Page 62 of Ecstasy
Her:Everything.
I glance up at the night sky, see the stars overhead. I don’t know how long we’d have before Alex got back. Practice was later than usual tonight because the wrestling room was being used for some other shit, but it’s only like eight now.
Alex probably won’t be back until after midnight.
Me:Let me pick you up.
I stare at my screen in the dark, waiting. She starts to type, then stops. Then starts again.
Her:Are you going to get me in trouble again, Eli Adonis?
I smile in the dark, biting my cheek. My mom used to call me that.
Me:No. I promise.
Her:I don’t trust you. Pick me up anyway.
And then, right after that text,I want to experience everything, remember?
19
Zara
I’m sittingwith my feet in the pool beside Eli, both of us on a shared towel. He’s got his feet in too. He told me to bring my swimsuit and since I’m already being fucking stupid, it seemed silly not to.
I knew Alex was out with Dwight, so for at least a few more hours, we’ll be alone.
I told Eli I had to be gone before Alex came.
I grab the red Solo cup on the blanket between us and finish the tequila soda before putting the cup back down.
“Want another one?” Eli asks beside me, turning to face me.
I meet his eyes in the dim light around the pool. The water is cold, and the night is kind of chilly too. It’s not really warm enough for us to be sitting in our swimsuits, but I don’t really want Eli to put his shirt back on, so I’m not complaining. Besides, the alcohol will warm me up soon.
“I shouldn’t,” I tell Eli, smiling a little as he grins at me.
He cocks his head. “You shouldn’t be here either and yet here you are.” He shrugs, the muscles in his shoulders flexing as he does. “Why not be a little more bad?” His words are a whisper, and there’s like a foot of space between us, but it doesn’t stop a chill from going down my spine. I clench my thighs together and hope he doesn’t notice.
His eyes never leave mine.
“Okay, fine. But not until you tell me what you know about Alex and Kylie. And why the fuck you lied to Alex about me flashing you.” I know I should be madder, but when he grins at my reply, I can’t help but laugh a little too.
He’s leaning against his palms, but he moves his fingers closer to mine, his thumb brushing against my wrist, his eyes still on mine.
“Alex told Kylie to keep an eye on you,” he says quietly.
My stomach churns.
“She sends him weekly reports.”
I snatch my hand away from him and sit up straighter, twisting to stare at him. “Eli, do not fuck with me. Are you lying right now?”
He sits up too, bringing his feet in, flat on the towel as he wraps his arms around his knees. “I told you. I’m not lying to you.”
“But you fucking lied to Alex about—”
He puts his hand on my thigh, cutting off my words. His thumb strokes the scars, just under the edge of my bikini.
