Page 24 of A Million Times, Yes

“You spoke to her? Instead of him?” His brows rose.

“I think it’ll be more meaningful if the message comes from her.”

He slowly shook his head, his smile growing. “You’re a sick motherfucker, you know that?”

I’d done what it took to get this over with as quickly as possible so I wouldn’t miss tomorrow’s run.

But for my brother’s benefit, I chuckled and said, “And now I’m an even richer one.”

Chapter Six

Maya

For the last two weeks, like clockwork, Jordan had shown up at the same time and location every morning. Was it on purpose or a coincidence that he didn’t show up the morning after we’d had sex under the bridge? Whatever his reasoning was, I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the way it made me feel. And I especially hated that his absence caused me to feel gross about my decision to have sex with him.

That I felt hurt.

He owed me nothing. We were no more than two horny strangers.

So why did I expect more from him? Why, when I was putting on my green spandex running outfit, did I immediately wonder what his reaction would be when he saw it and how quickly he would touch me and if he would try to have sex with me again, pouncing the second he saw me.

I even stuck around in case he was late, even though he’d always been so punctual. But once the five-minute mark hit, I took off, feeling quite pathetic.

In my mind, the whole plan of making him chase me, lust after me, was over.

He’d gotten what he wanted, and he was done. The kind of man my mother had warned me about when I became a teenager and her heart had been hurt at least a dozen times.

When I approached the intersection the following day, I anticipated him being a no-show again. I didn’t even look up as I got close to the crosswalk. But as I neared, I felt someone’s gaze move across my body. I felt a presence—the same presence I felt every time I came to this section of the city—and a breathlessness in my chest.

And there he was, smiling as he looked at me, as though only seconds had passed since he’d last seen me rather than almost two days.

He had some nerve to stand there grinning with confidence, so full of himself.

God, that man was cocky.

“Good morning, Maya.”

“Morning,” I muttered, jogging in place, fully intending to cross the street the second the signal changed, hoping to put enough distance between us that I wouldn’t have to see him.

“Did you miss me yesterday?”

Unbelievable.

Not only was he cocky but also a total asshole.

I refused to answer his question. “Didyoumissme?”

The slyest smile came across his face. “I missed everything about you.”

I couldn’t wait to hear this.

“Like what?” I asked.

Rather than wait for his reply, I ran through the crosswalk. I wasn’t surprised that he stayed right beside me—I was just annoyed that he had.

“Your scent.”

I laughed.