“AJ, I can’t. I-“
Amid my protest, he pressed his lips to mine and I inhaled him like a nicotine addict taking a hit from the first cigarette they’d had in years. Every single one of my senses blared to life and I couldn’t stop myself form kissing him back. My arms unfolded and fell to my sides. The loss of control was obvious to the point that AJ pressed his body flush up against mine because he knew I wouldn’t put up a fight, sandwiching me between him and the door. My heart raced so fast that it scared me. It’d been so long and I never stopped wanting him simply because we weren’t speaking. Still…I couldn’t let my physical weakness for this man cloud my judgment.
“AJ…we have to stop,” I whispered against his lips, still unable to open my eyes. “My mind’s made up.”
The raw magnetism between us made it difficult for him to back away, and just as difficult for me to let him go. I didn’t even realize my hands had made their way beneath his hoodie and shirt to his waist. As hard as it was, I released him and folded my arms over my chest again.
AJ took a couple steps back and nodded to let me know that he understood. I ran the back of my hand over my damp lips and left it there, secretly wishing I hadn’t stopped the flow of whatever would’ve gone down between us.
“I’ll go if that’s what you want.”
All I could do was nod. If I opened my mouth, I was sure to say the wrong thing – like invite him to stay regardless of what he’d done.
“But before I do, you’re taking this back,” he demanded gently enough that I didn’t protest. Taking my hand in his, AJ slipped the ring back on my finger that I’d given back to him when we broke up. His eyes lingered on the sight of it on my hand as I fought against how right it felt having it back in place. “Whether you come or not, I’ll be down at the fountain in the courtyard at seven tomorrow, waiting for you.”
My heart fluttered again as I stepped off from the door and unlocked it, realizing that he’d have to leave if I was gonna stick to my guns. I opened it and AJ stepped back out into the hallway, staring me down.
“I won’t be there,” I assured him.
He nodded, but had this look on his face that led me to believe that he still had hope despite what I said.
“Either way…I’ll wait,” were his parting words, leaving me to watch him walk down the hallway until he disappeared down the stairwell.
When I closed the door back, it felt like I’d dreamt him coming here, dreamt that he kissed me. My heart still hadn’t slowed to its normal pace yet. Thoughts swam through my head and I had to take a seat on my bed.
Meet him? I couldn’t. My thoughts hadn’t changed, but I had to admit, he was inside my head now. While I couldn’t deny what I’d seen, what if….nah. All signs pointed toward him messing around with this girl behind my back. Still, though, even when he kissed me tonight, it felt like no other woman existed in his world other than me; he’d always had a way of making me feel that way. Didn’t make it reality though. As far as I was concerned, we were still in the same boat as before, only now I couldn’t say that my heart was as hard toward him. Call me a sucker, but…I still loved him.
Chapter13
AJ
“She turned you down, though, right?” Terrell asked, clearly not understanding why I sounded so optimistic.
“Yeah, but…I know Sam. I think I might have a chance.” I couldn’t stop smiling – good thing we were on the phone and not talking face to face.
I was already imagining how the night could go. I’d take her to dinner just like I told her I would, giving me a chance to let her know that things with my dad and the business had all worked out. After that, it didn’t really matter where we ended up – I just wanted to be with her.