Chapter 2
"I-I don't know anyone like you..." I couldn't bring myself to let go; the thrill of his touch had me spellbound.
"I'll take that as a compliment, beautiful." He straightened up, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
Still trying to collect myself, I rested my head against his chest. When I finally regained my composure, I released his jacket, smoothing down the wrinkled fabric where I'd gripped it.
I licked my lips and stepped back, knowing I was one well-placed kiss away from losing all self-control. He remained where I'd left him, lost in thought, until he shook his head and turned his attention to the luggage conveyor belt. He grabbed his bag and gestured toward another one gliding past.
"Is that one yours?" I shook my head as a woman rushed forward to claim the bag he'd indicated, disappearing through the nearby sliding doors. Glancing at the far conveyor belt, I spotted my luggage.
"It's over there." I welcomed the chance to clear my head, taking a moment to steady my trembling legs after retrieving my bag before returning to him.
He stood near the sliding doors, and I thought he was about to leave. A flutter of sadness welled up at the thought of being alone again, but then he turned back and joined me by the wall. His eyes swept across the empty terminal before settling on me.
"Wow, it's kind of empty, huh? It feels kind of eerie... kind of lonely."
That's why you should keep me company. Help me make up my mind.
I just smiled shyly.
"Yeah... lonely."
"Why are you so..." he paused, his eyes searching mine. "Distant? Do you have a boyfriend?"
Tell him the truth.
"Yes." I could feel the tears welling up; the bridge of my nose burned as I stared at the carpeted floor in shame.
I wish I didn't, I wish I was single. I'm so sorry.
"At least you're honest. Well, tell your man that I found a bunny and I'm going to have her, whether he hands her over nicely or I have to steal her from him." His voice dripped with arrogant confidence, without a trace of humor.
"What?" I snapped my attention to his eyes, desperately searching for any sign he was joking, but his gaze remained unnervingly steady. Something inside me withered at the thought of being stolen from Fernando—a tiny piece of me, but a piece nonetheless.
There's no way he would let this Gray Thomson guy steal me, right?
Yet as soon as he laid claim to me, I felt something stirring inside, like a forgotten hunger awakening. It had been so long since Fernando looked at me the way Gray was looking at me right now... But life had taught me that nothing worth having comes easy...
Love at first sight, let alone anything real, doesn't exist outside of movies and Hollywood. Gray must want something—but what?
Fernando had been so distant lately... Almost like I'd become an afterthought. Still, it felt unfair to judge his love based on that; between volunteering and the National Guard, he barely had time to breathe, let alone be home.
I don't know what to do... Or what I want to happen.
"I want you, and I don't just mean your body. I want your gaze, I want to hear you laugh more, I want to know your likes and dislikes, I want to get to know you." I raised my eyebrows and fought back the urge to roll my eyes.
"Why?"
"Because you deserve better. You deserve love and attention and loyalty." His words flowed effortlessly, each one saturated with conviction.
"Oh yeah? And how do you know that you're better?" I joked, forcing a smile and placing my hand on my hip.
"Oh, I am better, trust me. Look, you're mine now. You say you have a boyfriend? Well, guess what, I'm going to be your new boyfriend; you're welcome. Don't worry, I'm not always an asshole." His abrasive and presumptuous response made my skin crawl; I listened and couldn't help the bubble of annoyance swelling in my chest.
"Ugh." I crossed my arms, a scowl forming on my face.
"I'm an upgrade; I know that for certain." His cockiness and bold assumptions finally made my simmering anger boil over.
"Unbelievable! What? You think I'm some object you can just steal away whenever you feel like it? Let me guess, you're some big shot's son who never heard the word 'no' growing up, so now you think you can get whatever you want just by saying so. Well, guess what? That shit won't work with me."
"What?! You think you're so fucking clever, don't you! I know the type of men you cling to. They're no better than dried pieces of shit. They're lower than low, abusive fuckwads that never change! Oh, and news flash: you can't fuck the toxicity out of him!" My comment seemed to both shock and enrage him as he shot back with insults, pointing and gesturing wildly around the empty room to emphasize his point.
"Bitch, what would you know! You didn't even know my damn name a half hour ago, and now you wanna act like you know my life story." I took a half step forward to jab his chest hard. His words stung because there was an uncomfortable amount of truth to them; he was touching on a very sore subject, and I had no defense prepared, no way to fight back. I could feel tears threatening to return.
"Because I'm right! You know I'm right!" Gray grabbed my hand, and I yanked it away. My jaw was twitching, and I was fighting so hard not to cry; it felt like I was getting lectured or mocked instead of warned.
Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up! Fuck you! Fuck this! Fuck everything! This is not fair!
"Oh my fucking god, you want a cookie! Fuck, man! Amazing, just wonderful! I can't believe I even considered indulging you. Is every man I meet going to be some womanizing prick?" My voice cracked with fury as I screamed up at him. The familiar burn in my nose threatened tears, but I'd be damned if I let this jerk see me cry.
"I'm not a womanizer." Gray backed away, confusion written across his face rather than anger.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. You're just a nice guy who can do no wrong, a hopeless romantic kissing up on a random woman in the airport for the fuck of it, right? You know nothing about me, you hear me?" The tears betrayed me, spilling down my cheeks in hot trails. "Nothing."
Venom dripped from every word as I turned away, disgusted with myself for letting it get this far, for letting his words cut so deep, for being so transparent that even a stranger could see straight through me.
"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" Gray's voice carried genuine remorse, but I clung to my anger like a shield; I needed this release, needed to let this hurt pour out.
"Oh, thanks, just what I needed: a half-baked apology to go with your unnecessarily targeted comments about my love life. Unfounded and uncalled for," I spat. The tears wouldn't stop, and god, how I wished they would. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.
"No, really, I am! I'm sorry... Please don't cry. I was a jerk; I had no right to say—" His desperate attempts at apologizing were like rain on a wildfire, slowly dampening my rage with each word. He reached for me, taking hesitant steps forward.
"What about me screams 'pick on her'?" I slapped his outstretched hand away. "What about me screamed 'she needs to be saved,' huh?"
I hugged myself tightly, trying to hold the pieces together as I stepped back. Gray moved closer anyway.
"Luanne—"
"Look, forget I said anything, okay?" I waved him off, feeling a massive lump form in my throat. I was about to break; I could feel the tears ready to burst out for another round, about to make me look even more pathetic than I already felt.
"Please don't cry anymore. I'm sorry; I was wrong to say that to you. I was just jealous that you were still defending him." That was it. Those words were all it took for me to completely crumble; hot tears blinded me as I erupted into heavy sobs.
Wonderful, not only are you pathetic, but you're ugly crying.
"I want better, I do, I swear I do, but I'm trapped. I want what you're offering, but I can't, and it's frustrating and scary... and lonely. It's not fucking fair!" Memories flooded my mind: countless lonely nights, the cold shoulders after I said 'I'm tired,' followed by sore mornings spent apologizing for being 'too tired.' The thoughts constricted my throat like a vice.
Gray wrapped his arms around me and stood with me, his strength a stark contrast to how weak and small I felt. He held me until my crying subsided, stroking my hair and soothing me until I could pull away from him in one piece. He'd somehow managed to hold me together.
"Luanne, no one should make you—" A chill shot through my body, and I couldn't bear to hear the rest.
"Look, can we drop it? Please. Please." I begged for a subject change, but he pressed on, searching for answers I wasn't ready to give.
"Why don't you leave? No one who loves you should make you scared. No one should make you feel trapped or obligated to stay."
"Don't you think I want that! To be wanted, to get attention without begging, to be desired and not just kept around like some pretty decoration. Besides, let's say I did leave him; what comes next? I date you?"
"Yes."
"No! We just met! I don't know you! You don't know me! I don't want a one-night stand or some crappy vacay fling. I want to settle down; I want something important, serious. I don't want to mean nothing forever. We can be friends, Gray, but being more than that is gonna need some real convincing."
"But will you be ending things with him?"
"I... I don't—" I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. Gray sighed and closed his honey-brown eyes.
"I know you're scared, and I know this is sudden and difficult, but I know you know you can do it. You deserve more. Just know you'll have me." He gave me a weak smile.
"My hero," I scoffed.
"I'm serious," he insisted, tilting his head to the side for emphasis.
"Gray, the second we leave this building, there's a chance we will never see each other again."
"Then just give me a shot."
"What?" I stared at him, dumbfounded, my eyebrows furrowing.
"You said you're gonna need major convincing... Am I still allowed to try?" I watched as he scanned me for answers, his eyes eventually settling on my hands, which were white-knuckle gripping my beach bag.
"..."
"I'll take that as a maybe." He chuckled, a smile lingering on his face that only grew wider with my continued silence. "I promise I'll make you the center of my universe. I'll show you how it feels to matter, one step at a time, bunny, one step at a time."
I couldn't help but smile, though guilt gnawed at the edges of my conscience.
"One hop."
"Hmm?" Gray cocked his head at me.
"You mean one hop at a time. You're calling me bunny; bunnies hop." I giggled while clarifying. The return to casual conversation lifted some weight off my shoulders, giving me enough courage to begin typing up a break-up message for Fernando.
"I guess so." He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck with embarrassment.
"No crossing boundaries?" I hovered over the send button, coming to the end of my break-up message and setting up my ground rules.
"I promise—" My phone suddenly rang obnoxiously, the bright blue screen displaying 'Babe'. My heart nearly stopped, blood turning to ice in my veins.
I looked up at Gray, catching his flash of annoyance before he turned away, choosing to burn holes in the carpet instead.
Suddenly feeling stranded, I glanced back at my phone to answer it, but before I could, Gray cupped my face in his hands, pushed me up against the wall behind me, and kissed me. Each second that passed, the kiss grew more angry and needy; he didn't stop until my phone rang out. When it did, he bit my lower lip, drawing a small moan from me.
"I want you to be mine... Please." My heart was a fluttery mess, caught between fear and excitement.
This is bad... Press send. God, please Luanne, press send.
"Wait... I-" I politely pushed Gray away from me. He cupped my cheek as my phone started ringing again. My body froze then relaxed as his fingers left trails of goosebumps in their wake. His hand slid down to my throat, his thumb stroking my racing pulse while a mischievous grin played across his face.
"Go ahead. Answer the phone." The order rumbled in my ear, turning my knees to jelly. I nodded, intoxicated by his presence.
"Hello?"
"Yeah, I'm outside. Come on." I felt Gray tense and then relax against me. When I glanced up, I caught his toothy smile before he leaned in and whispered 'good girl' into my ear.
This is exciting...
"Uh, okay... I'll be out soon." I hadn't realized I was grinning like an idiot until my smile suddenly vanished.
"Oh! Hey, my buddy is going to be riding with us, so be nice, heh heh."
Oh...
I looked at Gray, who pulled back to watch me expectantly, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
"O-Okay, I'll talk to you when I get outside." Gray smiled and stepped away while I ended the call.
"Give me your phone. Please?" I wanted to refuse, but knowing it would be harder to deny him, I handed it over.
He paused after glancing at my screen, then chuckled and continued. He took his time putting his number in my contacts, but when he finally returned it, I had a new entry under the name:
Gray (Daddy).
Rolling my eyes, I deleted what was in the parentheses and typed 'random guy' instead.
"Don't worry, love, I'll take care of you." His phone started ringing, giving me the perfect opportunity to slip away. Still flustered, I gave myself a quick once-over. Looking down one final time, I noticed I still wore his tie, so I pulled it off, folded it carefully, and buried it deep in my bag.
Once I'd gathered myself, I hurried out and shuffled to the car. Fernando got out, opened the trunk, and immediately started typing on his phone, not even bothering to acknowledge me. When he finally finished, he shoved his phone away, helped me with my suitcase, and cupped my face, placing a rushed, soft kiss on my lips.
A wave of guilt mixed with disgust rolled through me.
"How was your trip, baby?" He stared at me blankly, waiting for my answer.
"It—" a deep voice cut me off.
"It was great, thanks for asking..." Fernando awkwardly dropped his hands from my face, which confused me and made me roll my eyes. I turned to face the voice and saw Fernando's 'friend.'
"This is one friendly ass reunion now, isn't it? Do I get one of those? If that's the case, I would like to politely decline." Fernando moved to shake Gray's hand, but Gray simply walked past him and stuffed his suitcase in the back of the car, making Fernando clear his throat uncomfortably.
What is he doing here? Does Fernando know him? If so, why is he acting so weird?
"Ludo, this is Gray, Gray this is Ludo." Gray flashed a charming smile and extended his hand. I left it hanging for a few seconds, still stunned that these two knew each other. Then it hit me – that's how he knew about my love life...
Fernando rudely elbowed me for my hesitation, earning glares from both me and Gray. He laughed nervously, attempting to break the tension.
"Ludo, he doesn't bite."
"Don't lie to her," Gray turned his attention back to me, his hand still extended. "Yes, I do."
I blushed and giggled unexpectedly, feeling suddenly bashful under his intense gaze. I finally took his hand, and he winked at me, making my face burn even hotter. Fernando missed the entire exchange, too absorbed in typing on his phone before shoving it back in his pocket to close the trunk.
What are you up to, Gray?
"Hey, Nando? She looks familiar." My heart plummeted. Fernando slammed the trunk shut – once, twice, three times – before turning to face him.
Wait, didn't you say we never met?
"Yeah, dude, I sent you a picture. Remember?"
"She's not a redhead, Fernando." My eyebrows furrowed as I glanced at Fernando, who clearly wasn't prepared for that response and started visibly panicking.
Redhead?
"No. No. No. The other picture." Gray smiled cockily, like he had Fernando cornered; I just grew increasingly annoyed at what he was implying.
"Oh! So, she's the 'FRIEND' you've told me so much about."
FRIEND, huh? What the fuck is going on now?
"No... I was his girlfriend." Gray's mischievous smile returned as he looked at me.
"Did you dye your hair before you came? What was wrong with red?" I narrowed my eyes at Fernando, my annoyance evident as I waited for an answer that never came.
"Was?" Fernando's question hung in the air as I matched his earlier silence. "Clearly, we're not all on the same page. We can work on that later, heh heh. In the meantime, let's get going, shall we?"
His voice wavered with nervousness, but I just rolled my eyes and stormed into the front passenger seat of his beat-up dark green Toyota, slamming the door for good measure.
The pair lingered behind the car, and I watched them through the rearview mirror, Fernando seemed to be angrily whispering at Gray, who just rolled his eyes, pulled out his phone, showed Fernando something on the screen, and whispered back. Whatever he revealed left Fernando stunned; then Gray simply pocketed his phone and slid into the driver's side passenger seat without another word.
Fernando got in looking distracted and started driving. I turned on the air conditioner and cranked up the music.
"Hey, bro, don't you normally wear a tie? It's not like you to go without one. What? Did you lose it?" My heart plummeted into my stomach.
"Hm? Oh! No. A sneaky woman stole it."
"Heh heh heh, was she pretty?"
"Pretty ain't the half of it; she had this killer smile, curves that wouldn't quit, and a personality that just..." He trailed off, staring out the window while my cheeks burned hot enough to melt steel.
This is gonna be one hell of a long vacation.