Meeting the Step by Ash Adams Page A

on my waist and all I could do was smile and nod.
    It was like the grand finale of the 4 th of July firework show had been set off inside of me and I was drunk from his kiss.
    "Let's go home."
    "No, not yet." I didn't want this moment to end. I patted the trunk of the car and Max lifted himself and sat beside me. We leaned back on the cold windshield and I shivered. Max took off his jacket and covered the front of me with it.
    "Oh wait, get off one sec."
    I lifted an eyebrow at him.
    "Of the trunk."
    I did what he said and he stuck the key in the hole and clicked the trunk open. Inside were two blankets. I looked at him like he was crazy. "Always prepared?"
    "I've never had sex on them if that's what you're asking. They've been back there for over a year. Dad and I went to the drive-in movies and it was cold as fuck outside. Just forgot to bring them in. Good thing too."
    I handed him his jacket and he laid a wool blanket over the trunk and back windshield of the Mustang. He held his hand out and helped me up on the trunk then followed me. He covered us with the other blanket and we leaned back on the glass. We stared up at the moon and I could even make out a few stars. After a few minutes, he scooted his arm under my neck and my head rested on his chest. Our body warmth mixed together and I was no longer cold as I listened to the thumping of his heart.
    I had never been romanced before so all of this was so new. Usually with Richard it was all about drinking and fucking. It was odd that I had thought of him at this point of the night. He hadn't crossed my mind until the reality of how terrible he treated me slapped me in the face.
    I had no idea what I was missing when it came to dating. Not that Max and I were dating, but we were something or maybe we were just two lonely people enjoying each other's company. Regardless of what it was, I didn't want the night to end. I felt like I could stay in his arms, safe, forever.
     

 
    Chapter Twelve
    Chelsea
     
    "HEY, LOVEBIRDS. THOUGHT you left an hour ago," Tina said as she walked out to her truck parked by the Mustang.
    Max looked over at her and leaned forward. "We were just enjoying the moon and stars, just about ready to leave."
    Tina snickered giving a big uh-huh in response. Max grabbed my hand and we slid off the trunk causing the blankets to fall to the ground. Tina made small talk as I tried to plop the sand out of the wool blankets, which would be nearly impossible. Sand was funny like that. It always seemed to burrow in weird places only to be found weeks later. Max opened the trunk and stuffed the blankets inside then walked around the car and gave Tina a big hug bye. She was the girl that flashed on his phone earlier. I was silly to think it was his secret girlfriend.
    "See you two later," she said without a single doubt in her voice as I leaned against the car with kiss-swollen lips.
    I scooted to the side and Max brushed his arm against me and unlocked the car door. He slid inside then reached over and opened mine. I walked around the front of the car and sat then buckled. The leather seats of the car were cold and I shivered. Max started the engine, the low rumble echoing in the night. He turned and looked at me with a lifted eyebrow then clicked on the heat.
    "Ready?"
    Before I could even mutter a word, he shifted the car into gear and did a donut on the beach. The exhaust screamed out in protest and I loved the sound of it. I was smiling and laughing, and it reminded me of my dad and how he used to hotrod on the beach.
    "V8?" I asked.
    "320 horses in this baby."
    "Original paint?"
    "Better believe it, doll. Raven black. Original racing stripes."
    "I love it," I whispered as we raced down the wet sand close to the water. We cruised for minutes with the windows down listening to the waves move in and out from the shore. I leaned my head against the seat and looked out at the water and how the moon left squiggles of light on its surface. A thought crossed my mind