Page 90 of Lines

I tug at her hair, careful not to hurt her. “We have to get out of here.” The words come out in a heavy pant.

Glassy eyes look at me. Her breathing is as hard as mine, and I can see desire burn in her eyes and heat radiating off of her body. She wants this. She wants me just as much as I want her.

“Let me explain.” With the back of my hand, I caress her flushed cheek. “Please.”

Amelia and I, we are locked in our own world. I know we are not alone, and I can feel people staring at us, but I couldn’t care less what they think or what they are saying. This moment belongs to us.

It’s real and it’s ours.

She knows I’m not the kind of guy to ask for anything. I take what I want or what is offered, so for me to ask her to listen, to give me a chance, means something.

She means something.

Taking one deep breath in, she nods her head slowly once. “Okay.”

Amelia

I’m not sure, but I think he took me back to the room where he kissed me for the first time. Only this time, the soft glow of the night lamp is casting light in the room.

With his back at me, I let my finger trace my swollen lips.

I can still feel his soft mouth pressed against mine. I can still feel his hands in my hair and strong body standing so close to mine, that for a minute, it seemed like we were one person and not two.

Why does it have to be like that?

Why do I have to feel so close, so perfect with the only person who doesn’t feel the same for me?

Every time he kisses me, it seems like we are born to be together.

Two parts that make a whole.

Then something would come up and remind me that perfection doesn’t exist. Nothing is perfect.Nobodyis perfect.

People just want to believe in perfection because it gives them a sense of security. Something they can strive and hope for.

Little do they know that perfection is just an illusion.

“That day …” Derek’s hand goes through his hair, restless, making it even messier than before. He’s standing close to the window, watching at the dark below. “If you only came five minutes later. Just five fucking minutes later, nothing like this would have happened.”

“You mean, I wouldn’t see you making out with another girl so you could keep on playing with me while you had her on the side?” My voice is hard and accusing. “If that’s what you wanted to tell me, then you are wasting your time.”

“No, god damn it.” Derek turns around and looks at me. My back is pressed against the wall closest to the door. My escape.

Lowering his voice, he continues more calmly. “What I want to say is, I didn’t call her. She showed up at my door, uninvited. I just got home, and I wanted to take a shower before you showed up. I knew I didn’t have a lot of time so when I got out of the shower and heard the bell ring, I didn’t think twice.

“Imagine my surprise when I opened the door, only in the towel because I knew how flustered you’d be if you saw me like that, and I like to tease you, make you feel uncomfortable. Your cheeks become this cute shade of pink, your lips part, and your eyes grow wide in surprise. So damn cute.”

He shakes his head like he’s trying to get out of his mind the picture that he painted of me and get back to what we were talking about.

“Anyway, I open the door and there she is, jumping in my arms. I was so shocked I almost dropped her. Maybe I should have done it, and then I wouldn’t be in this mess. My brain soon caught up to what was happening, and I pulled her hands from my body as fast as I could, pushing her toward the open door.

“You have to believe when I tell you, I never, ever, brought a girl home.” Derek moves from the window and takes those few, short steps that are separating us until he stands in front of me.

“I didn’t want to bring some random girl to my house to meet my parents. And if you tell this to anybody, I’ll deny it, but I wanted it to be special. You were supposed to be first, Amelia. You were supposed to be first because you are special.”

I swallow the lump that formed in my throat. “Then why did you kiss her?” My voice cracks and I sound so broken. The image of that day is burned in my brain, and I can’t stop playing it over and over again.

“I didn’t.” Derek shakes his head. His hand lifts to caress my cheek. Only then do I notice one shiny tear on his finger. “Once I got her outside, I explained that there was a misunderstanding and that I didn’t text her to come over. I said I wasn’t interested and that she should go, but Sophie thought I was messing around, like before and that I would change my mind.

---