Kissing Eden (16 page)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

T
hree weeks had passed since I had flown home from South Padre. I had settled back into my class routine, and most days managed to go for long stretches without debating whether I should call Grey. The answer was always no.

Taylor
peeked around the corner of my bedroom door. “Hey, can I borrow your pink skirt? That cute one with the little flair? I’m going to a mixer tonight if you want to come too. This is the last one before the graduation parties start.”

I looked at her brunette hair, piled high on her head in a messy, but stylish twist.
“Sorry, that skirt was in my suitcase the airline lost. It was one of my favorites. You know I haven’t heard from them. They should at least cut me a check if they aren’t going to cough up my luggage.”

Taylor twisted a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Yeah, you should get replacement funds for everything in there. Ok, back to my closet. I’m on the hunt for something cute to wear tonight. You want to come with?”

“No, I’m not up for a party, but let me call the airline and then I’ll come help you.”

“Yes, please. I need it. I have no idea what to wear to this thing.” She shuffled down the hall to her room.

Taylor
had tried for weeks to get me back into the social scene, but I couldn’t imagine hanging out with other guys. I wasn’t ready; I didn’t want to be ready.

I had saved the number and tapped the airline’s name on my screen, prepared for the twenty-minute run-around I usually received.
I had completed a claim form upon my arrival in Texas. This should have been taken care of weeks ago.

“Hi, this is Eden Brady. I need you to track a claim number for me.”
I huffed.

The woman on the other end waited for me to announce the numbers.

“Miss Brady, you’re bag was delivered.” She said it so matter-of-factly.

“Delivered? What do you mean?” I hopped off my bed and walked to the front of the apartment. I hadn’t heard a knock
, and Taylor and I didn’t see a notice on the door when we got back from class, but just in case, I opened the door to the empty breezeway.

The woman continued with the details.
“It was delivered to the address you gave us on Gulf Boulevard.”

“You mean my luggage is in South Padre?” I closed the door.

“Yes, ma’am. A Mr. Grey Lachlan signed for it—three days ago.” Just the mention of his name made my chest tighten.

“Grey signed for my bag?” I sat on the couch
and pulled a pillow into my lap.

“Is there anything else I can do for you
, Miss Brady? I’m so glad we could provide you with excellent customer service today.” Her voice chirped with enthusiasm.

“No. No. Thank you.” I was having trouble breathing again.
Grey. I held the pillow and tried to think. Grey had my suitcase. Surely, this was a sign that I should call him.

“What
, no luck with your luggage?” Taylor asked as she remerged from her room carrying two different black skirts. “I hope they are giving you a ton of money, especially for the pink skirt. It was my favorite.”

“Grey has my bag.”
I heard myself say the words, but it didn’t make sense.

“What?”
Taylor squeaked and crossed the room to the couch.

“He has it. They delivered it three days ago. What does this mean? What should I do? What do I do?” I
dropped the pillow and paced the living room. “He’s had it for three days and didn’t bother to call me.”

“Why don’t you try calling him? It’s been a few weeks
. I think a call would be ok. He can’t keep your skirt hostage.”

“I have every right to call. I should call.” The words instilled bits of moxie. “Can you give me a minute? I’ll help you with your outfit
, I promise, but I want to call him in my room.”

“
Of course. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be buried in the back of my closet. Just come in whenever you’re done.” She smiled and walked toward her room. “Good luck.”

I needed it the way my hands were shaking.
I closed my door behind me and folded my legs under me on my bed. I opted to try the Palm Palace office number first. He was more likely to pick up the phone there since he wouldn’t know it was me calling.

The phone rang seven times before I hit end on my phone. I exhaled. I was even more nervous about trying Grey’s
cell number. I took a deep breath and focused on the air running through my nose as I released it.
Warm beaches. Sun in my face. Salt breeze in my hair. Wrapped in—

“Eden.”
Taylor knocked on my door, interrupting my strength-building mantra.

“Just a minute. He’s not answering the office number. I’m going to try his cell. I promise I’ll help you with your outfit.
But I really need to—”

“Eden, I can handle the clothes. Your suitcase is here.”
Taylor widened her eyes.

My suitcase?

I stepped off my bed and walked to my bedroom door. Taylor pulled back on the handle. Standing at the end of the hall was Grey, holding my lost suitcase.

“Hey.” He was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt.

“Hey.” My mind was fuzzy and the word came out in a whisper.

“Why don’t I give you two some privacy?”
Taylor squeaked out as she turned toward her room, but not before giving me a thumbs up. “Nice to meet you, Grey!”

“What are you doing here?”
I hadn’t moved from the doorframe and wasn’t sure I could.

I wanted to run and hug him, feel his arms around me
, and draw his lips to mine, but then I remembered how we left everything. He had given me the worst silent treatment and it had lasted three vicious weeks.

“They found your bag.” He held up my suitcase.

It had seen better days. One of the zipper pulls was now missing and there was a black streak across the front pocket.

“I see the suitcase. I’m asking about you.”

He stepped toward me. “Can we talk?”

I wish there was a way I could put my body in check so I could sort through everything without feeling
as if a magnet was thrusting me to Grey.

“
How did you find me?” I searched his face for the answer to every question I had formed in three weeks.

He pointed to the suitcase. “Luggage tag.”

“Oh.” I retreated to my quiet voice.

“How about I talk and you
can just listen? That’s all. I probably don’t even deserve that, but I drove your luggage here all the way from Texas. Maybe you could take that into consideration.” He waited in the hallway. Though he was ten feet away, I couldn’t avoid the instant effect his eyes had on me. I missed the depths of blue and soul-piercing look he shot through me with every glance.

I steadied myself against the handle.
“Come in. I’ll listen.” I held the door open to my room and closed my eyes as he brushed past me. I prayed I wasn’t being an idiot by letting him in like this.

“Nice room.” Grey looked around at the pictures I had of my family on the dresser, a pile of folded laundry in the chair, and my newly made bed.

“Thanks.” I wasn’t expecting company, and definitely not him. I closed the door, making sure the latch clicked so our conversation wouldn’t be overheard.

He looked nervous
, something I had never seen on Grey before. He shoved his hands in his pockets and started to speak several times before finally uttering audible words.

“See, Eden
, the thing is I’m lost. I don’t have family. There’s no one in my life. I’m broke. I’m moody. Sometimes I act out instead of talk. I’m not good with feelings. Not good at all. I told you I could be a real jerk.”

“
Mmm-hmm,” I urged him to continue.

I wasn’t going to let him off the hook. Even more important
ly, I didn’t want to interrupt a speech he had probably been preparing for twenty-six hours during his road trip to North Carolina.

“And despite all of that, you made me think that I had something to offer other than a rundown piece of junk motel.
That I could be fun again. That I could make someone laugh. That my responsibilities didn’t have to be a burden.” He sighed. “I knew I was in trouble the first time I kissed you.”

“Trouble?”
I felt my forehead narrow as I questioned him.

Grey pulled his hands from his pockets and stepped forward.
“Yes, because I’m not supposed to feel what I did. I just met you and you turned everything upside down. That doesn’t happen in a week.”

“I don’t understand, Grey.”
I bit my bottom lip.

“You have everything ahead of you.
Graduation’s right around the corner. You can go and be anything you want. You can date guys, travel, and try different careers. Find your dream—try different dreams. Being stuck with me and the Palm is not something I would put on anyone.”

“But—
You’re being ridiculous.” I couldn’t let him keep talking like he was some kind of burdened lost soul. He wasn’t either of those things.

“When you look at me
, I forget all that stuff is going on. I forget about the money problems and the broken pipes.” He reached for my hand and I warmed to his touch. “All I can think about is what is right here between you and me. And dammit, as much as I like it, it’s not fair to you. I was where you are five years ago. You deserve those five years to be happy. To find what makes you happy.”

I shook my hand free from his. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I had just let him in my room, to break my heart all over again.

“Wait. Why are you here if you’re just going to give me a speech on how you’re all wise and broken, and I need to live my young happy life without you? I don’t need a suitcase delivery and a lecture. I can’t believe this. Why did you even come here?”

Grey’s blue eyes flashed with panic.
“Would you just hold up? I’m not done.”

I stood with my hands on my hips
, pacing my breath. I didn’t know how much more of this I could listen to. My heart was already fragile.

“I drove all the way up here with your suitcase because I don’t want to let you go. I don’t want to set you free. I’m tired of being responsible and putting what I want on hold. I want to be selfish now. I want you.”

He pulled me toward him and claimed my mouth with desperate force. His tongue pushed against mine, and I felt the wobbling effect in my knees. His lips were minty and I couldn’t get enough of kissing him.

Somewhere between the warmth of his breath on my neck and the familiar tug of his hand pushing my bra to the side, I formed a rational thought.

“Stop, Grey. Stop.” I straightened my shirt and created some distance between us.

“Shit.” He was straining to keep his hands by his side
, and he dropped his gaze to the floor.

“I can’t let you show up after three weeks and act like an apology is going to put this back together.
Now I need you to listen.”

“Ok.” He exhaled.

“I called. I left a letter. I cried—I don’t do any of those things. I have
never
done any of those things. But, I did them because of you. I’m like some love-sick teenager because of you.” I looked straight into his eyes, the ones that made me fall head over heels for him my first night in South Padre.

“
Darlin’, listen. I was pretty pissed the night of the luau when I saw you with your ex. I thought you hadn’t been straight with me the whole week, and what made it so bad is that you didn’t have to be. You didn’t owe me anything. I didn’t have any claim on you. It was spring break.”

I froze.
“How did you know he was my ex?”

“Rumor mill and a couple of his buddies were standing next to me doing the play by play. Only they left out the ex part. They called you his girlfriend.”
His eyes brimmed with hurt.

I was sick. I knew exactly how Grey felt. All of those twisted and scary feelings had surfaced when I saw him and Laura at Pete’s.

“You thought I was his girlfriend?” I choked on the words.

He nodded.

“I wouldn’t do that, Grey.”

“I know. I was being a
hotheaded asshole. Marin talked me down after you left. She told me the guy was a complete jerk and that you were over it. I overreacted. Seeing you with someone else did something to me. I couldn’t handle it, Eden.”

Marin, always the romantic optimist.
I thought about that night alone in his room. I had gone through every scenario and every apology, but he never came back. We never had the chance to figure this out together.

“Why did you let me leave without talking to me about it? I tried when I found you at the alcove, but you wouldn’t give me a chance.”
So much of this could have been explained if only Grey had opened up.

“Again. Asshole. I couldn’t stand to hear what they were saying about you and him together.
It was bad enough watching him put his hands on you. But, really, I didn’t mean for you to leave that morning. I overslept at Connor’s place, and by the time I got to the Palm, you were gone. It seemed like I should just let you go and cut my losses. I gave up too fast. I’m sorry.”