Hands brush my hips, startling me out of my panic, and Tucker’s mouth ghosts over my ear. “Are you gonna avoid me all night?”
Will I regret not marrying someone like Tucker?
I grin, but the goosebumps don’t come. Something tells me I would regret it if I settled down with him right now.
“I don’t know.” I bat my lashes, letting my words slip out in smooth lazy waves. “What if I do?”
He whips me around by my waist, his dark eyes boring into mine. “You’re gonna find out when I take you home later.”
My heart sinks.
His hands move to my ass, and he presses his body into me before dipping his head to press his lips to mine.
He tastes like mint and whiskey—a taste that up until last night, I loved, borderline craved.
But now it’s like a bite of frosting that’s too sweet and sticks to your mouth even when you try to wash it down.
Normally, I’d be going home with him at midnight, but that idea turns the blood in my veins to ice. The only thing waiting for me if I leave with him, is a very awkward conversation.
Jesus, Lily. Grow the fuck up and talk to him.
“We could get out of here now.” His lips drop to my neck, his words skating across my flesh. “Ring in the new year with me between your?—”
I laugh, letting my head fall back and pulling away from him. “Okay, cowboy. Reel it in. I still have to clean up when this is over. We’re not going anywhere just yet.”
He lets out a heavy sigh, his head falling forward and his hands moving to rest on his hips. “You’re killing me.”
“Sorry. I already promised I would.”
What I don’t say is that I could easily get out of it, but I’m a chicken shit and don’t know how to tell him that I think we’re done.
He pulls me to his chest. “I know. It’s fine, we have all the time in the world for me to spend in your perfect?—”
I scramble out of his arms as my heart pounds a steady beat in my ears. “I uh—I think I need some air. I’ll be right back.”
His brows pinch as I head toward the door, practically tripping over my own feet like I can’t get away fast enough. For a moment, I’m afraid he might try to follow, but he doesn’t.
When the door opens, the cold North Carolina air bites my face, and I suck in a much- needed breath wishing I could just disappear—or better yet, thathewould disappear.
“You alright?” Shane asks, leaning against the brick building with a cigarette between his lips.
My head jerks in his direction. I hadn’t seen him slip outside.
“Yeah,” I say, letting my heart rate come back down and shaking out my hands. “I’m fine.”
The only light comes from the bulb above the door, illuminating a circle on the dark pavement that looks like a mirror image of the moon in the night sky.
A shiver rolls through me, but I’d rather be cold than in there right now.
His brows lift. “You don’t look fine.”
Closing my eyes, I groan. “I think I have to break up with Tucker.”
“No shit?” he says, sarcastically.
I shoot him a dirty look. “Shut up.”
He laughs, taking a drag. “He’s got it bad.”