Page 82 of All I Have Left

When we arrive at the lake house, the driveway is filled with cars so we end up parking on the road in a ditch.

With my bag in hand, Grayson helps me out of the truck only to glance down at my bare legs as I purposely slide down the front of his body.

He stops me, his hands on my hips, holding me between the doorframe and his body. I wrap my legs around his waist, my arms around his neck. “Why, Grayson Wyatt Gomez… are you pushing your own boundaries you made?”

He bends down to my ear, light laughter rolling through his chest. He breathes in and then out. “I can’t help myself around you.” And then his mouth connects with mine. His tongue slides against my lips and I sigh into him. As he cups my cheeks, he tilts his head and deepens the kiss, his tongue exploring my mouth with fevered pace. I love it and want so much more thanthis. Running my hands down his sides, I fist his T-shirt in my hands at his chest, clinging to him in every way I can.

Our kiss doesn’t last long before he draws back, his quick breaths crashing against my face. Stepping back, he sets me on my feet, and shakes his head. He looks over his shoulder at the driveway and then sticks his hand right down the front of his shorts to adjust himself.

I burst out laughing. “Problems?”

Glaring, his eyes find mine. “You’re torturing me.”

“Youkissed me,” I point out, reaching for my bag.

He takes the bag from me. “Becauseyouslid downmybody.”

I slap my hands against his chest. “Keep this no-sex shit up and I’m going to keep teasing you.” I’m joking and he knows it. It’s nice to finally have someone looking out for me when it comes to a sexual relationship.

He takes my hand and draws me closer so that my body is flat against his chest. Tilting his head, he stares down at me. “I love you. You know that’s why, right?”

“I do.” I place my fingertips to his lips. “And I love you even more for it. Now, let’s go get something to drink.”

He releases a very slow, deliberate breath. “I need a drink for sure.”

Red clay dirt beneath our feet, cicadas singing and the humidity reminds me of our summers here. We’d soak up every last sliver of light and then play in the shadows of the darkness. So much of my childhood was created on this very lake and to have Grayson here with me again, relief floods through me.

I remember the first time Frankie and I came here after Grayson left, I hated it. Everything was dull and it wasn’t the same. Now, it’s like coming home. Anticipation swims through me, my hand in his, watching the way he walks a step ahead, keeping me close to him, his hair sticking out under the baseball cap he’s wearing. I want to knock it off his head and run my fingers through his hair. And then make him kiss me again.

A warm breeze shakes through the cotton trees lining theroad. It’s hot as hell out even for nearly seven at night. My boobs are sweating like crazy. I bet it’s probably a hundred percent humidity as well. Alabama is always so hot and humid, almost unbearable by the time summer rolls around. If it wasn’t so beautiful, I’m sure most people would stay away.

“You ready for this?” I ask, keeping step with him down the long gravel driveway.

“Sure.” Grayson shrugs, kissing my neck. “As ready as I can be for social events.”

I wonder what he means by that. I can’t make out his words or the tone to pick it apart.

Frankie notices us walking down the driveway and the way Grayson’s arm is firmly around my shoulders the closer we get to the house. Removing it, he reaches for my hand as we step up on the wraparound porch.

Frankie grins, knowing what this means, a drink already in her hand. “It’s about freaking time,” she gushes. “You kids finally came out of the closet!”

Grayson smirks, shaking his head as we ignore her and continue walking, getting many smiles and nods from our friends and family as we entered the house. I think everyone knew at some point, Grayson and I would end up together. Honestly, I did too, I just didn’t think it would happen so quickly.

I hadn’t realized this would be a party, but I guess with it being the Fourth of July next week, I suppose it is a party. There are so many people here that I haven’t seen since high school, and unfortunately, Courtney is here too. And a good part of me isn’t pleased about her being here. She’s Josh’s cousin though so I can seewhybut it doesn’t make me any less thrilled.

What really pisses me off is when I return from the bathroom, she’s fucking flirting with Grayson. Apparently, Shane hadn’t been enough, she wants Grayson too.

As I expect him to, Grayson politely excuses himself when he notices me. Good boy.

Sometimes I want him to be rude and yell in her face, “Getthe fuck off me, bitch,” but that isn’t Grayson’s style. He was raised a Southern gentleman, whether I like it or not. Clearly, he won’t even have sex with me, for Christ’s sake. I respect that about him. And there’s no mistaking that Grayson Gomez is from the south. He has that down-home feel to him, from his accent, to the slow walk and polite manner.

When he approaches me, he hands me one of two beers in his hand. “Thirsty?”

“More than you know.” I drag my eyes down his body, smiling and make what I think looks like a cute pawing motion at him as I take the beer. By the way, it’s not a cute pawing motion. I damn near knock his beer out of his hand in the process.

A smirk ghosts his lips as he rolls his eyes. “You’re worse than me.”

I watch his face as he cracks open the beer, careful of the fizzing. “What did Courtney want?”

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