Page 26 of Uniquely in Love

I leaned forward, pressing our lips together, slowly at first. Just light presses. And then, I swept my tongue over her lips, and Ellie opened her lips for me, giving me entrance into her mouth. With fingers combing through the back of her hair, I got my first taste of her. Sweet, like the taste of the candy she’d been eating during the game.

It had never been like this before with us. We’d alwaysshared such innocent kisses, but tonight… something inside me needed more. Maybe it was the way she was positioned on my lap, maybe it was the way she kissed me back with as much enthusiasm, the fervor running through us demanding it.

I’d never kissed anyone like this. And maybe neither one of us knew what we were doing, but it felt right. I squeezed her hip, pressing her core against my front.

“Owen,” she murmured as I trailed my lips down her neck.

“I know, baby,” I groaned. The endearment just slipped out. I’d never called her it before—my nickname for her had always been Skater Girl or Daisy. Because she wasmyDaisy. “I know.”

I shifted her off of my lap and into the passenger seat so I could start the truck before either of us would do something we would regret.

But damn, I liked the way she looked, lips pink and a little swollen, cheeks flushed and eyes unfocused as she stared out the window. I turned my attention to the road behind us as I backed up, one arm reaching back to grip her headrest.

Ellie bit her lip, and if I flexed my arm muscles a little, well, who could blame me?

I chuckled, and she blinked, looking over at me. Once I’d straightened out the truck and gotten us onto the road, I rested one of my hands on Ellie’s thigh. She interlaced our fingers, letting our adjoined hands rest on her leg.

“I like this,” she murmured, her lips tugging up into a small smile.

And damn, she had no idea how much I’d liked it.

“Me too, Skater Girl.”

Damn, did I enjoy kissing her. Being with her. Holding her hand. Knowing she was my girl.

I couldn’t imagine a life without her. Not now… Not ever.

TEN

Ellie

NOW

My car was loaded, and I was overly aware of the fact that I’d packed my entire life into the back of my little SUV, getting ready to drive to a new city where I knew absolutely no one.

Well, except the one person who didn’t even know I was moving.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Abigail asked, wrapping her arms around me and hugging me tight.

I nodded into her hold. “I’ll be fine, Abs. I need to do this.”

In a turn of events that felt almost too good to be true, one of my mom’s dance friends had told her about an opening at an elementary school in Bellevue, and a month later, I was getting ready to move.

Turns out my mom was right. What I really needed, more than anything else, was a kick in the pants. Not to wallow in self pity on the couch. I’d done enough hiding over the last five years.

No more.

Seventeen-year-old me might have walked away fromwhat Owen and I had, but twenty-two-year-old me sure as hell wouldn’t.

Now, I had a job. I had an apartment. And, as a flutter in my abdomen reminded me, I had a reason to see him again. Even if he didn’t know it yet.

“Text me if you need anything,” she made me promise. “You know I’ll be on my way to you faster than you can blink.” That was my big sister for you—fiercely protective and one of the most loyal people I knew. Though I supposed that also came with the eldest sister territory,

“I love you,” I murmured, not wanting to let go of her yet.

“You better hurry before Mom comes out here and starts crying all over again,” Abigail said, squeezing me tight before pulling away. “You know how she gets.”

“Yeah.” I sniffled. I really did. Mom was a huge crier. She couldn’t help it, but if I went back inside, I’d probably end up staying for another hour. “I’ll see you soon,” I promised. I was already planning on coming back down for Christmas. It was only a three-hour drive without stopping, which wasn’t so bad.

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