Page 45 of Hard Rock Love

15

We were quiet on the way home. It wasn’t until Seth pulled into the driveway of my apartment building and put the car into park that he finally said something.

“Do you want to tell me what that was all about?” he asked.

“Not really,” I muttered.

“I’m here to listen if you need to get shit off your chest.”

“I just want to forget about it.”

“Okay,” he replied.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and made a move to open the car door.

“Do you want me to come in with you?” Seth asked. “You’re obviously still upset and I feel bad leaving you alone like this.”

I paused.

“Sure,” I said after a moment. “I’d like that.”

When we entered the apartment, Seth gave it a quick once-over.

“It’s probably nothing too impressive compared to where you live,” I asked. “With all your Jacuzzi tubs and gold-plated toilets.”

“I would never have anything as gaudy as gold toilets,” Seth said, looking offended. “They’re platinum. Much more subtle.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I toed my shoes off and kicked them into the closet. I was glad I’d done a recent clean sweep of the place. I tended to let things get a little messy whenever Everly wasn’t around.

“You want something to drink?” I asked. “We’ve got orange juice and some soda. No alcohol, I’m afraid.”

“That’s okay,” he said. “I’m only a fan of drinking when it’s in a big group. I’ll take something caffeinated, if you’ve got it.”

Seth wandered over to the kitchen where I was rummaging around for two cans. I handed one to him, cold and beaded with condensation. His fingers brushed mine as he took it from my hands, sending a tingle shooting through me.

I hadn’t forgotten about that kiss. And I hadn’t forgotten how he’d pulled away for the second time. But the encounter with those assholes had left a ball of misery swirling in my stomach. I really hadn’t wanted to be alone with my thoughts. I'd just obsess over this whole mess for hours, making myself more and more upset.

I needed a distraction, and I knew Seth could offer one, even if it wasn’t exactly the kind of distraction I was yearning for.

He popped the top off his soda and took several long pulls. He made a face and whipped his head back and forth.

“The carbonation went up my nose,” he explained, grimacing.

“You shouldn’t drink so fast.”

“How else am I going to get the caffeine into my system with maximum speed?”

“I don’t think you need caffeine,” I said. “Being buzzed and full of energy is your natural state of being.”

“Can’t argue with that.” He rested his can on the counter and leaned against it. He cast a look in my direction, feigning a casual stance.

“So those guys were jerks, huh?” Seth said. “I wonder what their problem was.”

My hand closed over my can, gripping tight. Before I could crush it, I set it on the counter next to Seth’s to avoid another accident like earlier. Sticky soda was even worse than water.

“Did you know them?” Seth asked.

A lump formed in my throat. I looked down at the soda and played with the metal tab.