Sweet Liar (Candy #2)(51)

“All that,” I said, waving my arm in the direction of the alleys, “was to get my attention?”

“Just because you stopped caring about me doesn’t mean I stopped caring about you. I know it was juvenile, but I’m losing you and I don’t know what to do about it.”

My pulse quickened at his words, even though they made my heart feel heavy. When Jonah said he cared about me the first time, it made my breath catch. Hearing him say it now, my reaction wasn’t any different. It gave me butterflies and made my insides turn molten.

“I didn’t stop caring about you. I stopped trusting you.” I licked my lips that suddenly felt dry. “We should get back.”

The harsh set of his jaw told me he didn’t like what I’d said. His eyes stayed on mine as he moved closer, crowding me, making me step back until the wall stopped me.

“If you still care, we can get that trust back.”

Emotion was driving him. I could sense it simmering beneath his skin.

“I do care. But I can’t forget.”

“Maybe I can make you forget.”

He surprised me by pressing his body into mine, and I could feel his warm breath on my face. Threading his fingers into my hair, he cradled the side of my head in his palm. It felt so good that I leaned into his touch, and my eyes fluttered closed.

“Look at me, Candy,” he whispered.

When my gaze collided with his, I saw a storm brewing there. The next moment his lips were on mine.

I sucked in a harsh breath, instinctively pressing my hands against his chest. I didn’t let myself kiss him back, even though I wanted to. It wasn’t until his hands gently cupped my cheeks, urging me to move with him, that I finally gave in, unable to help myself.

Jonah groaned, pressing even harder into me. His lips were soft but insistent, and when his tongue slipped into my mouth, I brushed mine against it. The kiss deepened, and my head spun. I’d nearly forgotten how strongly I responded to Jonah, wanting to get closer no matter how close we were, like our bodies needed each other.

It would have been so easy to get lost in his kiss and let everything else disappear, but my thoughts wouldn’t let me. Despite how perfect this felt, it wasn’t perfect. All it would do was hurt me more, because despite what we felt for each other, one kiss changed nothing.

“Candy, please,” he murmured when I went still.

“I can’t,” I said breathlessly.

“Tell me why.”

“You know why.”

Jonah exhaled heavily and lowered his forehead to mine. We stood there, each of us breathless, the passion of our kiss lingering between us. He shook his head from side to side before he pushed off the wall and away from me.

Immediately I felt cold, not just by the loss of his heat, but also by the chilly look in his eyes. “I don’t like regrets,” he said. “I never wanted you to be one.”

Then he walked away, leaving me standing there with his words reverberating in my head. What did he regret? Lying to me? Being with me at all? Meeting me in the first place? Whatever his meaning, his words hurt, just like he’d meant them to.

I took a moment to gather myself and when I got back to our alley, Parker and Ashley were putting on their coats.

“Are you okay?” Heather asked, and I nodded absently, hoping to avoid more questions.

“By the way, Parker nearly ended up on the floor when you walked off and Jonah went after you. He lifted her off him like a sack of potatoes.”

She thought I’d laugh with her, but I couldn’t as I scanned the room for Jonah, still shaky and unsettled. I didn’t see him anywhere.

Heather’s smile turned curious, but she didn’t pry as we watched Parker and Ashley gathering their things. “So now I guess they’re leaving?”

“I don’t think they were here for the bowling,” I said.

Before they walked off, Parker looked right at me. I braced myself for her venom, but it never came. Instead, her face was flushed, as if she was embarrassed. While Ashley gave us all a halfhearted good-bye, Parker said nothing as she headed for the door.

“Good riddance,” Heather murmured.

I was silently agreeing when Ethan asked, “Who wants pizza?”

Heather looked at me, understanding I was done for the night. “I think we’re gonna hit the road,” she said.

“Me too,” Lea chimed in. “I have other plans.”

“What plans?” Ethan asked.

She reached for her coat. “I have a date.”

Ethan’s brows knitted. “With who?”

“None of your business.” She gave me a quick hug before saying good-bye and leaving.

“Who’s she dating?” Ethan asked once Lea was gone.

I thought his disgruntled expression was a good development. “The guy she went to homecoming with.”

He scowled. After grabbing his coat, he did a weird one-armed guy hug with Jonah, who had just come back. Then Ethan left too, forgetting about the pizza.

“Everyone’s gone?” Jonah glanced around at the deserted lanes and the empty cups and wrappers that littered the floor.

At some point Malcolm and Marta had left too. I didn’t even see them go.

Heather eyed him. “Your fan club had no reason to stay.”

He ignored her. “Let’s get some takeout and go back to the house,” he said, looking only at Heather.