“Eddie…”
“Chiquita, calm down.”
I shook my head. Calm was not an option, my heart was beating so hard I thought I could hear it even though I couldn’t hear anything but the blood rushing to my ears.
“Why are you scared?” he asked.
I shook my head.
I shook my head.
“Why do you want to break up with me?”
I shook my head again but answered.
And I answered honestly. “It isn’t going to work. I know it.
I’d rather have it end now, when it’l hurt but I don’t want it to end later, when it’l tear me apart.”
I was struggling against him to get away but he pressed deeper and I could smel him and I stopped. I had to hold on to my reserves, I couldn’t burn out too fast, I had to keep enough energy to find a way to walk out of there.
“Why isn’t it going to work?” he asked.
“It never works.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. It just doesn’t. You can love someone a lot and treat them nice and do everything for them and then they just go. It happens. I saw it happen to my Mom and I don’t want it to happen to me. She came undone, it was like watching her unravel. And she was strong, is strong, and it destroyed her.”
I was talking to his throat, it was the only way to get it out.
His body stil pressed against mine, his hands came to my face and tilted it up, forcing me to look at him.
“Jet, I don’t know what’s gonna happen and I can’t promise anything but I do know I don’t want this to end.
What we have is good, it’s so fuckin’ good, it’s great.”
“Eddie…”
“No ‘Eddie’, listen to me. You go, I fol ow and bring you back. You leave, I’l do it again. You want to quit workin’ at Fortnum’s, do it. But I’l be at Smithie’s every night to pick you up. I told you I’d wear you down and I thought I was gettin’ somewhere but it seems I got work to do.”
“Don’t,” I whispered.
“I know you love him, but your Dad’s an asshole.” I shook my head but I was beginning to feel it, coming up, wil y-nil y and uncontrol able.
The attitude.
No one cal ed my Dad an asshole.
Okay, wel , maybe Eddie could get away with it but not without a little ‘tude thrown at him.
“And your Mom has shit taste in men,” he went on.
I stopped shaking my head and stared at him.
He did a lip touch and my body froze.
“But you don’t,” he said.
He pul ed me away from the wal and in his arms.
Then, he grinned. “You have fuckin’ great taste in men,” he finished.
That brought me out of my freeze and I glared at him.
“This isn’t funny,” I snapped.
“You’re wrong. This is hilarious. You love me and you’re tryin’ to break up with me.”
I put my hands on my hips in a Double Diva Threat.
“I’m not trying, I am breaking up with you.” The grin broke out into a smile; white teeth, dimple and al .
“You are so ful of shit.”
Real y.
Was he serious?
“Eddie…”
“Cállate, mi amor. We’re done talkin’ now. I’m takin’ you to the bedroom.”
I planted my feet. “We are not done talking!” He pressed me back.
“You wanna do it against the wal again?” he asked softly, then his lips went to my neck.
“Don’t ignore me while I’m trying to break up with you,” I snapped at him.
His hands went under the shirt.
“I’m not ignoring you, I’m just not listenin’ to your shit.”
“Eddie.”
He kissed me.
It was a good kiss.
No, it was a great kiss.
My fingers curled into the waistband of his jeans.
“I real y don’t like you,” I whispered against his mouth as his hand cupped my breast.
“I know. You love me.”
I tried to give attitude, I even tried to hold on to the panic, but it was just melting away.
And then it was gone.
Just like that.
“I’m never going to hear the end of that, am I?” I asked.
His thumb did a nipple swipe.
I did a gasp.
“Probably not,” he said.
Oh wel .
Whatever.
####
About the Author
Kristen Ashley lives in the beautiful West Country of England with her husband and her cat. She came to England by way of Denver, where she lived for twelve years, but she grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana. Her family and friends are loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen’s Mom moved her and her brother and sister in with their grandparents when she was six. Her grandparents had a daughter much younger than her Mom so they al lived together on a very smal farm in a smal farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Mil er, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched). Needless to say, growing up in a house ful of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.