Page 11 of An Uphill Battle

It’s not long before I catch sight of his trademark royal-blue shirt with his family’s farm logo splayed across the back. “See y’all later,” I call out to my friends, not waiting for theirreply.

I follow behind Drake, all the way to a spare bedroom. Convenient. Very convenient. He pulls the door to behind him, and I take a few seconds to steel my nerves. “You can do this. You can dothis!”

I push the door open and find him seated on the bed, propped up against the headboard, one booted foot on the bed and the other planted firmly on theground.

“Hey, ba—Azalea...?”

“H–hey, Drake. Can wetalk?”

“Sure, Bit, come on in,” he says, patting the spot next to him. I crawl up the bed, trying my hardest to look sexy, and nestle into his side. He wraps me in a tight hug, and I breathe him in. Irish Spring, grass, and sunshine. It’s a heady combination, especially to my teenagebrain.

“I’m glad you’re here tonight,” I tell him, trailing my index finger up his tanned arm. “I have something to tellyou.”

“Do you, now?” he asks, looking down at me through hooded eyes. Nodding my head, I bite my bottom lip, hoping like hell I’m coming across as seductive and notpsychotic.

“Mmmhmm. Wanted to tell you that I’d miss you thisfall.”

His eyes drop to my mouth. He licks his lips. “Oh, yeah?” His voice is rough, like sandpaper. “I’ll miss you too.” He reaches out and pulls me closer, so close our bodies are almosttouching.

“Wanted to give you something to remember me by,” I tell him, eliminating the distance between us by sealing my lips tohis.

He’s unmoving at first, and I’m terrified I’ve misread him. I flick my tongue against his lower lip, begging for entry, and he groans, giving me my way. Our tongues meet, and I can’t help the moan that slips from my mouth tohis.

“Goddamn, Little Bit,” he pants into my mouth, rolling us so that I’m pinned under him, with his glorious arms caging me in. “You feel what you do to me?” He grinds himself into me. “What you’ve always done tome?”

“Oh, God, Drake—” The sound of the bedroom door opening causes us both tofreeze.

“Occupied!” Drake growlsout.

“D–Drake?” a feminine voice callsout.

“Oh, shit. FUCK!” Drake jumps back from me so fast that I barely have time to process what’s happening. “Babe, I... FUCK!” he shoutsagain.

“Babe?” I ask, hating how small my voice sounds. “What’s going on,Drake?”

He drags his left hand down his face before clearing his throat. “Bit, this is Kelly,my—”

“His girlfriend,” Kellysupplies.

“YOUR WHAT?” I shriek, horrified by the turn of events. “You kissed me when you had agirlfriend?”

“No! We’re not... she’s not... not officially...” Drake stammers, tripping over his words, searching desperately for a way to make this right, but there’s no fixing this. Drake Collins isn’t the man for me, after all. Turns out he’s a no-good, cheating, lyingdog.

“Oh, I’m not?” Kelly yells. “Because you sure seemed to be singing a different tune the last couple ofweekends.”

“Goddamn it, Kelly!” Drake makes like he’s going to reach for me, and I scramble out of his reach. “Little Bit, listen to me,please.”

“There’s not a thing you can say that’ll change what just happened here.” With big, fat, angry tears rolling down my cheeks, I march past Drake, past Kelly, and straight out the door. I hear him shout my name, followed by the sound of Kelly reaming him out before the noise of the party drowns themout.

* * *

Sometime later,I wake to the sound of my own pathetic whimpering mingled with Brody’s cries coming through the monitor. Shaking off the dream—or should I say nightmare—I wiggle out of Drake’s hold and head to the kitchen to make a bottle before grabbing Brody and settling us into the rocking chair in the corner of hisroom.

As he sucks his bottle down like it’s his last meal, I allow myself to fall back into memories from that night. I can recall it so vividly, like it happened only yesterday and not almost six yearsago.

Weaving my way through the partygoers, I search for Myla Rose’s fiery mane of hair. I ignore the stares people are shooting my way, finally finding her in the kitchen with TaylorMills.

He’s got her and two other girls all hanging on his every word, paying them each just enough attention to keep their interest. “Myles,” I croak out, causing her to jump up and rush over tome.

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