Reckless Hearts (Oak Harbor #2)(55)

My tone is teasing, playful, and Brody brightens under my flirty smile, launching into all the news about his “skate-punk-ska-jungle” music while I nod along and pretend to be hanging off his every word. Maybe it’s childish, wanting to make Will jealous like this, but I can flirt with whoever the hell I want.

There’s nothing between us anymore.

Brody keeps talking, so caught up in himself he doesn’t even notice my heart is breaking, right here in front of him. But a moment later we’re interrupted: Will plants himself beside me.

“Dee.”

Just the sound of my name on his lips brings it all rushing back, the terrible tempest of emotion I’ve been fighting to keep under control. I’ve heard him murmur my name softly, groan it in pure frustration, and cry it out in the fits of passion. And now, here in the dark, noisy bar, he says it urgently. Intense.

It’s almost enough to make me crumble, but I stand strong.

“What?” I give him my best icy glare, faltering when I see the torment in his eyes.

“I need to talk to you.”

I clench my jaw. “There’s nothing to say.”

“There’s plenty.” Will’s voice is soft and full of regret. My heart aches, but I force myself to turn back to Brody and fix him with a bright smile.

“The bongos, huh?” I manage to say, even as all my attention is focused on the man just inches away from me. “Wow, that sounds, interesting. You’ll have to play for me sometime.”

“Sure thing, babe.” Brody grins, clearly enjoying the scowl on Will’s face. “You want to get out of here now? We could head back to my place for a private performance, if you know what I mean.”

Subtle, he isn’t, but I don’t even have time to react before Will grabs my arm and pulls me towards the exit. “Let me go!” I protest, half-relieved to escape Brody’s proposition. “Will!”

The door swings open, and then we’re outside in the dark of the parking lot, nothing but headlights from the highway in the distance and the crashing sound of the waves against the cliffs across the street.

Will releases me, and I stumble back, thrown. “What the hell?” I demand, recovering. “You don’t get to drag me around like I’m your goddam property. You don’t get to do anything at all!”

“What were you doing with that guy?” Will demands, his eyes blazing. “Are you trying to drive me crazy?”

“No,” I shoot back. “I’m trying to forget you even exist!”

“Just like that?” Will sucks in a breath, his whole body rigid with tension. “You haven’t even let me explain. I was with Helena for two years, but I told you, it’s over. It was over before I even met you!”

I see something in his eyes, just a flash of guilt. I shiver.

“How long before you met me?” I ask, my stomach twisting.

Will exhales. Silence.

“When?” I demand again.

“A week,” he says quietly, and I’m so stunned I can’t even breathe for a moment.

A week. Seven days. A hundred and something hours between him planning to spend the rest of his life with her, and making out with me on a dark, rain-drenched street? “I take longer than that to figure out what color to paint my nails!” I yell suddenly, anger overtaking me. “You were with her for years, and then suddenly you meet me, move down here, and act like I’m all you want in the world?”

“You are,” Will says simply, looking at me the way he always has. Like he’s certain. But how can he be when he turned his life around on a dime? “You have to understand, Dee, I meant it,” he swears. “I’ve meant every word I’ve ever said to you. Meeting you that night, it was like the light suddenly went on. Everything made sense to me, about why it didn’t work out with Helena, why it could have never worked out, even if she hadn’t cheated on me. You and me, it’s right, in a way that I never felt with her!”

I shake my head, tears stinging in my throat now. “You’re crazy.”

“No, I just know what I want,” Will replies, fervent. “And it’s you. From the start, it’s always been you.”

I turn away, pacing on the damp asphalt. I can’t take it all in, I feel like my chest is being squeezed in a vice-like grip. “So why didn’t you say something?” I ask, my voice twisting. “If I was so right, if this was meant to be, why didn’t you just tell me? ‘By the way, Delilah,’ ” I mimic, scathing, “ ‘before we get too carried away, I should probably say, I have an ex-fiancée and a whole life back home that I just up and left!”

He hangs his head. “I know I should have. And if I could do it all over again, I would, I swear to you.”

But my anger is rising now, and it’s the only thing to save me from the wretched pain. “How can I believe you now? We talked!” I yell, trying to hold back the sobs. “I told you everything, I let you in! And you just lied to me, over and over again.”

“I never lied.” Will tries to reach for me, but I snatch back.

“You didn’t tell me who you really are. You had a whole secret life, and I knew nothing about it!”

Will’s face changes. “No, Dee, this isn’t like your father. I never cheated on you. I would never do that!”