Marquita Valentine - Not Over You

“Why are you here?” he asked. “Money or a place to stay?” Better to get this out of the way, so he could help her and then she could do what she needed to, and leave. Just like always.

Panic flared in her eyes, and then… hurt? She blinked, and it was gone. “Why does it matter, unless you want me in your bed? I think I could lower my fee for you, for old time’s sake and all.”

And so it began. The verbal sparring that did nothing for him or for her. It only served to widen the gap between them, and no matter what he said, the more time they spent together, the worse it became.

“What are your plans?” he asked, gentling his tone.

“Oh, the usual—seduce every available man in Holland Springs.” That cute nose of hers, one that he used to kiss at every opportunity, tilted up in the air. A big clue she was full of it, or embarrassed. Possibly, she was both.

“When you’re ready to have an adult conversation, I’m here, but until then, be nice to Elise and everyone else.”

“Don’t worry, Elise already warned me away from you,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “Like I could convince you to take a walk on the dark side.”

“What do you mean she warned you?” Elise hadn’t said anything about meeting Summer.

“It was nothing, really.” Summer shrugged. “I don’t remember most of the conversation, just the gist of it.”

“Yet here you are,” he murmured.

“I plan to stay here for a really long time. You can’t make me leave this time.”

He’d never wanted her to leave, not matter what she thought, but if he denied it, then they would start yelling at each other, and this night wasn’t about them. It was about Carlos and Shelia, two great friends who deserved a night without drama.

“Have fun tonight.” He turned to walk away, but she stopped him with the lightest of pressure on his arm.

“Want your truck back?” Keys jingled near his ear. “The shocks are shot to hell from all the off-road riding I’ve been doing. But you can fix that. You were always good with your hands, angel.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and pointer finger, he closed his eyes and counted to fifty. It didn’t help. He opened his eyes, then looked down at the hand on his elbow, at the simple silver ring on her pointer finger, and fought to stay calm.

Finally, he managed to say, “Keep it.” Then he gently pulled away, careful not to embarrass her, and walked away.

It didn’t occur to him until he’d sat down beside Elise, that it was the second time in his entire life he’d had the strength to walk away from Summer.

And it cut as deeply as the first.

Gabriel stared at the silver truck sitting in the parking lot. It sat off to the side, under the yard light.

Over the years, he had missed driving it. It had been the first brand new vehicle he’d ever owned, but it wasn’t the vehicle he’d picked Carlos up in. No, his used red truck was parked beside Elise’s sedan. Despite the flashy color, it had nothing on the silver truck. No bells or whistles. Only four-wheel drive, a radio, and working a/c.

He moved closer to the truck, inspecting the body and finding it in nearly perfect condition. Opening the driver’s side, he leaned in to find the interior as pristine as the body and the key stuck halfway in the ignition. Jerking them out, he dropped them in his front pocket and locked the door.

Where was Summer? Concern welled up in his chest, making his collar tight. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. He had watched her as she disappeared inside the old house, but had lost track of her after that.

Bits of oyster shells crunched under his dress shoes as he walked out to the road.

Looking right, and then left, he found the road empty. Maybe he should take a quick ride down the road, toward Strawberry Grove, to make sure Summer was okay. Sunset was the worst time for someone walking down the side of the road. Visibility for drivers was horrible.

Then again, would she welcome his concern? And why did he keep thinking Summer was his concern?

He jammed a hand in his pocket and pulled out his keys, grimacing. As if he really needed to ask himself that question.

“Ready to go?”

Gabriel turned and found Carlos, grinning at him. “Dinner’s over. Bachelor party begins.”

At Gabriel’s silence, his buddy’s grin fell. “Oh come on, man. Don’t do this.”

“Do what?” The truck keys burned in the palm of his hand. Gabriel knew exactly what his friend didn’t want him to do.

“Go chasing after Summer.” Carlos nodded at Gabriel’s truck. “You got your truck back. Be done with her.”

That was the problem—he and Summer were never done. They had too many unanswered questions, too many what ifs . There was no water under the bridge for them. Their bridge was six feet under, and the river was still swelling.

“She doesn’t need to walk home by herself. It’s almost dark.” He reached in his other pocket, drew out the second set of keys, and tossed them to Carlos.

“Not every woman wants to be rescued, Gabe,” Carlos said as he caught the keys. “Sometimes a good buddy needs rescuing from himself. Let’s round up the guys and go.”

Undeterred, Gabriel shook his head. “It’s the right thing to do. I can’t leave her out there.”

Carlos frowned, running a hand through his hair. “How about this—we stick to the plan and check on Summer as we drive to Wilmington. If she’s okay, we keep driving. If she’s not, we call the cops and still keep driving. I’m sure there’s a warrant for her arrest for something.”

Gabriel knew Carlos was trying to be a good friend by offering to save him from a woman he thought was bad news. He’d known Summer as long as Gabriel had, longer really, since Gabriel hadn’t moved to Holland Springs until he was nine. But it still pissed him off. “Don’t be a jerk.”

“I’m being a realist.” Carlos held up his hands in surrender. “But hey, if you want to ruin what you have with Elise, who am I to stop you?”

Crap. He’d forgotten about her. Yet another reason Carlos’s warning made sense. However, when it came to Summer, right was wrong, down was up, and left was right.

“I’m checking on the woman, not marrying her,” Gabriel snapped.

His buddy rolled his eyes and dropped his arms. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Duly noted.” Gabriel smiled, already at the truck and opening the driver’s side door. He jammed the key in the ignition, but hesitated at turning it. The last time he’d found her walking down the side of the road, he’d picked her up and had driven to The Pointe. From there, things had gotten really hot, steaming up the windows hot.

He’d been all of seventeen and Summer fifteen. They’d spent the entire months of July and August making out in his old, beat-up truck. But he wasn’t seventeen anymore. He was a grown man with goals and accomplishments that had nothing to do with Summer.

Keep telling yourself that .

Gabriel wiped sweaty palms on his khakis, started up the truck, put it in gear, and made a left onto Highway 13. As he drove, fireflies dotted the fields and ditches along the road, blinking in and out of sight. The closer he got to Strawberry Grove, the more fireflies appeared.

The sun slipped under the horizon, making his running lights visible along the blacktop. Great. Just great. How was he supposed to find her?

Light glowed from the forest of pine trees by the old Holland place. He slowly braked, put the truck in park, and rolled down the passenger side window, watching as the bugs blinked on and off.