Page 24 of Swept Away
6
GEMMA
By the timeI head back to my place carrying two bags of groceries, the evening sneaks in, dragging behind the mesmerizing colors of a late summer sunset.
The noise in the neighborhood settles down, punctuated only by the occasional break created by passing cars, loud conversations, and music drifting from inside.
Looking into the distance, I notice the vehicles parked on the street and the old trees with their thick trunks and layered leaves.
The streetlights weave into the twilight, painting the evening in warm colors, and a gust of wind sweeps my face as I near my place.
I’ll miss this place.
The randomness of this thought gives me pause.
Although it’s true.
I won’t live here forever.
Once the school is over, I’ll most likely move, if not to another town, then into a place of my own.
I’m still pondering the prospects of my not-so-distant future when voices ring in front of me.
I move my eyes to the side, where a black sports car with the windows rolled down is parked in front of my building.
Two men occupy the front while a woman sits in the back seat.
Platinum blonde hair frames her face. She is noisy and apparently funny, as one of the men in the front teases her.
The headlights and the interior lights are turned off, and the man behind the steering wheel has his back turned to me as he shifts in his seat to talk to the woman.
His back blocks my view of the other man.
A jolt of awareness sweeps through me, and my heart races a little, but I think nothing of it.
Paying those three no mind, I veer to the left and head to the entrance when a voice shouts behind me.
“Hey.”
I stop at the top of my stairs, my hand on the doorknob, when I look over my shoulder.
A muscular man I instantly recognize exits the car and rushes to me.
This time, he wears a black shirt, generously open across his broad chest, dark jeans, and matching shoes.
He smells divine–a hint of smoky, spicy cologne–and his eyes flicker with a naughty smile.
In two steps, he’s next to me and grabs one of my bags.
“Hey…” he says again and stalls, charming me with his smile.
“Gemma,” I say, convinced he doesn’t remember my name.
“Gemma,” he says, giving me a sultry laugh.
He fleetingly looks down taking in my shorts and T-shirt.
“Do you have any plans for tonight?” he asks directly when he brings his eyes to mine and brushes a strand of hair away from my face.
