Page 120 of Freshmeet
“Yes.” She lifted her face to mine, gave me a quick peck, then rolled over on her side.
Confused, I spooned her, pulling her back into my body. Kissing her bare shoulder, I asked, “Is something wrong?”
She laughed and craned her neck to look me in the eye. “Nope, just getting comfortable.” She illustrated by flopping back down.
“Okay, good. I was worried I was failing at being a boyfriend minute one.”
“Nah, I’d say you’re crushing it. I only see one area that needs improvement,” she muttered into her pillow.
Frowning, I tried to figure out what more I could do.
“Lights. Turn off the lights.” She stuck her tongue out, then wrapped the blanket tight around her shoulders.
“Oh, right. Got it.”
I flipped the switch and, while I was up, used the bathroom. By the time I made it back to bed, Sarah was out cold, a soft snore whistling through her nose. I cuddled in behind her, and she wiggled back into me with a happy sigh.
I fell asleep with a huge smile on my face, but woke up to a blood-curdling scream.
TWENTY-SIX
DON’T CLIMB THE LADDER
LAURA
Connor and Sarah stumbled toward the loft an hour or so after he ripped my heart clean out. I’d done my best to drown out the rejection with apple pie shots, but no amount of liquor would help me get over my ex.
Downing the rest of my drink, I dropped my red solo cup on the ground, crunching it under my leather riding boot.
Let Tom and his merry band of assholes clean up the field tomorrow.
Stomping toward the dwindling crowd surrounding the bonfire, I asked Grant, “Have you seen Kimmy?”
He looked away from the pink-haired Ben Franklin he was sitting next to and shook his head. “Not for a while. She and Linc disappeared before the fireworks started.” Lifting his cup toward the trees, he added, “I’d check the tree house.”
That got Tom’s attention. “They better not be fucking in the tree house.” He smiled down at Sarah’s short, fat friend. “I wanted to take you there later.”
She shoved him away, flipping her wild red curls over her shoulder. “I told you, I kind of have a boyfriend.”
“Mm-hmm.” Tom pulled her back under his arm. “Kind of isn’t the same thing as having. I still have a shot.”
Rolling her eyes, she hid her smile behind the rim of her cup and let him pull her away from her friends.
Who the fuck are these girls?
“Anyone want to come with me?” I glanced around the fire, and only one of my friends made eye contact.
“I would, but I’m too drunk,” Maggie said, wobbling on the hay bale as if to prove she was wasted.
There was a chorus of “yeahs.” Not a single person even bothered to stand.
“Fine,” I huffed and stomped off down the hill toward the trees.
The night had cooled, chilling my sweat-covered skin the further I got from the blazing fire. I glanced over my shoulder at the tent the guys had set up for us and contemplated grabbing my jacket.
Not worth it.
All I wanted to do was get Kimmy and go home. It wasn’t like we hadn’t driven these back roads drunk before. Besides, her parents’ house was just down the road.
