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I jump at the sound of TJ’s voice.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. What are you doing out here?”
I release my hair and fluff it with my fingers. “Just wondering if everyone is happy with their lives.”
“They’re all drunk.”
“Not just them. You know what I mean.”
“Doesn’t really matter what other people are. Areyouhappy, Carla?”
I feel like I don’t know how to be anymore. Heartbreak is like losing a limb. You have to relearn how to do all the things you used to do when you had your appendage. Now, everything’s harder. Everything serves as a reminder of what you lost.
“You need to move on,” TJ says when I don’t answer. “Life doesn’t always go as planned.”
“Then what’s the point?”
“Thatisthe point. You can’t plan for everything. Gotta roll with the punches as they come.”
“Great. Another fighting metaphor.” I shake my head and bite my tongue to keep from saying everything else that wants to come out. He might be in love with someone who doesn’t love him back, but he doesn’t know the kind of pain I’ve experienced. He couldn’t possibly understand.
“Please don’t tell Charlotte anything. Not what I told you about getting pregnant, and definitely not about last night.”
“I won’t,” he says, and for some reason I believe him. “But why don’t you want to talk to her? She’s your best friend.”
“I will. I just haven’t found the right time. I didn’t want to bother her when she first came back. She went through so much.”
“So did you.”
I shrug. “I’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, you will.” He stands in front of me, ducking his head until I look at him. “You’re lucky your ex showed you his true colors before you married him. Not much of a man if he abandons his wife-to-be when shit gets real. I say he did you a favor.”
I tilt my head, letting that thought settle in my brain. “That’s a good way of looking at it.”
“See? It’s not so bad opening up to a handsome stranger.”
I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling. That’s the effect TJ has on a person. So charming it’s irritating. So adorable you don’t know if you want to smack him or kiss him. So much wiser than you, you almost can’t stand it. Almost.
“How long are you here for?” he asks.
“Until Wednesday.”
TJ tugs my elbow and guides me around the corner of the building where the streetlight doesn’t reach us. We’re tucked into the shadows, away from the noise, away from everyone.
“What are you—”
TJ claims my mouth, kissing me hard. My willpower snaps like a rubber band. His lips are addicting, and I crave the familiar taste. I know what it leads to and I know I want more.
“Wanna turn our one-night stand into two?” TJ’s mouth trails down my neck, licking, biting, and teasing, reminding me of just how good that mouth can feel.
Do I want to? God, yes. Should I? I’m not sure. One more night couldn’t hurt, could it?
A throat clears behind us and I jump back.
Tanner’s eyes are wide. “Sorry to interrupt, but the girls are ready to leave. Are you coming with us, Carla?”
Both of them look at me expectantly, forcing me to look within myself.What on earth am I doing? Was I seriously going for round two with TJ?
