Page 17 of Don't Take the Girl
"It is," I state without waver.
His eyes search my face as he battles with what he wants for his dad and what he wants for himself. "You win." My mind barely has time to process the words before his perfect mouth collides with mine. Strong arms envelop me, and my body hums as the hard lines of his body meld against mine, and he holds me the way I've always dreamed he would. His hands ball in my shirt as his tongue seeks entrance that I eagerly grant, desperate to get closer. "You'll always win, heartbreaker."
Seconds dissolve into minutes as we kiss deeply on the cool grass behind the shed for hours. When our lips part for air, our bodies stay tangled, neither wanting to let go of what we've found. We fit together perfectly, heartbeats synchronized as my fingertips trace the outline of his jaw while his arms keep me tightly pressed against his front. It's the best night of my life—then he is gone.
Chapter 5
Junior Year
LANEY
AGE SEVENTEEN
"Thanks for letting me stay for dinner," Noah says as my mother serves him a bowl of white chicken chili. It's August. Most would consider chili a fall dish, but Mother insists it's a year-round dish when you live in Texas.
"Noah, do you mind passing the cornbread?" Mr. Hale asks from his seat across the table.
"Yes, sir," Noah replies, passing him the bowl as I take a big bite of my muffin so I don't smile. I can't help it. This dinner is awkward, and I tend to laugh at the most inappropriate times.
"So, Laney, your mother tells me you plan on attending the University of Oklahoma after graduation," Mr. Hale starts up the small talk.
"I haven't made any official plans yet, but it's fairly close and has the top psychology program in the state."
"Have you considered Penn? The University of Oklahoma might have the best program in Oklahoma, but it's Oklahoma," Noah chimes in.
"Penn, as in the University of Pennsylvania? Uh, that wouldbe a no. I don't need to study psychology at an Ivy League school."
"Why not? Never sell yourself short, Laney. You have the grades, and I could help you find scholarships," Noah offers.
It's kind, but... "Are you sure you're not just saying that because it's where you plan on going?" I shoot him a knowing side-eye.
"I mean, I might have ulterior motives, but posturing aside, it is a better school."
"It's also halfway across the country," I point out. It's not that I'm against going away for school, but I also don't want to leave my mom.
"Are you saying if you go to the University of Oklahoma, you plan on making the two-hour commute home twice daily?" Mr. Hale asks before taking a swig of his beer.
Now I regret asking Noah to help me with my school project. At the time, his coming here sounded better than me going to his place. Don't get me wrong, his house is great, but every time I've been there, I feel like his parents are interviewing me, and when they're not quizzing me, being alone with Noah isn't any better. I don't want to lead him on. I like Noah but not the way he likes me. Being at my house, I set the tone. However, right now, I'd take the minor discomforts of his house over being put on the spot in front of my mom about leaving.
"I wouldn't make Laney drive to me. That doesn't make any sense. If she wants to go away for school, I'll go with her."
My eyebrows raise, and I nearly choke on a piece of chicken, but before anything else is said, the kitchen's back door opens, and in strolls London. His eyes dart around the table, taking account of who's all here before lingering on me as he walks to the table and pulls out an empty chair like this is a typical Friday night, and he hasn't been gone all summer.
"Thanks for inviting me, Ms. Hart," London says as my mother gets another place setting.
My eyes may as well pop out of my head. I'm sure they'reabout the size of saucers. Once again, London disappeared all summer without so much as a goodbye. We spent one afternoon that turned into night, inseparable, lying behind the shed in his backyard, getting to know each other on a deeper level. I'd never felt more connected to someone in those few hours than I had him. We laughed, he held me in his arms, we talked about anything and everything, and I thought we were something, and then he was gone.
"You invited him?" I question my mom when she sets a bowl in front of him.
London's dark gaze locks with mine, and the usual butterflies I get every time his eyes land on mine are mere flutters because right now, I'm pissed. He left without a word, no contact all summer, and apparently, my mother knew he was coming home today but not me.
"Is that a problem?" London raises a brow, his eyes floating to Noah at my left before returning to me.
My eyes narrow on his. He thinks I'm with Noah. Good. If he's even the least bit jealous, then he deserves it. He can sulk in that feeling for a while, and it still wouldn't equate to how I felt being ghosted all summer.
"Not at all," I reply, tacking on a smile for added indifference.
He's taller, tanned from a summer I know nothing about, and apparently perfectly content with acting like he didn't put a crack in my heart. He smiles at my mother as she passes him a bowl of shredded cheese, charming her with dimpled cheeks and manners. Mr. Hale starts carrying on about football without missing a beat, as if London's three-month disappearance was nothing more than a weekend trip. I watch him doctor his chili as he nods along to his father's season predictions. A ringing fills my ears, and the room blurs.
