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Gage pulled alongside the curb on a dark residential street. He zipped his pants back up and reached across the console, brushing my wet cheek with his thumb. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry,” I said again. I wiped at my eyes, trying to stop these emotions, these fears, from breaking loose. But being around Caleb today, hearing him mention he was dating someone, it brought all those feelings back from when I first found out I was being cheated on. Sometimes I wished Caleb would have just left me instead of cheating, so I could believe it was just me he had the issue with, not that he had found someone better.

“Don’t apologize,” he said, wiping my tears. “Just tell me what I can do to fix it.”

But the thing was, he couldn’t fix it. Because I knew this thing between us would come to an end, and... I didn’t want it to. I liked the way I felt when I was around Gage. I liked being sexy and wild and desired.

And I knew it wasn’t hot to admit how scared I was, and our time was limited, and I was wasting it with these tears when we could both be making each other feel good. But I couldn’t stop myself.

So I lied, keeping it close to the truth. I hadn’t given Caleb head since his last birthday more than a year ago.

“I don’t even know if I’m good at giving head, and I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of you more than I already have.” I choked out a half-sob, half-laugh. “Is crying or bad head worse?”

31

Gage

How was she making me smile even with these tears running down her cheeks? Instead of thinking about it, thinking how much I would miss her when she found a man who could give her more than stolen kisses, I reached across the console, placing my lips against hers, feeling her wet skin against my face.

She whimpered softly, leaning into my kiss, and I put my hand at her neck, twining my fingers through the loose curls in her ponytail. Her mouth moved against mine, searching, and I met each curve of her lips with a push of my own.

Our tongues slowly mingled, feeling out this moment and pushing away the tears, the insecurities, until it was just her and me.

As she broke apart, her breathing ragged, I said, “You are enough, Farrah. Exactly as you are.”

A tear slipped down her cheek. “You can’t say things like that.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’ll make me fall for you.”

And because it was already too late for me, I kissed her again. Hungrily. All the reasons I’d been holding back fell away as I pulled her onto my lap, and we kissed more passionately, slowly losing the layers between us until I put on a condom and sank my cock into her, moving my hips underneath her weight and spinning my fingers over her clit until she clenched around me and I poured all of myself into her.

After we cleaned up, I dropped her off at her house. And as I drove away, a sinking feeling filled my stomach.

This wasn’t just a hook up. Not anymore.

I was going to tell her how I felt. And not in a car on the side of a road. No, I’d do it the way she deserved.

And I hoped like hell she wouldn’t turn me away.

32

Farrah

I played my good mood playlist on the way to drop the kids off at school, singing along to every song.

Levi pretended to cover his ears, but he couldn’t hide the smile on his face. This last weekend with Caleb coming to watch the game and then staying the night had gone so much better. He kept his mouth shut about my personal life, actually bought a rock painting kit for Andrew, complimented Levi on his game, and played well with Cora.

And that late-night tryst with Gage? Well, that made things all the better. I couldn’t wait to see him today. I was already hoping for another car ride with him, so I could have a second chance at giving him road head. Without the tears this time.

But just as I pulled up to The Retreat, my phone began ringing with a call from Andrew and Cora’s school. I pushed the button on the dash, answering, “This is Farrah Elkins.”

“Ms. Elkins, this is Nurse Palmer at Golden Valley Elementary. Andrew had a serious accident on the playground this morning, and we’re bringing him to the emergency room to have him checked.”

If I’d have been holding my phone, I would have dropped it. “Oh my gosh. What happened? Which ER?”

“Golden Valley Memorial,” she answered, and I immediately whipped out of the parking lot, driving toward the big hospital closest to my house. “He was playing on the jungle gym and fell, knocking his chin on the bar. He bit through his bottom lip, and we suspect he has a concussion.”