Page 56 of Holding Hope

“Wait—” I turned, but she was already walking away.

Even gone, she lingered—her perfume, her lipstick, her unspoken words.

I stared at her empty glass, my stomach twisting.

What if she followed through with Jonas’ advice?

What if she found someone?

Why did I care so much?

I told myself—and her—that we would never go there. So why did the thought of her kissing someone else make me feel sick?

My fingers hovered over the glass. Slowly, hesitantly, I traced the outline of her lipstick.

Would she still taste the same?

Would her hands touch someone else the way they’d touched me?

Stop it. Stop it. Stop it.

You had me at hi.

I know what I want and I’m ready to admit it when you are.

Before I could stop myself, I poured some of my water into her glass. With shaky hands, I lifted it, turning it until the red stain faced me.

I closed my eyes and pressed my lips to the glass—right where hers had been.

The water tasted the same. Cold. Clean.

But the act…

God, the act was something else.

Strangely satisfying.

Arousing.

I set the glass down, heart pounding.

What the hell had I just done?

“Clarke?”

Delia’s voice jolted me. I blinked, finding her and Colton staring at me—Delia with concern, Colton with barely contained amusement.

Please, God, don’t let them have seen that.

“Yeah? What’s up?” I forced a smile.

Delia exhaled in relief, then pointed behind me.

Clarke was right; if I looked hard enough, I’d find someone to kiss. Not that I wanted to kiss anyone—I just wanted to fix my problem My problem being…Clarke.

Being around her again, being in such close proximity all the time, was confusing.

Mentally. Emotionally. Physically.