Free Finally by Scarlett Metal Page A

few weeks?” she asked me as she walked over to me. “Amanda always throws each of us a party at her bar and I’d love for you to be there.”
    “That’s the plan,” I said and pulled her down onto my lap. “She told me the party the other night and I wouldn’t miss your birthday.” I planted a soft kiss on her neck. She was going to have to wear her hair in a ponytail more often; I loved having such easy access to her neck.
    “Good,” she said as she tilted her head to the side and leaned back into me.
    Her phone rang suddenly, interrupting the moment. “Are you going to answer that?” I asked, my lips against her skin.
    “Nah, if it’s important they’ll leave a message,” she said.
    I groaned and moved her away from me as I stood up. “Baby, I gotta get going anyway or I’ll miss my flight.”
    I glanced at the phone as it still rang and noticed Kyle’s name on the screen. She bit her lip and hit the ignore button quickly.
    “Kyle?” I asked her. I thought she was done seeing him. Why was he calling her?
    She nodded. “He’s been calling me for the past few days. I haven’t answered and he hasn’t left a message. Who knows what he wants. I’m hoping if I ignore him enough, he’ll get the picture and stop calling.”
    My blood started to boil as I clenched my fists slightly. I didn’t really want to leave her knowing her ex was trying to get back in touch with her. What if he realized what an ass he’d been and wanted her back? How could I compete with him when I was in Denver and he was here?
    “Maybe you should just talk to him and see what he wants,” I said, trying to sound casual. I didn’t want her to talk to him ever again, but I didn’t want to seem like a crazy jealous boyfriend.
    She shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t really want to. If it’s urgent, he’ll leave a message. Until then, I don’t have time for his bullshit,” she said and I felt instantly better. She didn’t want to talk to him anymore than I wanted her to talk to him.
    She wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her head on my chest. “I don’t want to talk about him right now,” she said softly.
    “Me either,” I said as I tightened my arms around her. I closed my eyes and lowered my head, breathing in her scent, committing it to memory.
    I didn’t want to let her go, but it was time. “Baby,” I whispered. “I have to go.”
    “I know,” she said, her words muffled by my t-shirt.
    I pulled back slightly, cupping her face in her hands. “We’ll talk all the time and there’s video chat. I’ll be back in just a few weeks, ok?” I said, my eyes looking into hers.
    She bit her lip. “I know, I know,” she said with a laugh. “I’m being silly.” She swiped a tear from her eye quickly with a nervous laugh.
    I shook my head and wiped a tear from her cheek with my thumb. “No, you aren’t. I don’t want to go either,” I said, and then I kissed her slowly, reminding her of all of the passion we shared over the past few days.
    I broke free with a grin. “Good lord, woman, what you do to me,” I groaned and laughed as I walked over to get my suitcase.
    She grinned at me. “Likewise,” she said as she walked me to the door.
    I bent down to kiss her softly again. “Goodbye, Lauren. Thanks for an amazing few days,” I said as she opened the door.
    “No, thank you,” she said, leaning on the door.
    “I’ll call you later,” I said. We’d decided it didn’t pay for her to battle traffic to come with me to the airport. She couldn’t really wait with me anyway and I’d rather remember here at her home.
    “Travel safe,” she said, closing the door as I started walking down the hall.
    I was full of so many emotions right now I was having trouble sorting them out. I was happy that Lauren and I had made such a great connection and that we were going to see what was in store for us in the future. I was sad to be leaving her. And I was a little worried and jealous that Kyle was trying to