Again: A Copperslane Novella (Copperslane Romance) by Garnet Christie

Author:Garnet Christie [Christie, Garnet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-02-13T16:00:00+00:00

eleven

SHORT FUSES AND TELLTALE SIGNS—TWO DAYS AFTER THE PARTY

Jake

“Jake?” Cora’s voice partially gets lost from the swirling occurring in my head.

Of course, she remembers the key. Liz, me, and Cora always used it after school to come here and do homework. Out of all the people on the planet, we three would be the only ones to use it. Who would have thought a key would come back to bite me in the ass?

“Jake?”

She says my name a second time and everything feels like it’s in a blender––whirling, pulsing, and jumping around me. Every tangible emotion pulverizes and compounds into my chest cavity.

Shock makes my breath shallow.

Anger causes my skin to flare up.

Wanting her sends an aching surge down my arms, making my fingertips curl in response. The muscles in my neck flex, tugging hard from my jaw down to my shoulders.

Finally, something snaps alive in my veins when her brows fall and her eyes narrow. “Well damn, make up your mind. Are you going to hit me with the cup or offer me a drink?”

I notice my hand strung up in the air, and like the string loosens with my observation, the mug shakes in my weak grasp. “Shit.” Lowering my arm, I secure the object with both hands, then place it on the counter with a loud thunk.

“So I’m getting a drink then.” I swear there’s a touch of snark in her voice, and I can’t figure out why.

Was she always this smart-mouthed? Aggravation whittles at my nerves and heat smacks the nape of my neck. “What the hell are you doing here, Cora?” I spit out her name like the curse and vexation that it is.

She sighs, hopefully ‘cause it’s knocking some of the brattiness out of her. “We didn’t get a chance to talk at the party and-”

“We certainly did not.” I fold my arms over my chest. “And that’s because I didn’t want to. Still don’t.”

“Well, too flipping bad. You won’t walk out of this one, Jake. I’m taking this chance and I’m not giving up until we talk.” One of her legs shakes back and forth, and I don’t miss the way the left side of her cheek draws in. No question, she’s biting down on it. It’s all just how it was in high school, only I remember it taking a lot less.

My brow pulls up. “Short fused these days, huh?”

“Wh-what are you talking about?” Her bobbing motion lessens, a confused look pulling across her face.

I gesture at her leg even though it’s slowed its pace.

Looking down at the extremity in question, a shade of pink floods her pale cheeks, and she stills. “Ooh.” Head down, she examines the floor for several moments before flicking her eyes upwards. “Jake... please… Can we talk?” The gentle, unsure question catapults right through my soul and the only thing I want is to hold her tight, to feel her against me like I used to.

Trapped. That’s what I am. Fucking trapped, and I’m not even going to try and free myself.

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