Page 35 of Perfectly Us
“Did you…” I pause and glance at the lake. “When you did it, did you want to die?”
“No. I wanted to feel something, Alex. I was tired of being numb. I wasn’t really thinking when I did it.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” I say and gently bump his arm with mine. “Because you’re kind of awesome, and I’d be sad if you weren’t my friend.”
“I’d be sad too.” He places his hand on the grass between us, and his fingertips softly brush against mine.
I expect him to pull away like the other times we accidentally touched. But he doesn’t. He keeps his gaze forward, facing the lake, and his brows furrowed. My heart flutters, and heat spreads through my chest, like a space heater’s inside my rib cage, creating a tingling warmth at first that burns hotter as the seconds tick by.
I move my hand closer and rest my fingers on top of his. Still, he doesn’t pull away. I’m shaking a little. Which confuses me. I’m used to making out with hot guys and fucking them in all sorts of ways. How can a simple touch affect me like this?
We don’t speak as we sit like that, my hand on his and his pinky gently curled around mine. He’s breathing heavier. So am I.
A flashlight cuts through the dark and shines right on us, startling us both.
“What are you kids doing?” the officer asks.
I jump to my feet, and Shiloh does the same.
“We were just sitting,” I respond. “Didn’t know that was against the law.”
“Listen here, smartass.” He steps closer, then freezes when he gets a better look at me. “You’re the lieutenant’s son.”
“Guilty as charged.”
“You know you can’t be here after dark,” the officer says. He’s familiar, but I can’t remember his name. I met him, briefly, when I went in to the police station not too long ago to talk to my dad about financial aid stuff for college. He’s young and has a stocky build. “Lowlifes come out here to shoot up and deal drugs. Come with me. I’ll walk you to your car.”
We take the path back to the parking lot, nothing but our steps to fill the silence. A police cruiser is beside Shiloh’s Mustang, parked sideways. He must’ve received a call about our vehicles in the lot and came to investigate.
“We can handle it from here, Officer,” I say once we’re at our cars. I want to say goodbye to Shiloh without him around. I also, maybe, want to ask what happened between us, if it meant something. Anything.
Shiloh gets into his car and closes the door, starting the engine seconds later.
Sighing, I hop into my car and drive behind Shiloh as we leave the parking lot. Officer Buzzkill follows me, then turns right at the first stop sign. As much as I don’t want to be at home right now, I drive that way anyway.
Dad’s waiting for me right when I walk through the door.
“Why were you at the lake this late?” he asks.
I sharply breathe out, irritated.Of coursethe officer called my dad. Anything to kiss the lieutenant’s ass.
“I was with a friend. We weren’t doing anything wrong. Just talking.”
“That Shiloh kid you told me about?”
I nod.
“Don’t go sneaking around places you’re not supposed to be,” Dad says. “You might be eighteen now, but you still live in my house. Until you go off to college, you follow my rules.”
“Yes, sir.”
He turns and goes up the stairs without another word to me. Mom is sitting on the couch, watching that show where girls find their designer wedding dresses in overpriced stores. I go up to my room and shut the door before falling backward on my bed.
I lift my hand and look at my fingers. The memory of Shiloh’s pinky linked with mine gives me butterflies. I pull my phone from my pocket and roll over to my stomach, legs propped up behind me.
I’m shocked to find a text from him. He hardly ever texts me first.
Shiloh:I’m sorry for saying all that tonight. I hope we can still hang out.
