Without You by Julie Prestsater Page B

won’t ever be one.” I slid out of her grip and climbed out. She sat stunned in the passenger seat, so I went to her side and opened the door for her. I offered my hand for support, or maybe just to have an excuse to touch her, but she didn’t take it.
    We walked up the steps to her front door, and it dawned on me that I wasn’t holding her hand. A pain hit me in the chest knowing that I couldn’t just reach out and lock my fingers with hers. It wasn’t like it used to be no matter how much I wanted it to be. Things were different. Time had passed and she had moved on.
    I watched as Maddy reached into her bag for her keys. She looked adorable in her cut-off denim shorts, her Fantastic Four tee, and of course, her flip flops. Noting her obsession, I thought about how fun it would be to take her to see the next Marvel comic movie. I wasn’t stupid though. I knew I would enjoy the special effects and seeing shit get blown up, while she would be drooling over Steve Rogers. Fine by me, I guess. She’d be coming home with me. Not a fictional character.
    She peeked over her shoulder at me while I studied her body from head to toe. Not that I had needed to. Every detail, every curve had been permanently cemented into my thoughts. Knowing that I wouldn’t leave until she was safely inside, she shoved the key into the lock and opened her door.
    “Okay, Evan. I’m in.” She turned back around and her eyes met mine. She didn’t look away. We just stood there, gazing at each other. Searching each other for answers. Do you still love me? Do you still care? Will you give me another shot? Will you let me love you again? The way that you deserve to be loved? I didn’t say anything at first, but I didn’t break our stare. If she was willing to look at me the way she was right then, with hope and longing, I would take it.
    She placed her hand on my forearm and squeezed it. Instantly, I felt her warmth wash over me. “Thank you for walking me to my door.” She said it like it meant the world to her.
    “Doesn’t everyone?” I asked, meaning Michael.
    “No.” She removed her hand and looked down at her feet. Her boyfriend was beginning to sound even more like a tool. What kind of man didn’t walk his girl to her door? One that didn’t fucking deserve her.
    With a slight touch of my finger to her chin, I lifted her head so my gaze met hers.
    “You should be going,” she said, still looking at me with those bedroom eyes.
    Nervous about what to say or do next, I bit the corner of my bottom lip. “Yeah. I probably should.”
    She gave me a weak smile and then slowly turned away.
    “Wait,” I told her, holding out my hand and touching her shoulder.
    Quickly, she swung back around. “For what, Evan?”
    Words zoomed through my head, but I chose to stay silent. Instead, inch by slow inch, I bent down until our foreheads were touching. She didn’t move. Our mouths were a mere centimeter apart and I could feel her warm breath on mine, the sweet scent of minty gum intoxicating my senses along with the delicious smell of her shampoo. My heart was beating fast and my breath quickened. Maddy’s tongue peeked out, swiftly sweeping across her pouting lower lip. I wanted so bad to kiss her. I needed to kiss her. But Genna’s voice kept ringing in my ears. It was too soon. Damn, Gen for getting in my head. So as quickly as it began, I ended it. With a soft press of my lips to her temple, I finally said, “See you soon, Sunshine.”
    And I turned around and walked away.
    Only this time, I knew I would be coming back.

Chapter 4
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    M ADISON
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    I shut the door behind me and slid down to the floor resting my body against it. Did that just happen? I squeezed my thighs together, still feeling the throbbing tingles radiating from my center. That man exuded sex appeal from every pore of his being. It wasn’t as if he was trying to seduce me with his touches, either. It had just felt