I manage to break our kiss and rest my forehead against his. My eyes are shut because I'm too embarrassed to look at him. As he runs his hands down my back, he whispers, "It's okay, Candace."
Pulling back, I look into his dark blue eyes. "Sorry," I whisper back and slowly shake my head.
"Can I see you again?" he asks as he continues to run his hands slowly up and down my back.
I know I should be honest with him and say no, but my hormones answer, "Yeah."
He reaches his hand behind his seat, and I wonder what he's searching for. He grins at me as he hands me an umbrella.
I laugh softly, "Thanks."
"Come on. I'll walk with you."
"No, it's fine. Don't worry."
He lifts up and plants a chaste kiss on my lips. "I'll call you, okay?"
"Okay," I say as I climb off of his lap and out of the car.
I make my way inside the house and slip off my heels.
"Kim, you awake?" I whisper loudly as I walk into her room.
She rolls over in bed and says, "Yeah. Come here, I want all the dirty details." She sits up and turns on the lamp that's on her nightstand. I walk over, sit down next to her, and let out a long sigh.
"I think he likes me."
"So, what's the problem?"
I look over at her, then flop back onto the bed and stare at the ceiling, "The problem is, I'm only trying to have a little fun, but it feels wrong. There is just nothing there, yet I keep kissing him, and I'm only leading him on. He asked to see me again, and my stupid mouth said yes."
Kimber lays down next to me, "So, see him one more time, and just tell him. Honestly, Candace, I think you're being hard on yourself and making this a bigger deal than it actually is."
I turn to face her. "You're right."
"I always am." She gives me a grin, and then asks, "Did you kiss him good-bye?"
"More like straddled his thighs, grabbed his hair, and let him shove his tongue in my mouth," I say, and then I burst out laughing as I cover my heated face with my hands.
"You little hooker!"
I jump off the bed, still laughing. "Good night, Kim," I say in a singsong voice as I head to my room.
"Night, slut!" I hear her yell down the hall.
Chapter four
I'm working in the back, restocking supplies, when I hear Roxy shout for me from up front. I stop what I'm doing, walk to the front counter, and see Jase. I spoke to him the morning after our night out at Remedy. He ran into Mark out in the parking lot and ended up talking to him for a while and Mark decided to give Jase a second chance.
"Hey, Candace," he says as he leans in to give me a peck on my lips. "I've been trying to call you."
"Oh, sorry. I was at the studio this morning and let the battery drain on my cell, and I never remembered to plug it in to recharge," I said. "I'll go do that now before I forget again." I run into the back and grab my phone and the charging cord. When I walk back up front, I plug it in by the register.
"So, I wanted to see if you and Kimber could get together with Mark and I later tonight?" Jase asks while he's leaning against the counter.
"I'd love to, but I'm working late tonight. How about tomorrow afternoon?" I ask. "We can do a cookout at our house."
"That sounds great. I really f**ked up with him, and I want to make it right. Plus, I want you guys to meet him."
Resting on my elbows, I look up at him and say, "Of course, Jase."
"Great, I'll call him and let him know," he says, then leans down to kiss my forehead. I smile up at him as he turns to leave.
I notice my phone automatically turns on once it gets enough life in it. Picking it up, I swipe the screen to look at all my missed calls and texts. I see I have a missed text from Jack, and I tap to open it up.
You free Monday night? Frat house always throws a huge party after the first day of classes.
"What are you reading over there?" Roxy asks as she is steaming some milk for a customer's drink.
Looking up at her, I say, "I'm reading a text from Jack. He wants me to go to some party, and I'm not sure how to respond." I look back down at his text and stare.
After Roxy finishes up with her customer, she walks over to me. "What do you mean 'you don't know how to respond'? What's going on?"
I lift my arms off the counter and step away to face her. Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I say, "I need to distance myself from him. I think he wants more than I do. I mean, I don't want anything, so..."
"Just tell him you can't go. Or go, and tell him later that you just don't have time for a relationship right now," she says.
I pick up my phone to respond.
What time?
I walk over to pour myself a cup of coffee when I hear my phone chime.
"That was fast," I hear Roxy say.
"No kidding." Walking back to my phone, I set down my mug, and tap on his message.
Pick you up around 10?
Okay, I'll see you then.
Miss you.
"Shit," I mumble quietly and set the phone down, wanting to pretend I didn't see that last text.
"What are you 'shitting' about?"
I take a sip of my coffee and then toss Roxy my phone. Sitting on my stool, I watch her closely as she reads through the texts. I notice her eyes get big, and I know she finally reached the text that is starting to make me panic slightly.