Foreplay (The Ivy Chronicles #1)(75)

Chapter 25

Days slid into weeks. The weather grew colder and the first week of December saw our first snowfall. I lost myself in school, work, and Hunter. Meeting at the Java Hut most mornings became habit. True to his word, he was courting me. For the first time in my life I had a boyfriend.

Dinners out. A few movies. Study dates in the library. He was the perfect gentleman. Whenever the thought crossed my mind that he was maybe a little boring—or that we were—my mind drifted to Reece. I shouldn’t compare them, but I always found myself doing so. They were different. Reece was passion. Reece was risk. Reece and me? Well, that was never happening.

Besides. He wasn’t coming around anymore. He’d moved on just as I had. If I felt especially bitter and a little nauseated when I thought about him moving on, resuming his life, seeing other girls, I told myself it would pass. Eventually.

Em saw Reece at the bar—unnecessarily reminding me that he looked good. Well, to quote her: damn good. He had acknowledged her. Maybe they talked. I don’t know. I changed the subject. I was afraid to ask. Afraid to know what Em told him. As candid as she was, I was sure I wouldn’t like it.

My boots thudded over the sidewalk as I hurried toward the Hut. I was running a little late to meet Hunter. The pavement was swept clear of snow but a thin layer coated the shrubbery and lawn like fine powder.

I snuggled my chin deeper into my favorite cashmere scarf. It was a gift from Lila last Christmas, and more than I would ever have spent on myself. Turning the corner, I spotted Hunter waiting out front. He looked good in his dark overcoat with an ash-colored wool scarf draped effortlessly around him. He was one of those guys that looked good in a scarf. A pair of girls passing him on the sidewalk sent him a long glance. He didn’t even notice. His attention was fixed on me as I approached.

“Hey,” I greeted him, my breath fogging lightly in front of me.

“Hey there.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek.

“You didn’t have to wait out here. It’s freezing.”

He pulled open the door for me and I stepped into the cozy warm interior, immediately inhaling the aroma of espresso beans and fresh-baked pastries. Christmas music played softly and several festive wreaths and green garlands hung about the place.

Tugging off my gloves, I got into line.

“Let me guess. The usual latte and scone?” he asked beside me.

“Am I that predictable?” Smiling, I narrowed my eyes on him in mock annoyance. “That’s not such a good thing, I think. We’ve only been dating a little while.”

“But we’ve known each other forever,” he reminded me.

“I suppose. But a girl likes to be a little bit of a mystery.”

His gaze scanned me. “Oh, you mystify me plenty, Pepper.” The way his eyes rested on my mouth killed the lighthearted moment. I knew what he was thinking. It wasn’t hard to read his mind when he looked at me like that.

Since returning from Thanksgiving—since Reece—the extent of our making out had been kissing. Nothing more. The other night at his place he’d slipped a hand under my sweater. My reaction? Darting off his couch and inventing some excuse to get home. It wasn’t hard to figure out the question on his mind. Why was I so frigid?

It just felt too soon. Too fast.

You took things fast with Reece. Shaking off the annoying little whisper, I looked straight ahead, willing the line to move. That’s when I noticed the girl moving away from the cashier and off to the side to wait at the bar for her drink. She was hard to miss.

With sleek blond hair that fell to her waist, she was stunning. She wore a black fitted leather jacket, leggings, and heeled boots that reached her knees. Emerson would die for her jacket. The boots, too. I was still admiring her when Reece joined her.

My Reece. No. Not mine.

OhGodOhGodOhGod.

Everything slowed and ground to a halt. Except the two of them. Reece and this beautiful girl. He’d obviously just paid for their drinks. They didn’t touch, but their body language was familiar as they stood comfortably side by side. She leaned toward him as she talked, touching his arm.

He stood in his usual casual manner, one hand slipped halfway inside the back pocket of his jeans as he listened to her, watching her like he used to watch me. Intent and focused. As if whatever she was saying was riveting.

“Pepper, the line moved.” Hunter took my elbow and guided me forward.

My chest ached. Air felt too thick to drag into my raw lungs. They wouldn’t be able to leave without seeing me. Closer up in line now, we were just a few feet away from them. Panicked, I jerked around.

I was freaking out, but I had never counted on seeing him again. Stupid, I guess, thinking that he limited his life to the bar. Of course he did other things. He ran every morning. Played soccer and coached a boys’ league. Fixed the Campbells’ sink and whatever else broke in their house. He was out there, coexisting in the same world with me. I should have anticipated this moment. Just because I quit going to Mulvaney’s didn’t mean I was never going to come face-to-face with him again.

“Pepper?” Hunter stared down at me in concern, his forehead creased. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, commanding myself to get a grip. “Yeah.” Feeling calmer, I inhaled and turned back around, hoping that Reece and the gorgeous girl had slipped out the door by now.