Songs For Cricket

by Terri E. Laine

  “Are you back with Kevin? If he’s done something to my brother . . .”

  “No. I swear.”

  “If you hear from him, let me know,” I said.

  “Finley, trust me, I’m the last person he’s going to reach out to. But can you let me know when you find him? I really need to talk to him.”

  If I didn’t have a class starting in the next five minutes, I might have tried to pry out her secret. As it was, I didn’t.

  As I left the café, I thought I spotted Cooper with Tori.

  It wasn’t until afternoon practice I caught up with August.

  “Why weren’t you at practice this morning?”

  “As I recall, you don’t check in with me, and I don’t with you,” he said and kept walking.

  “Fine, but Shepard needs you,” I begged.

  “There isn’t anything I can do for him.”

  “Besides be his friend? This is stupid, grow up. You didn’t lose your shiny new toy to me. He can still be your friend.”

  He stopped. “We already talked about this. But if it makes you feel better, I contacted Sawyer. He and Shelly are on top of things.”

  Then he stalked off. Maybe Cooper was right. August just needed time, and obviously he was dealing with something else. Why else would he have cared enough to tell Sawyer about Shepard’s latest problem?

  I let him go and hoped time would heal the wounds. There was no way I could live with myself if their friendship totally ended.

  After practice, Billy caught up with me. “Are you going to the café for dinner?”

  “No,” I said thoughtfully. I wanted to go home and spend time alone with Shepard. “I have other plans.”

  He looked crestfallen, and I tapped his cheek. “You really are a decent guy.”

  His hands raised; he winked at me, “Then give a guy a chance.”

  I laughed. “I don’t think my boyfriend would like that.”

  He looked as stunned as I felt, exhilarated to use that term. Shep and I hadn’t talked about our title. But what else could I call him?

  Billy was dramatically going on about how I’d broken his heart as I ducked inside the pool area to head to the locker room. I was grateful that no more press had shown up.

  I got ready and smiled thinking about how Shep would react when I showed up early with a plan on how to spend our alone time as I called him my boyfriend.

  30

  shepard

  Finn had a plan, and I was grateful someone did.

  “I’ve sent Hastings all the security footage from Friday through Monday morning when you guys left for practice. He says they’re on it, but it will take time.”

  I held in my disappointment that everything couldn’t be wrapped up in a day. So far, my professors seemed amenable to helping me obtain class notes and making up any work that was due while I was on forced leave. The coverage about Lacey’s claims had been limited, which was surprising considering her family’s reach in the town. I didn’t question it and accepted the gift that it was.

  “We’ll get you back on campus,” Finn was saying. “Shelly said her dad will hook you up with a colleague outside of his practice since his firm can’t handle it due to conflict of interest.”

  The lead investigator working against his father would only stir up the news.

  “I don’t have a clue how I’ll pay for all of this, but I will.”

  Finn dismissed it. “My parents have more money than dirt. Besides, Shelly thinks the guy will do it pro bono.”

  Finn, Sawyer, and Shelly were a godsend. I couldn’t imagine how I might have been railroaded if not for them.

  “I don’t know how I can ever thank you guys enough.”

  “I do,” Finn said.

  His eyes sparkled with mischief.

  “I’m afraid to ask.”

  He laughed. “Why don’t you do me a favor?”

  “What’s that?”

  “I had dinner plans, but they’ve changed. I don’t want the food to go to waste.”

  “Seriously,” I said, chuckling. “That’s your favor? I’m sure August and Cooper will still be able to eat more when they get home.”

  He shook his head. “No, this is a candlelight dinner for two. You and Finley.”

  I felt unglued for a second. Finn hadn’t been there for my blow up with August. The last thing I’d told him after his advice about Finley was I’d struck out.

  “Don’t look so confused. I may be a cripple, but I’m not blind. Why do you think I steered the two of you together? Both of you seemed oblivious to how the other felt. The only other person on this earth who didn’t see it was August.”

  Maybe that was how he knew. “Have you talked to him about it?”

  His good shoulder lifted in a half shrug. I should have known he wouldn’t tell me. He seemed like the kind of guy who would take secrets to the grave.

  “We’ve talked about a lot of things. If I had to wager a guess, he’s angrier that you didn’t talk to him about it. He didn’t say that, just a theory on my part.”

  I bet he said anything but. It had been clear he’d felt betrayed, and for that I’d be forever sorry.

  “Give him some time. Meanwhile, do something nice for your girl,” Finn said.

  He proceeded to outline his idea, which spurred my own. It wasn’t long after he’d headed out to do whatever it was he did that I put the finishing touches on my plan. Right on time as Finley walked in.

  I glanced around her, but she closed the door, which meant she’d come home alone.

  “How was practice?”

  Instead of answering me, she ate up the distance with her long strides and looped her arms around my neck. Her kiss was like heaven, momentarily taking me out of the hell I was in.

  “That good,” I murmured against her lips.

  “Better now.”

  This was better than I imagined. She was more than I’d ever dreamed.

  “You and me both,” I muttered in her hair, relishing the feel of her so close to me.

  “What’s the surprise? I mean, I’d already planned to come straight home, but you have me intrigued.”

  I’d texted her to find me when she got home.

  “Oh,” I took her hand and led her to the back door.

  “What’s this?” she pointed at a sign on the glass.

  “This is so we won’t be bothered.”

  She tossed her head back and laughed. “Finn is in on it?”

  The sign read Keep Out. Backyard Reserved. Finn.

  “You might say he’s the master puppeteer.”

  Her amusement wiped clean all of the worries I’d had all day. I opened the door leading her out with my hand on her lower back. She stopped, sucking in a breath.

  The sky was overcast and perfect for the setting I’d created. It was unusually dark so early in the evening. A glow filled the dome in the middle of the yard.

  “Where did you get a tent?” she asked with awe.

  “Would you believe me if I told you it’s Finn’s?”

  Her eyes danced with light from the Tiki Torches I’d staked around to keep any mosquitoes at bay.

  “When it comes to Finn, I don’t think anything surprises me,” she answered.

  I couldn’t stop myself and brushed a wild strand of hair from her face before bending down and capturing her mouth in a mind-numbing kiss.

  “I hope you’re okay with this?” I asked.

  Wonder, contentment, desire, heat. I couldn’t pinpoint what she was thinking as she stared at me.

  “Are you kidding? This is amazing.”

  I finally understood what my mother meant when she said she wouldn’t change a moment of her life if it meant she wouldn’t have me. I felt the same way about Finley.

  “There’s more to come,” I said, walking her around the back side of the tent.

  I’d set it up that way to give us more time if August or Cooper decided to ignor
e Finn’s warning.

  She bent down and picked up a thin white structure. “Paper lanterns?”

  “I mentioned them to Finn, and he said he had some.” The guy seemed prepared for anything. I felt like a student to his knowledge of not only women but life. “I wouldn’t be surprised what bag of tricks he had up his sleeve.”

  I picked up the other lantern and pulled out a lighter I’d gotten from the kitchen.

  “We’re going to light them?” she asked.

  Still holding the lighter, I scrubbed a hand across the back of my neck. “This is going to sound corny, but I thought maybe it would give us luck. You know, to a bright future and all.”

  She stared at me.

  “It is corny,” I muttered.

  What did I know about being romantic? I thought about the things my father had done for my mother, but he wasn’t the architect of romance, obviously. I started to bend down, and she stopped me. When I glanced up, she had tears in her eyes.

  “Cricket,” I said softly, not realizing I’d vocalized the word she’d become in my head.

  I reached out to wipe the moisture from her face, and she shook her head.

  “No, these are happy tears. You’re turning out to be the best boyfriend. Even more than I could imagine.”

  “Boyfriend?”

  She’d been mine in my mind for so long, I didn’t think about being her boyfriend, especially when it was in her best interest not to be seen with me until I could completely clear my name. And if the news about my father ever became public, maybe not even then.

  “What else are you to me?” she asked.

  Selfishly, I said, “Everything.”

  I let the paper lantern fall as it may and scooped her in my arms. She let out a little squeak, which I swallowed in a searing kiss.

  “Wait, let’s send off the lanterns first,” she suggested.

  Though I didn’t want to, I set her on her feet. I scooped up the lighter and my lantern.

  I lit the flame to burn between us. Though it wasn’t as consuming as my need for her. She was my compass. The bright star that would lead me out of the darkness.

  “To us and a bright future,” she said, winking at me.

  “To you and everything you are and always will be.” To me, but I didn’t add that part.

  We let go and craned our heads back to watch our paper dreams lift high in the sky. I took her hand. “I have dinner.”

  I unzipped the tent and held open the flap, so she could duck inside.

  “It’s pretty big in here,” she said, eyes taking in everything.

  It definitely was large enough for two even with me stretched out. Finn may not have been able to walk, but he was a tall guy, and so was his brother, if it had been Sawyer’s.

  “Watch your head,” I said.

  There was a lightweight LED lantern I’d hung from the apex of the tent.

  She sat cross-legged, and I sat across from her. Between us was an insulated picnic basket that Finn swore would keep the food warm. I unzipped it, releasing the smells of fine dining.

  “I can’t take credit for the food,” I said, handing her the sophisticated plates Finn suggested I use. “I wish I could take you to a fancy restaurant.”

  “Stop, it doesn’t matter where we are or what we’re eating as long as I’m with you.”

  Just another reason to love this girl even though I hardly deserved her. I dished out steak with fancy sauce to pour over top. There were stalks of green vegetables I didn’t too much care for by name and not even when Mrs. Farrow had cooked them for us. These, however, tasted better than they looked. The mashed potatoes, though, won the show. To top it off, I opened a bottle of wine Finn had with a corkscrew. Wine wasn’t exactly my thing, but it felt right for our first date.

  “Wow, this is great,” she said, peeking into the basket.

  I took her hand but not to stop her, I just wanted to touch her.

  “What are you searching for?”

  Her grin lit up the place. “Dessert.”

  I slipped my hand in her hair to draw her close and brushed my lips over hers. At the corner of her mouth, I flicked my tongue. “You had a little something there.”

  “Did I?” she asked.

  “You did. Something sweet.”

  “Yeah,” she said, nipping at my mouth. “What was it?”

  “You.”

  I couldn’t tell who shoved the basket out of the way. Slowly, we lowered to the ground with me flat on my back and her covering me.

  Her shirt rode high, giving me unobstructed access to the large swath of smooth skin. My girl was a fighter, a tomboy some might say. But in this moment, she was soft and sweeter than the chocolate ganache cake that waited for us.

  “I need you,” she whispered in my ear.

  My fingers dug into her skin because I needed to hold us both still.

  “You can’t say shit like that. I’ll never make it inside you.”

  She sat up, with legs on either side of me, her bottom pressed where I was harder than stone. Her shirt came off in one fluid motion. Her hair tumbled down like a waterfall. A black frilly bra covered tight, firm breasts I wanted my mouth on a soon as possible.

  I couldn’t wait and rose up to palm them.

  “Off,” I demanded, letting go for the moment it took for her to comply.

  She reached behind her and released the material from her skin and tossed it aside.

  I used my thumb to bring her nipple to peak and put my tongue on the other, feasting on her. Those damn sexy gasps of hers with her head thrown back were almost my undoing.

  “Your turn,” she said, pushing up my shirt.

  I let her have her way and was surprised when her mouth sucked on my chest. A thrilling zing zipped through me. I’d never had a girl do that before, but shit, it ramped me up, and I was sure my cock would bust through my jeans.

  “Shorts off,” I said.

  There wasn’t a lot of room but watching her remove them had to be the hottest thing I’d ever seen including porn when I was young enough to only fantasize about getting my dick wet.

  Once she was bare, I couldn’t hold myself back. The memory of slipping into her tight heat was enough to get me off. Her, in front of me, was a whole other level of need.

  “Aren’t you going to get undressed?” she asked, sounding a little unsure.

  Talk about sexy. “Fuck, Finley. I will. But I have to taste you first.”

  I prowled forward on hands and knees, gently shoving her down the opposite way so she was flat. Hooking an arm under each of her legs, I buried my face in her pussy. Her skin smelled like sunshine and tasted like dew. She would forever be branded in my mind as summer as I made her come. This was for her because I was sure to lose myself once I was inside her.

  My dick swelled as she dug her fingers in my hair, holding on for dear life as I used my tongue and fingers to pump in and out, drawing out her orgasm.

  When it was over, she released me and lay limp, chest rising as she still panted. I used the moment Finley remained lost in the aftershocks to remove my pants and dig out a condom I’d brought.

  “Prepared.”

  I glanced down at her with a crooked smile. “Hopeful. But if you don’t—”

  Her hand around my cock was answer enough.

  “I have to get this on if you want me to fuck you.”

  I probably shouldn’t have said fuck and maybe something more romantic like make love. But, my brain was operating on limited resources. I was surprised I had a coherent thought.

  Her legs parted like petals on a flower, and my brain short-circuited. I drove inside her like a man possessed. When she gasped in a lung full of air, I had the presence of mind to stop and let her body grow used to me filling her.

  Then she moved. I couldn’t tell if she was urging me on, but that little bit of friction sent me way over the edge. On autopilot, I began slow, taking her mouth and filling it
like my dick did her tight sheath.

  Every stroke was like nirvana. Every whimper like a fist pump to my ego. She clamped her legs around my waist, but I had to spread her wider to go deeper. I hit a spot and her back levitated off the ground like a rocket ship on lift off. She cried out, and anyone in earshot had to know what we were up to.

  “Quiet, Cricket.”

  Last thing we needed was for someone to call the cops. And I hadn’t forgotten Cooper and August’s rooms were located at the backside of the house.

  I lost all reason when her inner walls clamped down on me. I came hard, thrusting like there was a race to win as her inner walls milked me for every drop.

  “Shit,” I said, rolling over, discreetly removing the condom. I reached for a discarded napkin and folded it inside, tossing it in a corner for cleanup later. Then, I brought her over to curl at my side.

  I covered part of my face with an arm over my head.

  “I didn’t exactly plan for the night to go like that,” I said.

  “Yeah, what did you plan for me?”

  I thought about my guitar in the corner of the tent. “I thought dessert and maybe play a song I wrote for you.”

  She lifted up on her arm to stare at me. “The fire song?”

  “Not that one, but I could. Though I think I need maybe a minute or an hour before I can move.”

  Her laugh was infectious, and I chuckled myself.

  When we quieted the true night songs began. “Do you hear that?” I asked.

  The crickets were belting out the tunes.

  She smiled and lay back on my chest. “I do. I’m pretty sure that’s a mating song, and we got caught up in it.”

  “I’m sure I got caught up in you.”

  I rolled her completely on top of me, so I could thoroughly kiss her mouth and free my hands to roam.

  31

  finley

  “Magic hands,” I murmured as Shepard showed me all the reasons why sex was so damn enjoyable. Admittedly, I might have entertained the idea sooner if I’d known it’d be like this.

  “Magic body,” he said before making me come again.

  The night didn’t end after that. He fed me cake and ate some himself, but after he accidently spilled ganache on my breast and in between my legs. I would never think of cake the same way again.