Stay by Hilary Wynne Page A

way he is. I felt the shift happen too. I knew the second he put his lips on mine that our connection meant so much more than two people just casually hooking up. But I’m not even remotely close to being ready to go there or admit this is anything other than a one-time thing. I quickly convince myself Julian is just caught up in the moment too. I can play this off. Here it goes. Someone needs to get a hold of this situation. I arch my brows, look up at him, and put both of my hands on his chest. I can feel his heart pounding again. I push him back g ently.
    “So,” I said, “make love? The only thing I’d love for you to make me right now is another d rink.”
    How lame am I? I cringe as the words come out of my mouth, but it seems to do the trick. My stupid comment about wanting a drink breaks the spell we both have been under since he found me on the dance floor.
    Julian quickly backs away from me, and suddenly everything snaps back hard into focus. I internally agree with him we have crossed way too many lines tonight, both sexually and emotionally. But although I agree with Julian, I can’t help but be uneasy about his sudden mood swing. He seems to vacillate so easily between wanting to pull me close and wanting to push me away. I have no idea what he’s actually feeling. His eyes are now devoid of anything resembling an emotional connection. The man that just had me coming apart with his words and touch is gone, and I’m looking into the eyes of a stranger. I’m reeling, but I don’t want him to see how much his indifference is affecting me. I need to get away from him. I step around him, pull myself together a little bit, and start walking away from him back toward the bar. A huge part of me wants him to stop me. I want him to grab my hand and pull me close like he has done all night long. I want him to say something dirty to me or something funny. All he says is my name.
    “A lexa.”
    His voice is so quiet I can’t tell if it’s a question or a command. I keep walking, and I do not turn to ask. I hear the door to his office open and then shut gently behin d him.
    What the hell just hap pened?
    I find my friends, and Marissa agrees to leave. Jenna isn’t ready to go, so we take off without her. I’m quiet when we’re waiting for the car, and Marissa knows something is up. She waits until we get in the car t o ask.
    “So are you going to tell me what happened or should I g uess?”
    “We hooked up, and then we said our good-byes. There’s not much to tell.”
    I can’t see Marissa’s face because she’s driving, but I know she’s rolling her eyes at me.
    “Spill it and give me details, Reed. I’ve been waiting all week to see how this played out.”
    “Fine. We made out and did a little bump and grind in a hallway by his of fice.”
    “And?”
    “And what, Mari? You want det ails?”
    “Um, yes. I just said that.”
    I laugh a little. I’ve always told her everything. We talk openly about sex, so I’m not sure why I’m being s o coy.
    “He pinned me against the wall and made me come without even touching me. We made out, and I left. Is that graphic enough for you?”
    “Holy shit! What the hell are you in a bad mood for then? That sounds awe some.”
    “It was until he got all weird o n me.”
    Marissa turns her head, and I see her expression has changed. She thinks he did something to hurt me. “What do you mean? What did h e do?”
    “He told me he wanted to make love to me and got this whole emotional vibe. Crazy, right? I was grinding against his leg, and he gets romantic. It was weird, so I said good -bye.”
    Marissa looks at me again and shakes her head. “He told you he wanted to make love to you, and you freaked out? Lex, when a man that hot tells you he wants to make love to you, you say yes, please, and thank you.”
    I can’t help but laugh at her comment, and I shrug my shoulders. She knows why any type of emotional feelings would make me uncomfortable. She does ask