Page 92 of False Comeback

“Oh. Right.” I shifted uncomfortably, realising I’d hit a nerve.

Was Crossbody’s mom not very nice?

Was that why he’d left?

Why did I suddenly care so much?

“‘Us?’” I asked instead, because it felt safer. “Do you have siblings?”

“Yes. Two brothers. I’m the middle child.” He looked up at me and popped the strawberry into his mouth. “You?”

“Only child.” I didn’t want to talk about my parents either, so I concentrated on my breakfast.

We didn’t talk anymore as we ate, but surprisingly, it wasn’t uncomfortable. When the waitress came to clear our plates, Crossbody pulled out his wallet and hurriedly scooted to the end of the booth.

“I’ll get it,” I said automatically, but he shook his head as he stood.

“No. Please, let me.” His voice was a little husky, and a delicate flush rose in his cheeks. “You paid for the… motel. The room. Both times.”

“Okay.” I offered him a tiny smile. “Thanks.”

I drained my coffee and stood as he paid at the counter. When he walked back over, he left a large tip—probably more than our meals had cost—on the table before we headed for the door.

That sense of dread was creeping back in as we silently walked to our cars, parked side by side in the mostly empty lot. We’d agreed to try and get along better at work, but… this was it. I knew I’d thought that the last time, but this seemed more final. Almost like we’d come to a truce.

So why did I kind of feel like shit?

Crossbody cleared his throat when we reached our cars, pulling his keys out of his pocket. I did the same, suddenly feeling low as the exhaustion hit me in a wave despite how much coffee I’d just drunk.

“I’ll see you at work,” he said huskily.

“Yeah.” I didn’t move. Neither did he at first, until he finally turned and reached for his car door.

Before I could do the same, he was turning back around and grabbing my arm, then tugging me close. His mouth crashed into mine as he reached up to cradle the back of my head.

I kissed him back immediately, my hands settling on his waist before I slipped them under the sweater to feel his warm, smooth skin. His lips parted, tongue meeting mine, the kiss growing hotter and almost desperate.

I heard myself groan, tilting my head to get deeper. Crossbody’s breath caught, his tongue gliding feverishly against mine. I stepped closer until I was pressed against him, trailing my fingers up his spine and making him shiver.

I wanted to take him straight back to the motel and fuck him again. Just one more time.

When we finally broke the kiss, we were both breathing faster. I felt a little dazed, almost flustered, and I shoved back my hair as I took a step away from him. I noticed a trucker sitting in the cab of his truck a short distance away, staring at us in shock with a half-eaten pastry hanging out of his mouth.

When I looked at Crossbody, his eyes were flickering between golden brown and their natural purple. He exhaled shakily and smoothed down his sweater, trying to compose himself.

“Bye, Vince,” he said, voice throaty.

“Bye,” I croaked, watching as he got in his car and drove away.

—

“Jesus Christ, dude, did you fight a raccoon or something?”

Sitting at my vanity, I looked up at the mirror and saw the reflection of Dan sauntering into my dressing room. I’d been so lost in my thoughts I hadn’t even heard him open the door.

“Huh?” I finally stood and reached for my tank top, but Dan stopped me by placing his hands on my shoulders and spinning me around to face away from him. He burst out laughing.

“Good night, huh?” he asked slyly, and it took me a few seconds to realise what he was referring to.