Page 6 of The Biggest Secret
“Adam.”
“I need to do something first. Before we leave this parking lot, I can’t wait any longer.” He leans in and brushes his lips with mine. The softest touch of his lips conflicts with the way his fingers tighten and dig into the skin on my hips. It’s like he has to be rough but he’s trying not to lose control.
I open my mouth slightly, letting our tongues dance. He pulls me in tighter, my legs spread around his hips now rocking into him, my hands in his hair. He pulls his hips back from me, laying his forehead against mine, breathing deep.
“Are you okay?”
“Better than okay. I’m just trying to keep my self-control in check.”
I lean back, raising his face to mine and give him a kiss on the leftcorner of his lips, then the right corner. Then I lick his top lip and when he sucks in a breath, I grab his bottom lip with my teeth.
Adley would be so proud.
“Fuck, Peaches. Keep doing that and we’re not going to make it to this party tonight.”
“I don’t think I feel like going to the party any longer.”
His eyes meet mine; his pupils are blown, and his breathing picks up again.
“Be sure of what you’re saying, CJ, because if you get out of this truck, we’re not leaving your room until daylight.”
A small grin tugs on my lips. “I’ve been wanting to watch the sunrise with you, Adam.”
Chapter Seven
CHELSEA
Senior year—Twelve years ago
My sweet baby sister has large round eyes and is twisting the side of her tee shirt as she looks up and asks, “Is Dad coming home tonight?”
“I don’t know, Ad. He hasn’t been here in a few weeks.”
“I know, that’s usually when he comes back, though, right? Christmas is in three days. I want him to see the tree we decorated. Do you think he’ll like my ornament I made in art?”
I brush the hair out of her face. “Who wouldn’t love that ornament?” I smile and try to calm my racing heart, hating the unknown expectancy of our dad.
I hear the back door slam, then a loud thud and we both run down the hallway to see what’s happening.
“Daddy!” Adley cries.
“Molly! Get out here right now! I told you not to put that tree up until I was here to do it with them!”
“How was I supposed to know when you were goingto show up? You haven’t been here in weeks. They’re children, we have to prepare for Christmas, Ed!” my mom yells back as she appears from the kitchen.
“And. I. Told. You. To. Wait.” His tone is sinister, and I don’t like the way he’s looking at my mom, then the way he stalks to the tree.
“Dad, no!” I yell out realizing what he’s about to do.
He grabs the tree in the middle of the trunk and yanks. The light cord snaps from the outlet in the wall and some of the balls hanging on the tree break as they hit the wood floor with a tinkling sound, leaving glass shards everywhere.
Adley is in hysterics, begging dad not to throw away the ornament she made. Mom runs after him, trying to grab hold of the tree. He pushes her away from him easily and I begin to cry at the sight of him putting his hands on her. He continues through the front door, dragging our once beautiful tree down to the sidewalk and throws it next to the garbage cans.
“When I tell you to wait for me, you do it. Nothing is done until I say so, do you understand me?”
I awake from the nightmare covered in sweat. They’ve been happening more frequently, and I feel it’s because my time here at college is getting shorter. I’m going to have to go home after graduation unless I get a job placement that will pay my rent and food.
I feel like I’ve been becoming the woman I’m supposed to be, these last few years. I’m getting stronger in knowing what I want out of life and what I won’t accept. I spent too many years watching Dad come and go as he pleases, I don’t want that type of drama in my life.
