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“Grief over what?”
“I dunno. You guys were in the truck together for hours. No doubt he’s been bugging you into talking about Knox and all that stuff.”
“You think your dad is the bugging type?”
“I think he has the potential to be the bugging type.” She paused. “I kind of like that idea, actually. He’ll feel like a real dad.”
“Your stepdad is a real dad.”
“Oh, he totally is,” she agreed. “And he’s wonderful and I love him like my dad. But it’s different with Smoke. You know?”
“Yeah.”
“So, it’s not weird that you two are hanging out on this road trip?”
“Oh, no, it’s definitely weird.” I laughed, but my amusement was genuine this time. “You all but shoved us together.”
“I didn’t want you to be alone,” she said quietly. “And I couldn’t be there for you the way a best friend is supposed to be there for you.”
My heart melted.
My guilt raged.
“You’re the best, you know that?” I asked.
“You!”
“How’s the job?”
“I’ll tell you when you get to town.”
“Tomorrow.”
I wanted to see Tavy. But I wasn’t ready for this door to close with Smoke. Even though it had to.
“Talk to you later,” I said.
I hung up with her and stared down at the screen.
There was no real purpose to being outside and walking around. The only thing I had a view of was the highway and the parking lot.
I ambled in the direction of the hotel room, prepared to face Smoke.
I never should’ve slept with him. It would’ve been easier not to know what I was missing.
Because I was definitely going to miss him.
Transference.
Of course!
My feelings weren’t for Smoke. I was only on day two of my post-Knox recovery period. Smoke and I were just sex. It wasn’t complicated at all. It was fun. He was fun.
I immediately felt lighter, and my heart bounced in my chest. Everything I thought I was feeling toward Smoke was an illusion.
He was making the hotel bed when I entered.
“Hey,” he greeted.
