Page 72 of The Rebound
“I did. A little black diary.”
“I would pay good money to read that.”
“Then I’m glad you don’t have any. I think I burned it anyway. Or threw it into the ocean in some dramatic gesture.” He glances at me, some of the humor fading from his face. “We were just different people.”
“Well, I’m glad we’re friends now.”
“Me too.”
We watch each other as the rain falls heavier around us. You’d think it would set a mood, but no, it’s just loud, almost violent as it hits the metal of the car. It’s so loud I can’t hear my own thoughts. Which is fortunate seeing as I don’t have any. Just Luke. Just now. He has a way of doing that. Of making me forget about everything else.
“There are different types of friends,” he says finally.
I don’t even dare to breathe.
“I know you just got out of a relationship,” he continues. “And I know you’re probably not looking for anything right now, but if you want to…”
“I mean ifyouwant to,” I say.
The corner of his mouth twitches into an almost smile. “I want to.”
I don’t move, uncharacteristically nervous. But Luke doesn’t look nervous at all. He looks very sure of himself sitting there, as if he knows exactly how I feel, exactly the effect he has on me. And for some reason, that makes it so much easier. Knowing I have nothing to hide.
When I don’t respond he starts to lean toward me, but I sit back, undoing my seat belt, and before he can stop me, I climb over the gear shift, straddling him.
If he’s surprised by my boldness, he doesn’t show it, only pushes the seat back to make room for me. It isn’t exactly the most comfortable of positions but it does bring me closer to him, which is all I want really.
“I feel like you’re going to set the horn off,” he says.
“Is that a euphemism?”
He laughs and I like the sound of it so much that I almost feel bad when I stop it by kissing him.
It’s innocent at first, gentle and slow. He tastes like marshmallows and he smells like the bonfire and his body is so warm, I melt into him. Our mouths move together, uncertain at first and then surer as we learn the other, both of us growing in confidence until my heart starts to pound.
It occurs to me only then how I must look, dressed in my sister’s ill-fitting clothing, probably stinking of sweat and seawater. With Tyler I always made an effort with my appearance, but now I don’t care. And Luke doesn’t seem to either, matching my enthusiasm as he pulls me closer.
And I try to keep my cool, I swear I do, but the way his fingers trail up and down my arms is very disconcerting and when his tongue runs along my lips, coaxing them open, it’s like sparks are shooting through my veins. My thighs tighten instinctively around him as a heavy, heady want pools low in my stomach. I start to move, Ineedto move, but his hands squeeze my hips, keeping me in place, even as he presses more firmly against me.
As he does, a needy desperation rises inside and I rock harder against him, hard enough that he groans and when he does, I do it again, showing him what I want.
He takes the hint.
I hum approvingly as he deepens the kiss, and slip my hands under his sweatshirt only for him to jolt at my touch. Cold hands. I start to withdraw, but he moves quickly, holding my palm to his chest as though to keep me there, and I wonder if maybe it’s not the cold that made him react. If maybe he’s just as affected by my touch as I am by his.
My thoughts scramble and I barely register his fingers traveling upward, not until he cups my breasts, brushing my nipples through my bra. He does it again, massaging me before a gentle pinch makes me gasp so loud that I have no choice but to break away, dropping my forehead to his shoulder. His lips move to my jaw and down my neck as I peer into the back seat for a more comfortable space before I actually do set off the horn. And that’s when I see it.
Beth’s picnic basket placed neatly on top of her towel.
Beth.
Her face flashes through my mind. Her kind words. Her earnest smile.
And I suddenly realize what I’m doing.
What I’m doing tohereven if she denies it. Even if I...
“Luke.”
