Chapter 43
INEZ
43
We leave the art festival, horny as fuck and ready to tear each other’s clothes off.
Or, at least, that’s how I feel.
From the dark looks Nolan’s been sending my way ever since we climbed into his car, I’m willing to bet that he feels it too.
The drive across town is agonizing and far too long. When we’re a minute or two away from our destination, I lose the last shreds of my patience.
I reach over to where Nolan sits in the driver’s seat, focusing on the road as he drives us back home. I slide my hand up and down his thigh, over his jeans. His breathing deepens as my fingers trail closer and closer to his erection at each pass.
“Woman…” he growls, his nostrils flaring.
His grip on the steering wheel tightens, and I grin.
“Yes?” I ask innocently.
“You’re going to get us killed,” he warns.
Feeling extra devious as he turns onto his driveway, I crawl up on my knees in the passenger seat and lean over so I can put my lips on his skin. Pulling his collar aside a bit, I nibble on the spot between his neck and his shoulder, a place I know that drives him mad. He groans out loud and shifts in his seat.
“You better keep your seatbelt on,” Nolan croaks, clearly trying to keep his waning attention on the drive.
“Make me.”
By the time we pull up in front of the house, I’m halfway into his lap, ready to jump his bones right here in the car.
He parks in his usual spot, right beside my own car and I’m so impatient. So needy. But when I try to pull Nolan’s face down to meet mine, I realize he’s not in this with me. Not mentally, anyway.
Instead, he’s staring across the yard. Frowning.
I twist around to see what he’s looking at.
That’s when I notice that there is a vehicle parked beside Genevieve’s camper. A small hybrid two-door car that I’ve never seen before.
Nolan curses under his breath and jumps out from behind the wheel.
“What’s wrong?” I call out, but he doesn’t answer. He just stomps toward Gen’s place, on a mission.
Clearly, I’m slow on the uptake. I have no idea what’s going on here. Why the sudden change in the air?
I slide out of my side of the car, ready to go after him. But Nolan’s already all the way across the big front yard. He marches straight over and angrily bangs on the camper door.
I decide to stay back, watching from a distance as I stand in the shadows. Trepidation zips through me as I wrap my bare arms around my middle. I don’t have a good feeling about this.
A moment later, a tall blonde woman that I can only describe as an ultra hippie opens the camper door. She’s wearing this long, flowing multi-color skirt paired with a fringe vest. She’s got straight, long hair, and so much beaded jewelry that I’d bet it weighs a ton. When she comes out onto the step to greet Nolan, I see that she’s carrying a hesitant Stella in her arms.
Oh no. Looking at this woman’s face is like getting a sneak peek into Stella’s future. The resemblance is uncanny.
Lilian.
It’s Stella’s mom. Nolan’s ex-wife.
I don’t know how I didn’t recognize her at first glance. Though, to be fair it’s been years since I last saw her. And with everything that’s unfolded over the past few weeks, Nolan’s former wife has been the furthest thing from my mind. I’ve been busy over here in my little bubble, falling in love.
With her ex-husband. With her daughter. With this little life that was always meant for her.
But now, Lilian is back.
Our eyes connect across the distance, and it’s like she just knows. She knows that I’ve been taking her place. From the scowl she shoots me, I can tell she’s not happy about it.
Oh, this is just great.
This is going to change everything.