Page 49 of Hot Summer Nights

“I practically mauled you. I’m so sorry. I’ve never done anything like that before.”

I laugh at that. Loudly. She rips her hands away from her crimson face to look up at me.

“Em, trust me, I wanted it. That was the hottest kiss of my life. I never wanted it to stop.” I tell her honestly.

“I-I have to go.” She says.

I watch as she unlocks the door, sliding behind the wheel without looking at me. She waves out the window as she drives off and I’m left standing there, staring after her, wondering what I did wrong. I know this though; Ember and I aren’t done. I feel alive for the first time in years. Like those fireworks that Ember talked about earlier are going off inside my chest.

I make my way back to my rental car and head back to my cabin. I’m going to find Ember tomorrow and sort everything out.

FIVE

Ember

I sneak into my house,thankful that my mom is already asleep and I don’t have to try to explain my flushed appearance to her. I can’t believe I did that, I think as my fingers run across my still swollen lips. I’ve barely even kissed anyone before but I almost devoured Weston tonight.

In the past, I’ve had a few pecks on the lips from boys in high school, but never anything like what I did with Weston tonight. My lips are still tingling from our make-out session. I change into my pajamas and collapse on my bed. My brain can’t help but go back to outside the restaurant. We had had so much fun, talking and laughing over dinner. I’d never felt so close to anyone before. Like what I said and thought really mattered, like he was actually interested in my opinions.

When his lips had first ghosted against mine, I had to curl my fingers into my palms to keep from grabbing him and slamming my lips against his. My mother’s voice was in my head though, calling me a hussy and a slut, and I reined myself in. Well, until he dipped his tongue into my mouth. Then I couldn’t hold back.

The look on his face when I pushed him up against the car and claimed his mouth only made me hotter. I tangled my tongue with his, tasting the chocolate cake and a minty freshness that was all him. His hair was thick as I dug my fingers into it and tugged his mouth down closer to mine. I wanted to climb him like a tree and I might have if that car horn going on hadn’t ripped me back to reality. My mind replays that kiss over and over again until I drift off to sleep.

I wakethe next morning and make myself a cup of coffee before I head up to the office. My mother is still asleep and I know I won’t see her until after eleven. I unlock the office door and move behind the counter, booting up the computer and checking the phone for messages. I check the emails and respond to two, entering in reservations that were emailed in and making notes to call back the people who left messages once it’s a little later.

I pull up the list of people leaving today, making note of which cabins I’ll need to clean. I go in the back and do the laundry that mom never got around to doing yesterday. Too busy watching her shows, I guess. I throw the used sheets and comforters in the washers before I take down the clean sheets and my cleaning supplies. I place them in the back of the gator for after lunch.

I spend my mornings alternating between answering phone calls and daydreaming about Weston. Finally, at 12:30 my mom walks in the door. I tell her about any notes and she nods before heading into the back. I make my way back to the house, quickly making a sandwich before I head back to the office and make sure I have all of the supplies that I need.

I head towards the first cabin and let myself in, getting to work stripping the bed and exchanging towels. I’m halfway through cleaning the kitchen when I hear a knock on the door. I look up to see Weston standing in the doorway.

“Hey.” I say, shocked to see that he came looking for me.

“Hey, I was wondering where you were.”

“Busy at work.” I joke.

“I can see that. I actually have a meeting here in a half an hour but I wanted to ask if maybe you wanted to join me for dinner again tonight?”

God yes.

When he throws his head back and laughs, I realize that I said that out loud. My cheeks heat and I know they must be as red as my hair.

“I’m looking forward to it too.” He says with a grin as he walks closer to me.

“I’ll pick you up tonight. 6 pm?” He asks as he leans down and tangles a hand in my hair.

He tips my head back and his mouth molds to mine as he kisses me long and slow. I moan into his mouth, dropping my spray bottle so I can wrap my arms around his waist and mold myself tighter against his body.

When we’re both out of breath, we pull away and he smooths some loose hair away from my face.

“I’ll see you tonight.” He says before he kisses my forehead and walks out the door.

I stare after him with a smile. Suddenly, I can’t wait for tonight.

SIX

Weston

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