PART 4-CHAPTER 165 JESS

The water pounded against my skin, the hot spray turning my thoughts into steam that swirled in the humid air around me. I let out a long breath, closing my eyes and resting my forehead against the cool tile wall. My muscles ached from the run, the exertion doing little to c I had hoped the long miles would wear me out, would drain the tension out of my body, but here was-tense as ever, my mind racing with thoughts of him.

Luke.

Again.

I shut off the water and stepped out of the shower, grabbing the towel and wrapping it tightly around myself. The cool air hit my damp skin, and I shivered, but the temperature didn't send a chill down my spine. It was the dreams. Unwelcome, unrelenting dreams of Luke. It's been so long since-

since everything fell apart. And yet, here I was, still thinking about him. About the way his lips felt on mine, about the heat that had rushed between us, igniting something primal and raw inside of me. Something I hadn't been able to shake, no matter how many runs I took o I toweled off my hair, staring blankly into the mirror. My

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reflection looked tired, but I wasn't just tired. I was frustrated- emotionally and... physically. I sighed, wrapping the towel

room, feeling the ache in my

do the

different kind of distraction. Something to take the edge off.

matter who I tried, my mind kept circling back to him.

the space around until I felt like I couldn't breathe. The way his hand would linger on my back, just a little too long, sending

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floor. Luke had moved on. I'd seen the headlines. The pictures. He had his perfect life now-football, fame, some gorgeous model on his

bedroom, still thinking about something that never even stood a chance. He deserved someone who was... whole anyway. Not a fractured little girl who's running away from a past she

I threw myself onto

waist, pulling me close, the rough scrape of his stubble against

stupid. It had been years. I

on. But every time I thought I had, something would happen-like seeing his face on TV or hearing his name in

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