Page 421 of Summer Heat
Addison Fawn.
She’s always been able to do that. She gets to me in a way I despise.
She makes me remember.
She makes me weak.
Another step and I see her face. Her high cheekbones and piercing green eyes. I love the way her hair falls in front of her face. There’s always something effortless about it, like she doesn’t put an ounce of work into looking as fuckable as she does.
The cool night air whips past me as I round the corner. The next alley will take me where I want to go. Directly across from the lot where her car must be. It’s the only parking lot on this street for three blocks.
I swallow thickly, checking my phone again. It’s been three minutes since I’ve left.
Three minutes is more than enough time for her to pay the tab and walk off.
I don’t know if she will though.
It’s been years since I’ve felt like I’ve known who she is.
Years since I’ve heard her say my name.
The corners of my lips turn up in a smirk as I hear the hesitancy in her voice replay in my memory and I let it. Like she was scared to say my name out loud.
It echoes in my head as I lean against the wall of the dark alley and gives me a thrill I haven’t felt in a long time. Too long.
The alley is narrow, the type of passageway built decades and decades ago before the world knew better. Before humanity realized they were inviting sins in the night with small spaces like these.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I take a quick look around me before pulling it out.
There are four cars parked in the dirt lot. The streetlight on the right side illuminates the area easily, as do the headlights of a passing car.
My eyes flicker to the text on my phone and the amusement from only moments ago leaves me instantly.
Who’s the girl? Jake texted and I’m reminded that I upped and left as if she mattered. As if her existence would cause an issue.
And of course it does. More than anyone could know.
My shoulders rise as I draw in a deep breath and let it out slowly, releasing the anger from letting her get to me and I focus on regaining control. Control is everything.
No one, I write him back but think better of it. It’s obvious she’s someone to me and Jake needs to be reassured. My brother’s ex, I add.
My body tenses as I wait for him to respond. I keep my posture relaxed, although I’m anything but.
Off limits? Jake must have a fucking death wish.
I can’t help the way my teeth grind as I text a response and then delete it before finally firing off a quick message.
For now. If Marcus comes tonight, tell him I’ll be back late. I’m smoldering with rage as I realize how stupid it was to risk missing the meet with Marcus all over a quick emotion I couldn’t suppress. Shock, anger … fear even. She’s only a girl. Inwardly, I can hear myself seething.
Alright, Jake messages me, making the phone vibrate in my hand. I almost ask him if Addison is still there. My fingertips itch to push for information.
But it’s not needed.
Even as Jake continues to text me about the drop-off, I watch the skirt sway around Addison’s hips. It’s the color of cream and loose on her, not giving me any hints of how her ass looks right now. But her legs are on full display.
I’ve always thought of Addison the same way, even after everything that went down. From the first day I met her until this very second. She’s a sad, but beautiful girl. You can see her pain in every bit of her features when she doesn’t know someone’s looking. Like I often did. From the way her full lips pout delicately, to the way her eyes seem to stare off in the distance, even when she’s looking right at you it’s as if she can see through you.
Those eyes have haunted me. The beautiful shades of green and brown are like the sunset over a forest. Like flecks of light peeking through and enhancing the darkness that’s soon to come.
