Page 94 of Stealing for Keeps
“Where are you going?” Mom asks as I head to the door.
“Out.”
I left my phone at home in my haste to get away, so when I pull up outside Claire’s house, I contemplate whether I should ring the doorbell or try to scale the side of the house to climb in her bedroom window.
The light is on in her room, but the curtains make it so I can’t see her. I pace as I figure out a plan. There are flower beds along the house and sidewalk, and they’re outlined with small gravel before it turns to grass. I pick up several small rocks.
It takes two attempts before I hit her window. I wince, grateful when it doesn’t break. I’ve never actually tried this, only seen it in movies. I can’t even hear it hitting the window from here, so maybe she can’t either.
But then, there she is. With one hand, she pushes the curtain to the side and comes to stand in front of it. I lift a hand in a wave. It takes another few moments for her to unlock and push open the window.
“What are you doing?” she asks in a hushed voice, just loud enough for me to hear.
“Still want to hang out?”
Her smile alone makes the sting of my dad leaving again lessen. “Meet me at the door in the back of the house.” She motions for me to go around the side.
By the time I get there, she’s waiting for me.
“My mom’s not here, but my sister is in the living room,” she whispers and then holds a finger to her lips. She grabs my hand, and we quietly move up the stairs to her room. When she shuts the door, she laughs and wraps her arms around my neck. “I thought you were busy tonight.”
“I couldn’t wait to see you.” I kiss her.
She giggles into my mouth, and our teeth clink lightly. My hands go to her hips. She’s wearing a big, baggy T-shirt, and when I slip my fingers underneath the hem, they brush against her soft shorts that are several inches shorter than the shirt.
Our kisses grow more insistent. She pulls on my neck like she’s trying to bring me closer. Leaning down slightly, I pick her up and then walk back to the bed. We fall onto it together, laughing again.
“I like you,” I say, brushing a piece of hair that’s fallen into her face back behind her ear.
“I like you too.”
The words don’t feel like enough.
We make out until we’re both breathless and my head swims with only thoughts of her. Her smile, her laugh, her taste. I’d give up just about anything right now to stay in this moment.
My hand skims up her ribs to the side of her bra. She stills, then nods slowly. “It’s okay.”
“Tell me if you want me to stop.”
She nods again.
My fingers slowly graze along the soft material until mypalm is covering her breast. My gaze stays locked on hers. I want to see every reaction from her. It’s not the first time I’ve felt up a girl, but my chest tightens like it never has. As I explore her, Claire’s lashes flutter closed, and she arches into me slightly. But her lips stay curved into a smile.
I am so far gone for this girl. The realization makes a lump form in my throat. Everything feels different and better and also just…bigger, like there’s no going back.
She’s sweet but tough. Her heart is big, but she’s careful about who she lets in. She is someone who has known incredible joy and great heartbreak, and it’s shaped her into this extraordinary person that I can’t imagine my life without.
Being with Claire feels like a milestone that can’t be undone. I’m sure she’d think I was exaggerating if I said any of that out loud, so instead, I bring my mouth to hers and say, “Ireallylike you.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Claire
Lacey and I are sitting on my bed, facing each other, laptops and notebooks spread out around us.
I hum along with the music playing on Lacey’s phone as I pull out my notes for chemistry. We’ve reached the point in the semester where the teachers are piling on homework and all the tests seem to fall on the same week. I have no idea how Lacey is managing. My regular classes are kicking my butt, and she’s in all AP.
When I glance up to check on her, Lacey is grinning at me. I stop singing and hesitantly smile back. “What?”
