The Girl Next Door
The Boy Next Door Chapter 38

In one swift movement, I pop open the trunk and toss his luggage inside before slamming it shut and clicking the locks. We both slide inside before I started up the engine and pull onto the street, heading toward the metropolitan airport about thirty miles away. Normally, it's a forty-minute drive with traffic. I plan to have him there in under thirty. See if I don't.

Not only does it take effort to unlock my fingers from around the leather steering wheel, I have to unclench my now aching jaw. I dredge my brain for something to say. Something that will fill the uncomfortable silence that has settled between us. I glance at him from the corner of my eye. The British prick sits ramrod straight as if someone shoved a two-by-four up his a*s.

What the hell does Alyssa see in this guy?

He's dark-haired where I'm blond. He's slightly shorter than I am in height. You bet your damn a*s I noticed that. Sure, he's broader. Beefier. His physique is more suited to a brawler where I was built for speed on the football field. I clear my throat. "Short trip."

Yeah. That's the best I got at the moment. Even though I've separated him from Alyssa, jealousy continues to eat away at my insides. I hate that he holds a special place in her heart. More than that, I hate that he's trying to oust me from hers. I can see it in his eyes. That's exactly what he's trying to do. And I'll be damned if I allow it to happen.

His blue eyes flicker toward me. "Unfortunately, I need to return by Tuesday. It prevented me from tacking on a few more days and making a proper holiday of it." Unfortunate for who?

Not me.

His eyes narrow as if I spoke the thoughts out loud. He shifts in the butter-soft leather seat and says in a clipped tone, "I know all about you."

My brows shoot up. "Excuse me?"

"You're the wanker Alyssa dated before studying in London."

I press my lips together. I might not be familiar with the term wanker but I'm pretty sure it's not good. By the disgusted expression marring his face, I can imagine that Alyssa revealed all the gory details. What sucks is that there's nothing I can say to defend myself. It's all true.

I'm a wanker.

My fingers tighten around the wheel until the knuckles turn bone white. "I'm not the same guy I was before. I've changed." More than anything, I want that to be true. I'm fighting not to be the guy who was frightened away by three words.

His upper lip curls as he snorts, "Well, I certainly hope not." Even though we're roughly the same height, he's mastered the way of looking down on someone and making them feel tiny. I don't like it. "Did she mention that we dated?"

The acidic taste of bile rises in my throat as I stare straight ahead. I can't even look at him. I don't want to see the smug look on his face. I'm afraid that if I do, I'll jerk the car over to the side of the road and beat the piss out of him for laying his hands on her. "You realize that she's perfect, right?"

Does he think I'm a complete dumbass? Of course I do!

When I remain silent, he continues. "She's the kind of girl that makes you start thinking long term."

I want to punch my fist through the windshield.

Why the f**k is he telling me this? To rub my face in the fact that I had the one girl worth having and I let her slip away?

"The moment we met, I realized there was something special about her."

My foot presses down on the accelerator and the engine revs as we shoot through traffic.

"But she held me off. Couldn't move on from you."

That last piece is probably what saves his damn life.

"It wasn't until the last month that we became romantically involved. Although, she never gave it a chance to get deep. And when it was time for her to leave, we decided that a long-distance relationship probably wouldn't work. Too many unknowns with the future. But you know what?"

I have to steal myself for what he'll say next. He doesn't make me wait long.

"I would have been more than willing to give it a crack. Alyssa is well worth it."

Barely am I able to suck in air through the thick lump that has been wedged in the middle of my throat. Why had I thought taking him to the airport was a good idea? I'm tempted to pull over and dump his a*s along the side of the road. But then he'd still be here, and I can't have that.

"You know why I didn't put up more of a fight?"

Goddamn it! I just need him to shut the f**k up and let me drive. I glance at the speedometer. I'm going about ninety.

"Because I knew she was still in love with you. A man who doesn't deserve her."

What the f**k?

My head whips in his direction.

"I'd hoped that Alyssa would return home and realize that she was over you. Then we could pick up where we had left off, albeit from a distance." His blue eyes darken as he shakes his head. "But she still fancies herself in love with a wanker."

I hit the turn signal and crank the wheel, zipping off the exit ramp.

Everything he's just confessed churns inside my head as I enter the airport area and turn toward international departures. Once I replace the terminal, I pull to the curb and cut the engine. For a long moment, I stare at the steering wheel. I have no idea what to say to the guy sitting beside me. The one who has been very blunt about his interest in Alyssa.

The thing is...I can't blame him for it. And I sure as s**t can't blame him for attempting to win her over. Or back. Or whatever the hell they had going on. I would do the same damn thing if I were in his position.

I have two options here. I can tell him to get f****d or-

I swivel in my seat until I can look him in the eyes. "I know that I hurt her."

His gaze hardens. Apparently, I'm not telling him that he doesn't already know. "Damn straight you did."

"But I'm not the same guy that I was before. I'm trying to prove that to her."

"Maybe so, but what's to stop you from hurting her again?"

Because...I love her.

I always have.

But I'm not about to tell him that. I haven't gotten that far with Alyssa. She's the one who deserves to hear the words first. Not him.

My jaw clenches. "I guess you'll have to take my word for it."

"Not good enough."

I shrug. "It's going to have to be."

Jack presses his lips into a tight line. It's obvious that if he didn't have to catch a flight, he'd gladly take the time to kick my a*s. And part of me feels like I deserve. All right, fine...I deserve it. What I did to Alyssa sophomore year was shitty. I'm not denying that. But people make mistakes. And somehow, they redeem themselves. That's all I'm trying to do.

"You hurt her again and I'll be on the first flight back to kick your arse."

"It won't happen."

"Better not," he grumbles before exiting the BMW without another word. I pop the trunk so he can grab his luggage before doing the same. As I slam the door closed, I stuff my hands into the pockets of my jeans before grinding to an awkward halt where he waits. "I wish I could say that it's been a pleasure, but it hasn't."

I almost snort. "I suppose that's one thing we can agree on."

The corners of his lips quirk slightly before he clears his throat. "I had better go."

"Yup." I jerk my head into a nod. The sooner the better as far as I'm concerned. I can't get him out of here fast enough.

"I'm sure this won't be the last time we see each other."

My brows lower. If I can help it, it will be.

When I remain silent, a genuine smile curves his lips. it's as if he knows exactly what I'm thinking. "I'm not going anywhere." With that last parting shot, he leaves me standing behind my car.

Fucker.