Page 30
Slowly, like he has all the time in the world, he crowds me again, stretching out his arm and lowering my hood. His fingers brush over my cheek as he smooths a lock of stray hair behind my ear, making my skin break out in goosebumps. He lowers his head, lips hovering inches from mine, and I find myself pulling closer until I can feel his minty-whisky breath.
“Everything. I want everything,” he whispers and pulls away, turning to leave.
And that sounds like a vow.
I watch his large back retreat towards a matte grey McLaren. The indicator lights flash twice before he opens the door upwards, turns, and expectantly waits, those eyes framed by dark lashes glued to my face.
My phone buzzes in my shorts pocket again.
UNKNOWN: Answer my fucking calls
Luke.
He is the sole fucking reason why I can’t be normal. Why I can’t just settle down in Soho and live a normal life and open my own studio. Why I can’t openly let myself lean in to whatever might be lurking under the surface of this ice lake between me and the man currently holding open his passenger door.
Fuck him.
“You piece of shit,” I growl under my breath through clenched teeth, blocking his number.
Realistically, this doesn’t solve anything. He’ll still be hovering over my head like a dark cloud waiting to burst.
When I look back up at Xander, his eyes are watching my phone, and beneath the nonchalant expression on his face, there’s an undertone of question.
I tug at my bottom lip. Surely nothing can be worse than Luke chasing after me.
“If you don’t get in, I’ll drag you in myself.”
I huff out a laugh. “I’d love to see you try.”
He strides towards me, and my body stiffens. His muscled shoulder connects with my stomach as he lifts me over it, his arm wrapping over the back of my thighs. I squeal at the sudden movement. My stomach turns as he carries me to his car, my mind flashing back to the day Luke carried me the same way. I didn’t know back then that that was going to be the last time I was truly free.
My breathing picks up as he places me in his car, the leather seat already sticking to my hot skin. The space smells like him.
“Are you okay?” Xander asks, and I whip my head towards him, momentarily forgetting that Luke isn’t here. That I’m not eighteen anymore.
He studies me, a hint of panic brushing over his face.
“I’m fine,” I say. “Really.”
I grab the seatbelt and click it into the buckle, giving him a reassuring smile. He nods, coming to sit in the front seat.
My body feels paralysed. I can’t do anything but stare forward as he drives.
“Camila?” he asks, voice laced with concern. Somehow, the gentleness of his voice pulls me back to reality.
Realising we’re almost at my flat, I exhale, my head dropping against the headrest.
I clear my throat. “Thank you for driving me.”
He pulls into the gates and drives me all the way up to the entrance. I stare at the handle as the car rolls to a stop.
It’s not going to open.
Trembling, I grip it and squeeze my eyes hard as I pull.
It opens.
Without another word, I climb out of the car.
