Page 121 of Bad Crush
“Actually, I’ve been thinking I’d like to open a community theater. Something for kids.” She looks down. “A place they can come after school and learn acting, singing, dancing. A safe place to be creative and silly.”
“Yeah?” I ask. I hate that she needed a place and didn’t always have one as a kid, but I love her so much for wanting to make a difference for others like her.
She nods. “Does it sound crazy? I haven’t told anyone else yet, but since the house sold, I have enough to pay off my student loans and even a little extra.”
“Not crazy at all. You wouldn’t miss performing?”
“I’m not sure. I could always do local theater if I do. I don’t really care about the size of the audience.”
“You’re pretty amazing. You know that?”
Her grin hits me right in the chest. “I do.”
“Move in with me.”
“What?” Her face pales. “But we just signed a lease. Ginny and Dakota have been so looking forward to the three of us living together.”
“Not this year.” Although the idea of having her in my space all the time sounds pretty great. “After graduation. Stay in Valley and move in with me. We’ll figure out how to open your theater together.”
“I probably have to get some experience first. I don’t know anything about teaching kids.”
“Can you do that here?” I ask hopefully.
“You’re serious?”
“Completely.”
Her smile is slow, but soon she’s ear-to-ear grinning, dimples lighting up her face. “You want to live together?”
“Mhmm.”
“What if you change your mind? A year is a long way off.”
“I’m not going to change my mind, but if you want to think about it or decide later, that’s fine.”
“I don’t need to think about it. Yes!” She bounces. “Yes! Yes, to all of it.” She jumps into my arms, attacking my mouth. It’s a welcome invasion. I forget all about class. What can I say? I’ve got it bad.
Her fingers slide through my hair, holding my head in place, and I walk her backward to the wall so I can pin her against it. When her back hits the glass, I adjust my grip and slide my hands under her shirt. Then dive back in, kissing her, savoring every stroke of her tongue, living for the way she nips and tugs at my lower lip.
She goes for the button of my jeans, and we maneuver around, mouths still joined, trying to get our clothes off. Not an easy feat. We slide along the door, fumbling and grinding into one another. Lifting her, I switch us so that I can lean against the door long enough to get her naked, but I take one step too many and free-fall backward.
“Oh shit,” I yelp, knowing I’m about to slam into the ground. I hold tight to Reagan so that I’ll take the brunt of it.
My tailbone hits first, then my shoulder and my head. The wood deck has no give, and I grunt as all the air’s knocked out of my lungs.
“Are you okay?” I ask. Pain shoots through my ass, and I think I took a knee to a vital organ.
Heath comes running outside at the commotion.
“What the hell?” He sounds concerned at first, but then he bursts into laughter at the sight of us sprawled out on the deck.
My pants are down to my ankles, and Reagan’s missing a shirt.
I don’t answer him because I still don’t know if Reagan’s alright. I lift my head. Yeah, definitely going to have a bump on the back of my noggin, but it’s the least of my worries. Reagan’s curled up on top of me, and her face is buried in my armpit. Her back shakes, and I freeze. Oh shit.
“Reagan, baby.” I lift her chin. Tears stream down her face, but her lips are curved up, and those shakes are from laughter.
“Oh my god, areyouokay?” That’s all she manages to get out before she starts laughing again.
