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Of course, the man coming to check on me is none other than the man I’ve been missing for ten years. How is the universe so damn cruel?
“Nina! Nina! Stop. Just… just wait a minute.”
I ignore him, walking faster, not wanting to give him a second of my time. I’ve thought about this moment since the day he left. What would I say? What would I do?
I never thought I’d do this. I never thought I’d act like I didn’t know him, but I’m so angry. All the emotions I’ve held since he disappeared are welling up inside me, possessing my bones.
“Nina! Nina, goddamn it, will you stop!” He snags my arm, tugging me to him, and my back hits his chest. “Stop,” he whispers against my ear, the tickle of his warm breath ghosting over my cold cheek as tears fall freely down my face. “Please, stop running from me.”
I yank out of his hold. “I don’t know you. You have me confused with someone else.” I keep walking, my vision blurring from my tears. I don’t know why I’m keeping up this act. I’m not ready. I wasn’t prepared for this, for him. I wish I never took that job interview.
“That’s ridiculous. It’s me. It’s Simon and you know that.”
I run, wanting nothing to do with him, wanting to turn back time so I didn’t have to see him. It’s hard to catch my breath as sobs break free. My lungs burn as I pump my arms and move my legs as fast as I can. The motel is just up ahead. I only need to make it there.
But I should have known I couldn’t outrun him. His memory. His body.
Him.
He wraps his arms around me, picking me up so I can’t move.
“Nina, please, stop. Please.” His voice cracks as if he cares. “Stop running from me,” Simon repeats.
The words light a new fire inside me. I kick, thrash, and slam my elbow against his ribs. He grunts, releasing me, and I hit the ground. I stumble and nearly fall, but I right myself in time.
I don’t hide my rage or hurt. I shove his chest with all I have. “Run away from you?” I shove him again, loving how he takes a step back, whether it’s from me or not. “Fuck you, Simon. Fuck. You.” I yell at him as loud as I can, until my throat hurts, until… everything hurts. I shove him again, only this time it’s weak. “Fuck. You,” I whisper, emotion breaking the words. Pointing a finger at his chest, I lift my eyes, hating how much I want to forgive him for everything when his gaze meets mine. “If I want to run from you, I can. I’ve earned that right to run when you’ve been sprinting for ten years. Stay away from me.”
I take a deep breath in and set one foot back, then another, hating that I’m hesitant because his eyes are watering, threatening to convince me he gives a damn.
“Nina—”
I hold up my hand to stop him as he takes a step forward and interrupt him. “No. No, you don’t get to do this! You don’t get to demand to talk to me after ten years, Simon!” I cry, shouting as loud as I can, forcing the agony from my soul with every breath and word spoken. “You don’t get to ask that of me. You don’t get to ask for my time when you left me without a word, right after…” Another wave of warm tears drip down my face. “Right after we gave in to one another. You left me as if I meant nothing. You didn’t call. You didn’t write. You didn’t do anything. You left me and everyone you knew behind, but I thought I meant more than them. I thought I meant something to you.” I hit my fist on my chest. “You are nothing but a memory to me, Simon St. Claire.”
I spin on my heel, preparing to stomp away and leave him in the dust just like he left me all those years ago.
Naked.
Alone in bed.
Still sore between my legs from him.
I ached from that night together.
He left me without question, and I have every right to do that to him.
Simon grips me by the back of the neck, spins me around, pressing me against his body as he bends down until our noses touch.
“We both know we aren’t done making memories.” He crashes his mouth into mine, his lips just as warm and soft as the first time I felt them all those years ago.
He wraps his other arm around my waist, keeping me jailed against his body. His grip tightens on my nape, tilting his head as he controls the kiss. The salty drips of my tears flow between our lips, spreading across my tongue until it’s all I can taste. His tongue teases mine, his body igniting something I long buried.
With every sigh, with every inhale and exhale, I become surrounded by him. I grab at his grease-ridden shirt, our mouths fusing with forgotten need. His hand grabs my hip, his entire body flexes tight as he tries to control himself.
Simon groans into my mouth, a sound I have been playing over and over again since that night, but the memory of him making that exact noise as he claimed my virginity plays in the forefront of my mind, and I pull away, ending the kiss.
I shake my head, untangling myself from his hold, and touch my lips. They are swollen and tingling from his kiss. My heart hammers against its cage, banging so profoundly, that I can’t even hear myself breathe.
“I can’t do this with you.” I continue to shake my head, trying to deny my feelings. “Not again. Simon, please. Please, let me go. You did it for ten years, don’t stop being selfish now.” I cross my arms, wanting to put a barrier between us and begin to step back.
