Hooked on You: An Annapolis Harbor Series Prequel, Lea Coll [love letters to the dead .txt] 📗

But when he came back into the room, his face was soft and open. He leaned over the bed kissing me softly. “Thank you.”

“For what?” I asked as he slid into the bed behind me.

He placed soft kisses on my shoulder. “For being you.”

I turned in his arms so I was facing him. He was always putting himself down. Telling himself he didn’t deserve things. “You deserve me.” I brushed his hair out of his eyes. “You deserve this. You deserve to be happy.” However long it lasted.

His breath caught and I knew he didn’t believe it. Not yet. Instead of saying anything else I kissed him softly, showing him instead.

Chapter Seventeen

TAYLOR

The next morning I stretched, feeling sore and blissfully tired. Gabe woke me up in the middle of the night for another round, rifling in my nightstand for a condom from the unopened box I’d bought when I moved in—hoping for an adventure and some fun. He’d been so much more.

I rolled over and reached my hand out to find the bed empty and the sheets cold. Had he left? In past relationships, sex happened at the guy’s place because I lived in my parents’ home. I never stayed overnight but I made it clear it was because my family needed me.

I strained for any sounds in my small apartment but didn’t hear anything. I didn’t know why I hoped for something different, but I did. I’d hoped he allowed himself to feel what I did last night. But maybe it was too much too soon.

I slowly opened my eyes, letting them adjust to the morning light. I didn’t smell any coffee brewing or hear any footsteps in my tiny apartment. Lifting my head, I looked for a note on the pillow or my nightstand which wasn’t there.

Falling back onto my pillow I closed my eyes tight. I’d hoped for a lazy morning in bed, breakfast, and more sex. I should have known better. I couldn’t change him. He’d had years of people not believing in him and him thinking he wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t going to change him in a day. I thought I’d gotten through to him last night with our bodies coming together even if he hadn’t heard my words.

My phone buzzed. I jumped up hoping it was Gabe telling me he’d run out to grab breakfast, but it was Hadley. Where were you last night? You left me alone with Preston! You owe me! I scrolled up and realized she’d texted last night several times wondering where I was. My phone must have been on silent. I checked to see if my mom had texted or called but there was nothing new at home.

I had a whole Saturday ahead of me. What was I going to do? I texted Hadley.

There was an interesting development last night I couldn’t miss.

Hadley: Nice! Gabe? You’re totally forgiven. You owe me coffee, beignets, and shoe shopping!

I could use a friend. Taylor: Fine.

Hadley: Yay!

Should I text Gabe and ask him why he’d left? No, I wanted casual, so I couldn’t complain if he wanted the same. I just hadn’t expected it to bother me so much.

I got up, determined to live my life and not dwell on a man sneaking out of my apartment after the hottest sex of my life. I took a shower, washing his scent off of me feeling sadder than I ever had after being with a man. I pulled on a sundress and ballet flats and hopped onto the streetcar to meet Hadley at Café du Monde. I could do this. I could have hot sex with a man and move on like it was nothing—like I did this every Friday night with sexy men. When in reality, I’d never had a one-night stand or considered one before Gabe.

I stepped off the streetcar and was immediately engulfed in a flowery hug. “There you are. Finally! I’m starving and about to pass out from lack of caffeine.”

I pulled back from Hadley giving her a look. “You’re holding coffee in your hand.”

“It’s almost empty and it’s not from Café du Monde. I need French Roast with a bag of beignets. Let’s go. After I’ve eaten several I want to hear about the sexy times with Gabe.”

I laughed. I didn’t think I’d ever discussed boyfriends with my friends. I’d never been close enough with anyone to reveal the intimate side of a relationship. We got into the long Saturday line, chatting about Friday night happy hour with the office before finally taking our order to an empty bench outside.

“Tell me everything,” Hadley said, setting up the bag of beignets on the bench between us and lifting the lid off her coffee for it to cool.

“Everything?” I was stalling, unsure where to start. How much to tell her. I carefully opened the bag, taking one beignet out and lifting it to my mouth. I needed this—coffee, pastries, and a friend.

“Did you fuck him? He sounds like a man who would fuck good and hard.”

My mouth fell open and I dropped the beignet into my lap, spraying white powdered sugar all over my dress. “Oh, shit, Hadley. Keep your voice down.” I frantically tried to mop up the sugar with napkins but it just smeared.

“Sorry, I tend to get carried away.” She lowered her voice. “Did he fuck you good and hard?”

My face on fire, I rolled my eyes. “Yes.” She leaned forward, waiting for more details. The reason I’d been drawn to Hadley initially was that she was so outgoing and fun. I just hadn’t expected her to be so blunt about sex. “And then we did it a couple more times and it was more.”

“Like ‘make love to me’ more?” Her eyes widened—both of our beignets forgotten in our hands.

“Yes.” My face was still hot and I looked around to see if anyone was listening to us but they weren’t. I had to talk to someone about his leaving. I