42 Hours (Time for Love 3)

“Oh… God… I just,” I felt like such a child, I could barely even talk about it, and it wasn’t as if I’d walked in on them having sex or anything. “I ran into Brock’s brother Brendan … The lead singer. Anyway, he and some girl were going at it pretty hot and heavy in the hallway.”

“Oh,” Scott looked at me suddenly, then cleared his throat and looked back out the windshield. “So you were embarrassed?”

I let out a nervous laugh and admitted, “Yeah, because I was taken by surprised, and I kind of, um, stood there and watched for a minute. Then, Brendan caught me, and said hi, like it was no big deal. I just felt like a prude.”

“Hmmm,” Scott began, as if unsure what to say next. “Have you never been in that situation before?”

I averted my eyes, then responded softly, “What? Practically having sex in a bar? No.”

“No,” Scott said, his voice rough. “Where you’ve been so in the moment, that you couldn’t control yourself, and didn’t care if you got caught or not.”

I squirmed in my seat, his words affecting me more than they probably should. My body felt warm, so I turned up the AC a bit and pointed the vent in my direction.

“No,” I admitted, my voice barely audible.

When Scott didn’t respond, I started to worry that he thought I was referring to the night that he and I’d slept together, so I blurted, “Oh… I wasn’t trying to say that you and I didn’t have passion…”

I felt the blush roll over my face like a heat wave.

“I mean, it was our first time… And it was lovely…” Shit, I was digging in deeper. “What I meant was that I’ve never had someone take me up against the wall in the club like that.”

Oh. My. God. Had I just said that. I wanted to melt into the floorboards.

I brought my hands to my face, hiding my mortification.

Scott began to laugh next to me. Softly at first, but soon he was laughing so hard the car almost shook.

I put my hands down and scowled at him, “You’re laughing at me?”

Scott put his hands up briefly, as if trying to prove his innocence, then put them back on the wheel and tried to control his laughter.

“You look like you’re going to die of embarrassment over there,” Scott said with a muffled chuckle. “It’s not a big deal, Gabs. I wasn’t trying to insinuate anything, please don’t be embarrassed. You can tell me anything, and I won’t judge you for it. I hope you know that.”

I nodded, and felt my skin begin to cool down a bit.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to overreact,” I said with a deep breath.

When Craig Morgan’s Wake Up Lovin’ You, came on, I turned it up and said, “Oh, I love this song,” Hoping to change the subject.

Scott didn’t call me on it, he just gave a small smile and kept quiet.

As I listened to the words, I remembered why I loved this song. It reminded me of Scott, and prom night, because when the sun came up, I’d known that I loved him. I’d been trying to fight it and forget every day since.

I must have sighed out loud, because Scott broke into my memories and asked, “What are you thinking about?” His voice was gruff, and when I turned my head, his gaze was on me. Intense.

“Nothing,” I squeaked out. I didn’t want to conversation to turn to sex again. Having just gotten out of a serious relationship, I didn’t want Scott to think I was moving in on him. I needed to focus on our friendship.

He looked like he wanted to press the issue, but thought better of it and turned his attention back to the road.

I breathed a sigh of relief, and scooted down into my seat to get comfortable and enjoy the music. I closed my eyes and drifted off.

Chapter 13 – Scott

I pulled up behind Shelly’s old Ford pickup and turned off the car. Gaby had fallen asleep. I’m sure she was exhausted, since her day always started before the sun came up. I turned to look at her, and my pulse began to jump in my throat. She looked beautiful. Peaceful. Her blonde locks had come out of their loose constraints and tumbled around her shoulders. Her face was free of makeup, and she looked absolutely perfect.

I saw our friends descend the stairs and make their way toward us, so I put my hand gently on her arm and said, “We’re here, Gabs.”

Her eyes fluttered awake. One second I was mesmerized by her flawless face, the next I was drowning in her blue gaze.