My fingernails dig into my palms as I force myself to relax my jaw. I clear my throat before I speak.
“I, uh, just wanted to tell Bo “thank you” for showing me the studio tonight—it’s lovely.” Swallow. “So...thank you.” I force a smile. “Also, I’m sorry about what I said about not being friends. Clearly that’s all we’ll be.” I turn and dash to my car.
“Ember, wait!” Bo runs after me, beating me to my car and blocking my door with his body.
My arms cross in front of me, protecting me without having to ask my brain for permission.
“Are you about to tell me that wasn’t what it looked like?” I bite the inside of my cheek until it hurts.
“No...I mean—” He kicks my tire with his heel before I cut him off.
“Ainsley? You warned me about her, Rae warned me about her, and all you did tonight was prove that you’re no better. You kiss me, and come back here with her?”
“You kissed her?” Rae runs down the stairs toward us.
“It’s none of your business, Rae!” Bo hollers through gritted teeth.
Rae looks like she’s about to say something, but tears trickling down her pale cheek stop her. Regan reaches an arm around her shoulders and pulls her in, kissing the top of her head as she stares at us in defeat.
“I meant that kiss, November.You were the one who walked away.” Bo grabs my shoulders, and I’m too tired to fight him.
“You called me self-righteous. Then, apparently, came here to fuck your ex-girlfriend.” His head turns to the side and he winces against my accusation.
“It’s you, November. You’re the one I’m in love with. I’m insane over not having you.” He’s not making sense, and it becomes clearer that he’s been drinking since he got home.
Suddenly, Bo’s hands slide from my shoulders to my cheeks and he forces his mouth against mine. His tongue slides sloppily against my lips before I pull away and push him aside, opening my car door.
Three sets of eyes watch as I slide into my car and look at Bo.
“You taste like whiskey...and bubblegum.” I slam the door, start the engine, and lock the door when Bo tries to enter the passenger side.
“God dammit, Ember, listen to me for once!” He screams as he pounds his fist into my car window.
Fearing for the glass, I leave the engine running but unlock the door. Seeming relieved, Bo slides inside. Before turning to face him, I lock eyes with Regan and Rae, giving them a slight nod to excuse them from the scene.
“What?” I ask, as I chew on my bottom lip.
“When you left, I came back here and went into my studio.” Bo’s words are quick and slightly slurred. The smell of liquor permeates my car.
“I don’t want to know anything else, Bo. I don’t. Please stop.” I put up my hand to prove my point.
Bo fists his hair. “November, I’m not leaving this car until you hear me out.”
“Well,” I shrug, “it’s going to be a long walk back from Boston for you.”
Shit.
Bo’s eyebrows knit together. “Boston?” Before he annunciates then, realization sears his eyes. The rise and fall of his chest increases as he puts it together. “How long has it been going on?”
“What are you talking about?” I feign ignorance.
“Don’t screw with me!” He punches my dash, causing me to jump. “How long have you been fucking Turner?” His teeth are clenched so tightly, I’m surprised words escape at all.
“Get out of my car. So help me God, Bo, get out of my car right now before I lay on this horn and have Regan force you out.” I beg my chin to stop quivering as I force my eyes into his.
With a petulant shrug, Bo gets out. Hanging onto my doorframe, he ducks his head into my car.
“You’re right. We can’t be friends,” he says before he slams the door.
I don’t wait for him to step away from the car before I put it in reverse and tear out of his driveway like a bat out of hell.
Chapter Twenty
“Sorry to wake you.”
“It’s OK, Blue, you sounded upset.” Adrian holds his door open well past midnight. I texted him after I left “Casa Cavanaugh” and flew here in record time.
I drop my backpack on the island and slump onto the couch. My body shifts to the left when he sits next to me.
“What happened?” Adrian’s arm envelopes my shoulders and he kisses the top of my head.
I’ll never listen to Coldplay again ...
“I can’t be friends with him, Adrian.” I rock my forehead side to side in my folded hands.
“Did he do something to you?” His body stiffens as he leans back.
So many things ...
I look up, forcing a smile before I shake my head. My face feels flush as I move to straddle his lap. Fighting the tears from the roller coaster bitch-of-a-night I’ve had, I take off my shirt and cast it to the floor. Adrian’s eyes widen in praise as he cups my breasts in his hands. I lean forward, tracing my tongue up the side of his ear, eliciting a groan from his throat.
“God, I’ve missed you this week. Come with me, I want you in my bed.”