Rome
Four months later…
“You’re a stalker,” I mumble to myself as I climb out of my car and slam the door shut. The cold November air whips around me, finding its way inside my coat. I groan because winter is coming earlier than usual. I can smell it in the air. I won’t be surprised if we have snow by Thanksgiving. I tug my beanie over my ears to try and keep the chill away.
Today, just like every day, is filled with obsessive thoughts about Courtney. That night she walked out of my life was the last time I touched her. The last time I spoke to her. Guilt scratches away at my heart that hasn’t beat much since she left.
I fucked up.
I’m man enough to admit, I royally screwed up my relationship with her because I let my anger and our past guide me during that moment. But it was too late. Even after I figured out that she’d been set up, she was done with me. Refused to answer my calls and then blocked me. Her mom threatened to call the cops on the few occasions I showed up. And it was Keith, her boss, who came with his best intimidating glare to retrieve her car from the shop. I fixed that damn thing two days after she handed over her keys. I’d just tinkered on it the entire time to keep her there.
All I want to do is apologize.
Jamal, that motherfucker, later admitted that Whitney paid him to help her set that shit up. She paid him with money and her dirty cunt. The film they made to look like him fucking Courtney was really him and Whitney. I’d just seen the apparent correspondence that had gone on for weeks and I flipped the fuck out without considering other possibilities.
But I’d seen the look in her eyes.
The absolute horror on her face that I’d believe those lies.
I failed her.
Well, not completely. I did beat the shit out of Jamal after his confession. And while he lay on the floor cupping his broken nose, he spat out that he wished he would have come all over her face because whores deserve to get dirty. I’d lost my fucking mind and it took three guys at the shop to pull me off him. He’d forced himself upon her and I still didn’t protect her or believe her when it mattered most.
I don’t have class tonight, but I know she does. I know everything about her. Her work schedule. Her college schedule. Everything. I’m definitely a stalker. I also know that this is her last class before the Thanksgiving break and that tomorrow she leaves with her mother and Keith to go see family out of town. I want to see her before she goes. I push into the building and stride down the hallways, thankful for a reprieve from the cold. By the time I reach her classroom, she’s already standing with her back to me as she shrugs on a giant, poufy coat. It seems to swallow her tiny frame.
Fuck, I miss her.
Her golden waves get tucked into a stocking cap as she pulls it down over her head. A tall, lanky guy chats her up, clearly interested in her, and it irritates me.
She’s mine.
He holds her bag for her and she gives him a gracious smile. Her cheeks are slightly pink and her face has filled out. She looks healthy.
Of course she is. Without you sucking the life out of her, she can thrive.
I grit my teeth and fist my hands. As much as I hate the idea of some goofy fucker seeing my girl, I can’t help but be proud of her growth. She’s blossomed over the months into someone who seems to be enjoying life again. She’s happy.
That is, until she sees me.
The moment our eyes lock as she walks out the door, I see her mentally shut down. Her skin pales and her plump lips part. She staggers and the tall guy grips her elbow as he regards her with concern.
I stalk over to her. “Courtney.” My breath is ragged as I say her name in a reverent tone.
She shudders and the guy beside her glowers at me.
“Do you need something?” he asks, a slight bite to his voice.
Ignoring him, I stare at her pretty face. Fuck, I’ve missed her. “I just want to talk to you,” I say to her. “Please.”
She fidgets in her enormous coat. “I…”
“You should leave,” the guys snaps.
“Elliot,” she mutters. “It’s fine. I’ll be fine.”
His eyes narrow at me and his jaw clenches. “Is it safe? Is this asshole going to hurt you?”
“He already has.” Her chin lifts as she narrows her eyes at me. “He already destroyed me once. It won’t happen again.”
Elliot pulls her in for a hug. “If you need me, call. I’ll be glad to take care of the trash.” His glare in my direction is deadly as he hands her the bag he was carrying.
I clench my jaw but keep my cool. Flying off the handle and beating up her boyfriend won’t get her in my good graces.
“Thank you,” she mutters to him.
He gives me one more nasty look before storming away. When it’s just us two in the empty hallway, I reach for her hand. She takes a step back and shakes her head at me.
“You wanted to talk. Talk.” Her blue eyes are icy.
“Can we go someplace?”
“We are someplace.”
Hello again, wolf.
“I meant private.” I yank off my beanie and run my fingers through my hair.
Her eyes skim over my face, and for a brief moment, sadness flickers in her eyes. Longing. It’s enough to have me powering through this uncomfortable as fuck situation.
“Come on,” I order as I take the bag from her. She has no choice but to follow me out of the building and to my car. When I toss her bag into the trunk, she lets out a sound of annoyance.
“Rome,” she grumbles. “Stop.”
I slam the trunk and regard her with a frown. “I can’t stop when it comes to you.”
Her features soften and when I open the passenger car door, she willingly sits inside. Quickly, I climb inside and fire up the engine. The heat is shitty in my old car. I wish I had thought through my plan better.
“Where are we going?” she asks, her voice hardly audible over the rumble of the engine.
“Someplace special,” I lie. I have no fucking idea where I’m going. Honestly, I didn’t expect her to get into the car with me.
We drive in silence. I’m desperate to hold her hand, but I am trying to go slow. To ease into some middle ground so we can find our way back to each other. Fuck, I want her back.
“How’s school?” I question.
She shrugs her shoulders. “Fine.”
“What about your mom? She’s doing well?”
“Yep, fine.”
Everything is fucking fine.
“Harvey Benjamin misses you.” I miss you.
At the mention of my dog, she flashes me a sweet smile. “I miss him too.” Unfortunately, I believe she is talking about my pet and not me.
“I don’t see you much at the diner lately,” I mumble, stealing a quick glance at her.
She stiffens and wrings her hands together. “I haven’t been working as much recently.”
“I thought you needed the money for college and—”
“I’ll manage,” she snaps. “I’ve managed this far on my own and I’ll manage the rest of the way.”
I grind my teeth together. She’s so frigid now. I’ve ruined everything between us. I’m silent as I drive to the lake. I park in the same spot as before. Since the heater isn’t working anyway, I kill the engine.
She turns and gives me a cold stare. “What do you want from me?”
“Everything.” No sense in lying.
“You already had everything.”
Had.
I reach over and take her cold hand in mine. She surprisingly doesn’t pull away. “I fucked up,” I whisper. “I’m sorry.” I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss her knuckles. “All I want to do is talk and try to fix us.”
She starts to tug away, but I grip her tighter. “There’s nothing to fix. There’s nothing left,” she bellows, tears welling in her pretty blues. “You took it all away, so there’s nothing there anymore.” A tear snakes its way down her cheek.
“Tell me how to make it better,” I croak. “I’ll do anything.”
She sniffles and jerks her hand from my grip. Then, she slings the door open and stalks away toward the picnic table. I bolt from the car and rush after her. A squeal of shock escapes her when I grab her hand and pull her to me, hugging her back to my chest. The giant coat is bulky between us. Her scent fills my nostrils and for one moment I’m content. I’m high simply from smelling her.
“How can you act like what we had was nothing?” I demand, frustration in my tone.
She relaxes in my grip. I pounce on the opportunity to kiss her neck just below her ear—a place I know she loves to be kissed. “I’m having to put what I want aside. What I want doesn’t matter anymore.”
I hug her tighter and breathe against her earlobe. “Why? What you want means everything to me.”
“Does it?” she asks, her tone icy once again. “If I told you I wanted you to leave me alone forever, would it work?”
“Fuck no,” I bite out. “I can’t leave you alone. You’re mine and I can’t let you go.”
Instead of fighting, she bursts into tears. “Y-You’re making this complicated. W-Why can’t you just pretend I don’t exist?”
I twist her around to face me and cup her tearstained cheeks. “I can’t pretend you don’t exist. You are my existence. Not a day goes by where I don’t wake up with you on my mind. I love you, Courtney. I fucking miss you like crazy. I’d thought maybe you needed some time away from me, but I can’t stay away any longer. I’m dead without you.”
Her juicy lips part at my words. A gasp barely escapes her before I’ve pressed my lips to hers. They’re cold and chapped, but I devour them anyway. She tastes sweet like she’s been sucking on a butterscotch. I deepen the kiss and suck on her like she’s my candy. Her fingers have fisted my coat and she whimpers.
“Oh, God,” she cries out against my mouth. Needy and hungry for me too. Fuck, yes.
“Let me make it all better,” I murmur.
When I start to unzip her coat, she seems to shake away her daze and wriggles out of my grip. “Can you please take me home?”
“No.”
Her nostrils flare, the moonlight making her skin have an eerie glow to it. “You’re still a stubborn ass.”
I beam at her and it works to disarm her. Her anger floods away as she smiles shyly back. I take my moment, attacking her lips again. She moans against my mouth. I walk her backward to the picnic table and lift her hips to sit her on top. Grinning against her lips, I’m happy to see she’s a little heavier than I remember. The added weight on her is beautiful. Gently, I lay her back on the table.
Her eyes lock with mine when I start to unzip her coat. As I pull it down over her breasts, my dick hardens at seeing how they spill out of her top. Her tits are huge. Fuck, I love this new bra. I unzip her coat all the way to the end and it falls away to her sides, revealing her like a present I’ve just opened.
And fuck what a surprise this present is.
“You’re pregnant,” I choke out.