Foreplay (The Ivy Chronicles #1)(76)

Reece stood directly in front of me. “Hi, Pepper. How are you?”

His voice sounded exactly as I remembered. Deep. Calm and even. His face revealed none of the intense emotions that had been there the last time I saw him. He looked relaxed. Politely interested.

“Hi. I’m good. How are you?” Was that croak my voice?

He nodded. “Good.”

Check yes for useless pleasantries.

He reached out and lightly brushed the arm of the girl beside him. “This is Tatiana.”

Oh my God. Her name was Tatiana? Only supermodels and Russian ice skaters were named Tatiana. Which one was she?

“Hi.” She smiled warmly. I detected no accent.

Reece’s gaze traveled to Hunter, reminding me that it was my turn. “You remember Hunter?”

“Yeah. Hey, man.” The two shook hands, and the moment was even stranger than the last time at Gino’s. Hunter, my now-boyfriend, shaking hands with the guy I’d kicked out of my dorm room minutes after taking my virginity. I just didn’t think a latte was going to cut it for me. I needed something stronger. Like hemlock.

Reece’s gaze drifted back to me. “Well, see you around. Take care.”

I nodded numbly. “Bye. Merry Christmas.”

He hesitated, his gaze unreadable as it locked with mine, lingering. “You, too, Pepper.”

And then he was gone. With a hand on Tatiana’s back, he guided her outside. I couldn’t resist sneaking a look behind me as they departed and passed along the front windows. They made a beautiful couple, and that only made me want to throw up.

When I turned, it was to find Hunter watching me, a thoughtful look on his face.

I flashed him a pained smile and stepped up to the cashier. I ordered my scone and latte. “See,” I said as we moved over to the bar. “You do know me well.”

“I want to.”

Something in his voice drew my attention. He looked at me searchingly, his brown eyes probing. Like he wanted me to say something. Or do something.

I placed a hand on his chest and leaned in to give him a peck on the lips. He surprised me by pulling me closer and kissing me more exuberantly than he ever had in public.

When he pulled back, he said, “I want to know you. If you’ll let me.”

A sudden lump formed in my throat, making it impossible to speak. My latte and scone appeared at the bar and I stepped forward to claim them, wondering if I could even make that promise with any honesty. Because something was becoming increasingly clear to me. No matter how much I tried to pretend otherwise. No matter how much I tried to deny it.

Reece had ruined me for anyone else.

Closing the door on Madison’s room, I moved on to Sheridan’s bedroom at the top of the stairs. The seven-year-old slept, too, her thumb plugged into her mouth. We’d had a full evening. Both girls were wiped out. We’d colored and played Candy Land and hide-and-seek. All before dining on pizza and Rice Krispie Treats in the shape of Christmas trees. Satisfied that both were settled, I headed downstairs. The Campbells’ new puppy had its paws up on the coffee table in an attempt to chew on the corner of my notebook. Smiling, I scooped up the little fur ball and cuddled it for a moment as I admired the twinkling Christmas tree. I toed one of the bright packages and addressed the puppy. “All these shiny boxes, and you go for my stuff? I can just hear myself telling my prof now: but the dog ate my homework.”

The sweet little beast slapped my nose with a too big paw and licked my face.

“Aw, don’t try to sweet-talk me. Mrs. Campbell says you have to go in your crate after the girls go to bed.” I walked through the old farmhouse, past the kitchen and down the short hall into the laundry room where they kept the crate. Once inside, the puppy immediately began to cry.

I wagged a finger at his face peering at me through the cage door. “Now stop that. You know the drill by now.”

I closed the laundry room door so I didn’t have to hear the little Lab’s whimpers and took my place on the couch. A week before break and I had a paper due. That’s why I took the babysitting job when Mrs. Campbell called. Hunter had wanted me to go out with him and some of his other premed friends, but this way I figured I could at least knock out my first draft.

It had nothing to do with the fact that I had decided I needed to break up with Hunter. At least that’s what I told myself.

I sighed heavily. I couldn’t take it anymore. I cared about him too much. He was so good. I just didn’t appreciate him like he deserved. I didn’t want him. Not like I wanted Reece.

I could admit that to myself now. I wanted Reece. Wrong or right, there it was. Not that it mattered. He’d moved on. Even if I hadn’t been terrible to him, even if the idea of going to him didn’t still fill me with all my old anxieties, there was Tatiana now.

No. I wasn’t breaking up with Hunter to run after Reece. Sadly, that ship had sailed. I was doing it because it wasn’t fair to stay with Hunter feeling the way I did. Hunter wanted me. All of me. And I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t give him that. I couldn’t give him me. I had to end it. I was just waiting for the right time. The right words.

Pushing thoughts of Hunter and Reece aside, I forced myself to concentrate on my notes and write. An hour went by. I was halfway through my draft and making progress when I laid my head down on the couch to rest my aching eyes. Just for a minute. Maybe if I was lucky, Reece would be waiting for me in my dreams.