Page 88 of After You

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Kyle cuppedthe back of her neck with both hands and looked into her eyes. “Youokay?”

God, the way he touched her, the way he cradled her neck and head, got to her. She didn’t need that careful of a touch. She was feeling great. Endorphins for the win. And some of it was relief as well. Relief that she could have hot sex and her neck wouldn’t seize up. And just pure happiness over being with Kyle again.

But Kyle’s hands on her like that felt incredible. Just his hands on her neck. It wasn’t sexual, but it was as intimate a touch as any other. And it hit her that they hadn’t really taken care of one another before. They’d been partners in taking care of everyoneelse.

He’d helped her with chemistry and she’d helped him with geometry. He’d called her every night when she’d been sick with mono, but their conversations were mostly about the things he needed to do to take over the plans for the student council dinner she’d been putting together. She’d held his hand during his grandfather’s funeral, but he’d been more worried about his grandma and mom than himself. Hannah had ended up helping to clean the kitchen at Ruby’s house after the visitors all left while Kyle went through the sympathy cards with his family. And that’s how they’d both liked things. They liked being the caretakers and having the other to help themout.

But it had been rare that they’d focused their energy just on each other.

And now, in these few minutes, she already knew that if Kyle would make her one of the people he took care of, she’d never want to leave.

That wasn’t fair, of course. He’d fallen in love with her because she was a partner, someone who would be beside him, not because he needed anyone else to take care of. In fact, that was the last thing he needed.

She did wonder, though, who was taking care of him. He had lots of people who loved him and who would do anything for him. But she knew he didn’t ask them. Or let them. He was thedoer.

So, it couldn’t last; it could only be a brief, stolen period of time where they both let go of their previous roles and ideas. But she was selfish enough to steal that period oftime.

“Play hooky with me,” she said, grasping his wrists where he held on toher.

“What?”

“Play hooky with me,” she repeated. “Blow off the things you think you need to do today and just stay naked with me the rest of the day and night.”

His pupils dilated, but he said, “Your mom will be home at seven.”

“How do you know that?” Hannah asked. He was right, but she was surprised heknew.

“It’s the third week of the month,” he said with a shrug. “So she works seven to seven thisweek.”

Well, of course he would know that. She shook her head. “So we won’t stay here. Let’s go…to Omaha. We’ll get a fancy hotel room and room service.”

“I can’t go to Omaha,” he said. “I need to stay close.”

Damn. She should have expected that. She’d seriously consider kidnapping him to Hawaii or something, but she knew that would be a little too spontaneous. “Then let’s go camp out at the river,” she said. “We’ll have sex under the stars.”

He swallowed. “The windows.”

“They’ll still be dirty in a couple of days, we can do themthen.”

She wasn’t sure why she felt so desperate that this had to happen now, but there was something here she wanted to grab on to. She wanted his full focus, his full attention. In the past, she’d been as guilty as he was of multitasking no matter what they were doing. Making to-do lists while watching a movie. Planning some big family barbecue while they were sitting on that swing in her grandmother’s backyard. They’d always been on thego.

Now she wanted…just him. She was jealous of all the things and people that got his attention and time and energy. She’d never felt that way before. She’d been giving all of hers away too. But now she needed him, with just her, for as long as she could have him. Which wouldn’t be long, she knew. It wouldn’t last. Couldn’t. That was who Kyle was, and as much as she wanted him to relax and have fun too, she knew he would never be able to fully let go of all of his responsibilities and schedules.

But maybe for one night. Tonight. Maybe she could have him all to herself.

“Please,” she said, moving in closer and contemplating for about one second if she was actually willing to use his concern for her to get her way. Then his gaze dropped to her mouth, and a ribbon of heat curled through her and she decided that yes, she was willing to do that. She could feel bad about it tomorrow while she was washing windows.

“I’m so relieved, so happy, that the sex worked,” she told him. “And now, I just want more. More of you. Everything you can give me.” Okay, there, she was giving him something to take care of. That would surely work. “We could just go back to your room at Ty’s, turn off our phones, and hide out together.”

He pulled in a deep breath and moved a hand to cup her cheek. “No.”

Her heart plummeted.

“Not Ty’s,” he said. “But I know the perfect place.”

For a millisecond, she thought her heart had stopped, but then it kicked against her chest, and she took a huge breath. Oh my God, he’d said yes. He was going to escape the world with her for one night.

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