About Us (all of us #2)

S E V E N

J O S E L Y N

The present.

I pull up to the curb, looking out at the house across the street as I climb out of the car. Wondering when I'll date someone I don't have to sneak around with.

Wondering if I'll ever have any instance of normalcy in my life anytime soon.

I shove those thoughts aside as I scurry across the street, keeping my head down, but an eye out for anyone who may see me.

But neighborhoods like these were always practically deserted around this time of night. Kids were inside, parents were either working night shifts or preparing dinner for their families.

No one was out lurking around. Probably.

I open the door with my key and let out the small ounce of worry in a single breath once my back is pressed to it.

I hear a door shut and moments later the man I've been having a risky rendezvous with appears in front of me, his arms crossed over his bare chest and a look in his eye that is less than pleased.

"Hey," I say with little momentum as he comes toward me, planting a kiss on my lips that feels more obligated than driven by desire.

"Hey."

His eyes don't linger on me long before he pulls himself away and to the kitchen.

I follow after him, not stopping until I've dropped my bag on the counter. "I wasn't lying, if that's what you're thinking."

He shakes his head, setting two glasses down and turning his back to me as he grabs the liquor. For a couple who were so sporadic, we still had our own routine.

Our 'dates' were often short, maybe an hour or so long. Long enough for a drink and a quick fuck, maybe even a brief conversation. And we called that a relationship—well, he called it a relationship because I wasn't so sure what to call what we were doing.

Other than a shame.

"I hit this guy in my mom's car," I add. "I had to get the damages fixed before I brought it home."

I enjoy the glugging noise the bottle makes while the liquid leaves the spout as he glances up at me under his thick brow.

"No, I believe you. I just..." he twists the cap onto the bottle and sets it on the counter before walking around the island and leaning his back to it.

I admire his broad chest and the small patches of light hair sprawled over it.

He sighs. "I wish I wasn't constantly fighting for time with you. If you couldn't make it over tonight, I wouldn't have been able to see you in who knows how long."

I rake my fingers through my hair, joining beside him. "Then tell her about me. Tell her what we've been doing, Scott. End it."

He walks away from me, huffing out a laugh like that's some kind of joke even though the last time we spoke it was nothing close. Last time we spoke it was a swear. A pact.

"You promised me you would," I tell him, prompting him to turn and face me.

"And I will. I will, Joselyn, but now just isn't the right time."

"When will it be the right time?"

"I don't know. Soon."

I shut my mouth, my lip quivering and threatening to show him how much this really means to me. How much this all hurts me.