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The cop returns and hands me my cards back. “This is your warning, kids. Don’t let me catch you parking on the side of a busy street again, unless it’s an emergency.”

I give him a small smile of understanding and it takes everything I have in me to keep my mouth shut about how needing to fuck Viola in the back of my car was an emergency. A desperate sex emergency, but still.

He jerks his head toward the street. “Now, get out of here before I change my mind.”

I nod my head, roll up the window, and pull onto the street.

She finally relaxes and bursts into a fit laughter. “I don’t think I’ve ever had an adrenaline rush like that in my life.” She’s smiling.

“Get ready for many firsts.”

Viola leans her head back against the headrest as I shift gears and slam on the gas. The engine roars as we enter the highway and I shift once again until we’re cruising. Moments pass and the silence cuts through the moment like a sharp knife.

“What are you thinking about?” I ask. She’s quiet and I feel like she’s building that wall she’s perfected over the years. She turns her head and looks at me. If I could pull this car over on the freeway and fuck her again, I would. She’s addicting.

“What are we doing, Travis?”

I grin. “We’re going back home for round two.”

“The truth, that’s all I want for once. Not a Travis King smart ass answer.” The frustration and confusion is clear in her voice. She tucks her hair behind her ears, just like she did when we were young and would get nervous around me. There’s no jab at me, no hateful remark, Viola genuinely wants to know what we’re doing, but I don’t have an answer. The sexual tension between us has been evident for years, but now that we’ve finally crossed that line, I don’t think we could ever go back.

I focus on the road ahead of us, thinking how selfish I’ve been. I want her, but I’m worried if this goes any further than what it is right know, that I’ll only end up hurting her. I can’t give her what she wants and especially what she deserves. I won’t allow myself to be the man my father was to my mother. It’s one of my biggest fears and biggest reasons I need to protect her from me.

I take the exit off the highway and travel down the service road before turning into my neighborhood. I think how to answer, but know that whatever it is won’t be enough for her. “I don’t know.” I swallow, trying to find the right words, but nothing sounds right. “Being with you—”

She waits with bated breath for my next words, but they never come because when I see Jason parked in the driveway, my driveway, leaning against his car with his hands tucked into his pocket, I see red all over again

“Shit,” Viola mutters under her breath. “I forgot we made plans.”

I slow down before pulling into the driveway and parking in my usual spot. I rev the engine, but Jason, being the coward he is, doesn’t look at me.

I leave the car idling as my jaw ticks with rage.

“Are you fucking serious?”

“Travis, I’m—” she begins, but I interrupt, choking out in mock laughter.

“Go on, Viola. Your date is waiting.” I can’t believe she’d do this, but I have no hold on her. She’s not mine, no matter what’s happened between us, but that doesn’t make any damn bit of difference to me right now.

“Travis…” she pleads, desperate for me to allow her to explain, but I don’t want to hear any of it.

“Get. Out.” My words are cold and emotionless. I can’t even look her in the eyes.

“Travis, please.”

I lean over her body and grab on to the door latch until it pops open. “Make sure to tell him I got you good and loosened up for him. Fucked you real hard and broke your pussy in.”

She sucks in a breath and narrows her eyes at me. My words are harsh but that’s my intention. I want her to feel the same way I do at this very moment—angry, hurt, and confused. Just the thought of them together sickens me.

“Now.”

She forcefully pushes open the door and before shutting it she leans in. “Fuck you, Travis.”

“No thanks. Been there, done that.”

Viola slams the door with force and walks away, toward Jason and his smug expression. She flashes a fake smile, but I don’t wait around to watch them together. Instead, I reverse the car out of the driveway and peel out as I speed down the street. At the first stop sign, I slam my fist against the steering wheel. I don’t even know how to process all of this. I’m losing myself and I need to get a fucking grip.