weather here is a hell of a lot better at least,” he said. “It’s constantly pissing rain up in Seattle. Or at least it seems like it.”
He leaned past me to grab the remote control and, trying not to notice how good he smelled, I picked up my glass of OJ. As I took a sip, the shaking of my hand caused the juice to slosh around and splash onto my face. I put the glass down and tried to wipe it off before he witnessed my humiliation.
“You missed some,” he said and leaned in even closer and reached his hand up to catch a drop from my cheek.
His fingers lingered and I glanced up at him. Our gazes collided, only inches apart. I struggled to breathe, my body waiting for something. His hand slide along my cheek, around my head, and then stilled. We froze, staring at each other, waiting to see who would close the distance first. Every cell in my body tightened and I wanted to wrap myself around him. I could feel warmth pulsing from him along with his desire. It would be so easy to press my lips to his, to feel emotions and sensations that belonged only to me even as I was able to feel his pulsing between us. His breath passed over my skin. I blinked and he started to move.
“Dylan.” The name slipped from my lips. I moved back, my hand automatically going to my mouth. “I shouldn’t...”
“Right.”
“I should go,” I said, getting up as if the couch were about to swallow me whole, or as if he were.
“Right.” He stood up, and shoved his hands in his pockets, bunching up his shoulders. He had nice shoulders.
“Is that all you’re going to say?” I asked, wishing he would say anything other than that one draw out word.
“Uh, thanks?” He raised one eyebrow and cracked a devilish smile. I blushed when a giggle escaped my mouth. “I’m real flattered and all that you can’t resist my overabundance of good looks and charm, but I’m not looking for a new already attached girlfriend. Besides I’m not even sure you’re old enough to drive.”
He was joking and I wanted to hug him for it, but that probably wouldn’t be the best way to put it behind us.
About halfway home, I slapped my forehead in complete embarrassment. I had giggled. Multiple times. Like a little school girl caught in her first crush. Not that I was crushing on Micah. He was hot, but he had been a total jerk and I couldn’t completely forget that. Still there was potential there. He’d been nice after I passed out and he was obviously willing not to tell Dylan about our near kiss, he’d possibly even forget that it ever happened. Maybe he wasn’t a complete write off - as a friend.
Chapter 4
Is it wrong not to love the person you’re with?
I still wasn’t sure what the answer to that question was, but I couldn’t be with Dylan any more, even if I did love him.
He walked across the cafeteria, searching for me. I hid in the back corner where the entire football team sheltered me from view. I leaned to the side, looking around a particularly beefy linebacker to watch Dylan’s progress. He looked determined to find me.
For five days, I successfully avoided him. At least in person. I couldn’t ignore his phone calls. I tried the day after I went to Micah’s place, but turning off my cell had only driven my sisters and Dad crazy when the home phone began ringing off the hook. Dad and Phoebe had given me sympathetic looks, understanding how unhappy I was and how hard it was for me to confront him and make the break. Chloe, on the other hand, was convinced Dylan and I would work things out, so she didn’t get why I was reluctant to talk to him.
Each day I had space from him made me more determined to see that it was permanent. Every part of me had been so wrapped up in him for years now. It was like taking a breath of fresh air after running through a burning building. Painful yes, but a signal to my body that I was still alive. I was still living and needing to clear myself of him.
Now was the time. A few
He leaned past me to grab the remote control and, trying not to notice how good he smelled, I picked up my glass of OJ. As I took a sip, the shaking of my hand caused the juice to slosh around and splash onto my face. I put the glass down and tried to wipe it off before he witnessed my humiliation.
“You missed some,” he said and leaned in even closer and reached his hand up to catch a drop from my cheek.
His fingers lingered and I glanced up at him. Our gazes collided, only inches apart. I struggled to breathe, my body waiting for something. His hand slide along my cheek, around my head, and then stilled. We froze, staring at each other, waiting to see who would close the distance first. Every cell in my body tightened and I wanted to wrap myself around him. I could feel warmth pulsing from him along with his desire. It would be so easy to press my lips to his, to feel emotions and sensations that belonged only to me even as I was able to feel his pulsing between us. His breath passed over my skin. I blinked and he started to move.
“Dylan.” The name slipped from my lips. I moved back, my hand automatically going to my mouth. “I shouldn’t...”
“Right.”
“I should go,” I said, getting up as if the couch were about to swallow me whole, or as if he were.
“Right.” He stood up, and shoved his hands in his pockets, bunching up his shoulders. He had nice shoulders.
“Is that all you’re going to say?” I asked, wishing he would say anything other than that one draw out word.
“Uh, thanks?” He raised one eyebrow and cracked a devilish smile. I blushed when a giggle escaped my mouth. “I’m real flattered and all that you can’t resist my overabundance of good looks and charm, but I’m not looking for a new already attached girlfriend. Besides I’m not even sure you’re old enough to drive.”
He was joking and I wanted to hug him for it, but that probably wouldn’t be the best way to put it behind us.
About halfway home, I slapped my forehead in complete embarrassment. I had giggled. Multiple times. Like a little school girl caught in her first crush. Not that I was crushing on Micah. He was hot, but he had been a total jerk and I couldn’t completely forget that. Still there was potential there. He’d been nice after I passed out and he was obviously willing not to tell Dylan about our near kiss, he’d possibly even forget that it ever happened. Maybe he wasn’t a complete write off - as a friend.
Chapter 4
Is it wrong not to love the person you’re with?
I still wasn’t sure what the answer to that question was, but I couldn’t be with Dylan any more, even if I did love him.
He walked across the cafeteria, searching for me. I hid in the back corner where the entire football team sheltered me from view. I leaned to the side, looking around a particularly beefy linebacker to watch Dylan’s progress. He looked determined to find me.
For five days, I successfully avoided him. At least in person. I couldn’t ignore his phone calls. I tried the day after I went to Micah’s place, but turning off my cell had only driven my sisters and Dad crazy when the home phone began ringing off the hook. Dad and Phoebe had given me sympathetic looks, understanding how unhappy I was and how hard it was for me to confront him and make the break. Chloe, on the other hand, was convinced Dylan and I would work things out, so she didn’t get why I was reluctant to talk to him.
Each day I had space from him made me more determined to see that it was permanent. Every part of me had been so wrapped up in him for years now. It was like taking a breath of fresh air after running through a burning building. Painful yes, but a signal to my body that I was still alive. I was still living and needing to clear myself of him.
Now was the time. A few
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