantage of her.
She laughs, and it sounds like a song. “Not really. But that kiss sure is making me question things.”
I wrap my arms around her and pull her close, inhaling her perfume, making a mental note to memorize this moment. This feeling. Everything about it.
“Don’t question anything about this,” I murmur into her hair. “I’m not. For once.”
She tilts her head up to me. “For once?”
A wry smile escapes. “I usually question everything and everyone. There are usually ulterior motives for people wanting to be in my orbit. With you, I’m not doing that. I’m not questioning it.”
“Well, don’t I feel special?” She laughs, and I know she’s trying to lighten the mood. I did get pretty serious, pretty quickly. Maybe I should go easy.
“You are.” I just can’t shut up, can I? For fuck’s sake. “Sorry, the moonlight’s getting to me.”
She gives me a small squeeze. “No, please. Go on. This is giving me life.”
“Nah, it’s going to start going to your head.”
We start walking again, still holding on to each other as we laugh and tease each other. But as we turn into the parking lot of the studio I freeze in my tracks. Someone is leaning on my car, waiting for me. My blood runs cold.
Gina. My ex.
Fuck.
“What is it…?” Tess’s question trails off as she sees what’s made me stop so suddenly. “Oh.”
I don’t like the tone in her voice, as if she expected something like this to happen. And I really don’t like that I’ve somehow managed to meet that expectation.
“It’s my ex,” I explain, though if she’s done any research on me, like she says she has, she already knows this. And she’ll know that it was a volatile relationship at the best of times.
She starts to pull out from under my arm, “I know. I should go…”
“No. Don’t,” I plead, pulling her back to my side, and whispering into her ear. “Please.”
Her body stiffens, but then relaxes against me. She doesn’t say anything, but nods, keeping her eyes trained on my ex warily.
We approach Gina, who has her arms crossed over her chest, and a glare that could kill if I let it.
“We need to talk, Brad,” she says, flicking her long dark hair over her shoulder as she gives Tess a rude once over.
“Actually, we don’t,” I say, pulling Tess tighter against me, trying to be reassuring. This is not what I wanted to deal with on our first date. Or ever. “We had our final ‘talk’ months ago. I’m pretty sure nothing was left out.”
“But I’ve changed. I swear,” she says, demeanor shifting swiftly. Too quickly. She pushes off the car, and I can see in the overhead light from the nearby door that her eyes are glassy.
Shit. She’s on something.
Tess must notice me go rigid as Gina approaches because her arm around me tightens.
“Who’s this? My replacement?” Gina shoots another glare at Tess as she steps closer.
I instinctively move to place myself between them. Gina is a hot head to begin with, and if she’s high, who the fuck knows what she’s capable of.
“You need to leave,” I say, wanting to get this confrontation over with as soon as possible. She’s already ruined the best date I’ve ever had. “We have nothing left to say to each other.”
“I’m pregnant.”
My stomach drops. If it’s true, I know it’s not mine. We haven’t been together in at least six months. And if she’s really strung out while she’s pregnant…Jesus Christ.
“Give Bobby my congratulations.” That’s who she cheated on me with, and who, I assume, is the father.
“Funny,” she chuckles. “He said the same about you when he dropped me off here.”
“Well, we both know it’s not mine. So, go back to Bobby, and have a nice life with your family. Leave me and mine alone.”
“You’re being so mean. When did you get so mean?” She reaches out for me, but I step backward, careful to move Tess with me, keeping my spot between them.
I don’t like the crazy vibe emanating from Gina right now, and I need to diffuse the situation quicker than I am doing.
“Seriously. Congratulations to you both. I hope you’re happy,” I say, trying to be sincere, even though I feel like I’m spitting out venom. I was so stupid to ever think I wanted this woman. She got clean when she was with me. It’s sad to see what she’s become since. “Now, please, just leave me alone.”
Before she can respond or reach out again, a car peels into the parking lot, radio blasting. They screech to a stop behind my car.
Bobby.
The window rolls down and smoke pours out, revealing my supposed former nemesis. One I couldn’t give two shits about now.
“Get in the fucking car, Gina,” he orders sharply.
I step back again, pulling Tess tight next to me, signaling to Gina that I am not an option for her, and she needs to deal with her own shit.
“But you’re being an asshole,” she whines, stomping her foot like a child.
“Just get in the fucking car,” he replies, rolling his eyes at her.
She glances back at Tess and I and must see that she doesn’t have a lot of choice in the matter. I get the feeling her being here was part of a bigger game they’re both playing with each other. One I definitely want no part of.
“Fine,” she pouts, and rounds the car to get in.
As they pull out of the parking lot, I don’t release the breath I’ve been holding until the car is out of sight, and I think Tess does the same.
“Well, that’s one way to make a first date memorable, huh?” I say, deflated now that the night’s been ruined by my ex.
“Um…yeah. That’s pretty unforgettable.” Her tone is surprisingly light. Maybe things aren’t ruined after all.
“I’m sorry about that.” I really am at a loss for what to say after a display like that. I’m still reeling a bit.
“Don’t apologize. That was obviously not your fault.”
I can feel the relief wash over me in a wave. “You’re amazing,” I say, kissing her forehead. “I hate to end our date on that sour note, though.”
She turns her head toward the studio suggestively. “It doesn’t have to end yet.”
I’m digging the studio keys out of my pocket before I take another breath, pulling her along with me toward the building.
“Then it won’t.”