Page 105 of Stealing for Keeps
Her words cut through me. By not everyone, I thinkshe means her. Guilt slowly seeps in. Here I am complaining, and she has had it far worse. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I know it’s dumb.”
“No, don’t be sorry. It sucks that your dad won’t be here and that he’s missed all your games. But it’s not because he doesn’t want to be.”
I wrap my arms around her middle and rest my head on her shoulder. “Thank you.”
“For what? I’m just stating all the obvious things.”
My phone buzzes in the front pocket of my hoodie. I pull it out and read the text from Rowan. “I see the news has somehow already gotten out.”
She laughs. “I put Lacey in charge.”
“Dear god, help us.” Or my mom anyway. Did I tell her thirty people? Not with Lacey planning it. I chuckle as I put my phone away and then keep on hugging Claire.
Somehow, she’s become my lifeline. I don’t know what I’d do without her anymore. And that is a terrifying and exhilarating thought.
Chapter Thirty
Claire
Austin’s hands slide down the front of my shorts. His fingertips graze along the lace of my panties. I hold my breath as the ache between my legs intensifies. He removes his hand before going any farther and then rolls on top of me. His weight blankets my body, and the pressure makes every part of me vibrate.
We haven’t had sex again since the cabin, but I want to. And I can feel that he wants to too.
The electric hum of the garage door, followed by the sound of a door slamming shut makes us both freeze. My heart jumps in my throat.
“My mom’s home.” I disentangle myself from Austin, adjusting my bra and finding my T-shirt on the floor.
He sits up on my bed, looking frustrated, rumpled, and so sexy. I toss him his shirt with a smile.
“Sorry, birthday boy. I planned on letting you get to at least third base.”
“Kissing you is all the birthday present I need.” He hooks his shirt on over his head and then grabs me aroundthe waist, kissing me and pulling me back onto the bed. I wish we could keep going, keep kissing and touching all night.
“If my mom finds you in here again, she might lock me in the house forever.”
With a groan, he frees me. He looks so disappointed it makes me steal one more kiss.
“I’ll be by at eight with Lacey,” I tell him as I run my fingers through my tangled hair. Austin likes to run his fingers through it while we’re kissing.
“If you want to come early, I wouldn’t hate it. We could sneak up to my room and…” His mouth captures mine again, and one of his hands cups the back of my head, then fingers slide through the strands, making me laugh and sigh all at once.
“You have to go.” I step back and push at him playfully. “If you don’t go now, she’ll see you.”
I open my bedroom door and peer out, then we hurry down the stairs.
I pull him back to kiss him again. He laughs, then groans, lingering a second longer. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
I just get him out the front door and close it behind me when Mom appears in the kitchen. Ruby is behind her. Her cheeks are red from exertion. She was sick earlier this week and still looks like she’s recovering.
“What are you doing?” Mom asks, eyeing me critically. “Was someone here?”
“Austin and I were studying in the living room.”
Her gaze goes to the dark room that has no signs of anyone being in it.
I head for the stairs without meeting her gaze. “I gotta get ready.”
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