by Sally Henson
“They want me to come in Monday at four-thirty.” He chuckles. “It’s a dry cleaner.”
My eyebrows scrunch together. “They’re open at night? Dry cleaners around here close at like six o’clock.”
He shrugs. “Yeah, they’re open until ten o’clock.”
“Ten! You have early classes.” This doesn’t sound like a good thing. By the time he gets back to his dorm, it’ll be late. He’ll be too tired for his morning classes.
“Regan, it’ll be fine. Don’t start acting like my mom.” He tickles my sides until I squirm out of his hold.
“Are you calling me an old woman?” I tickle him back.
He thwarts my attempt. “Absolutely not.” His fingers move the wet strands of hair stuck to my face. “I’ll have to work one weekend a month.”
My muscles give out and my lids slide shut to hide the disappointment that rolls through me. I have a gut feeling there’s something wrong with this job. He’s going to have to work weekends. He’s promised he’d be home every weekend … now he’s going to break that promise. Maybe Linc was right. Lane and I are living in two different worlds now.
“Hey,” he says so soft, and sweet.
This rock in my stomach is heavy. I can’t bear to open my eyes yet.
He gently shakes me. “Beautiful.”
An internal whimper rumbles in my chest. Calling me beautiful makes it worse. I sit up and rub my palms on the top of my legs. “It’s okay—I understand. I just miss you, you know?” Not only does my heart already ache at the thought of weekends that I won’t see him, this rock in my stomach seems to be getting heavier.
“I’ll keep looking for something with better hours, but I hear good jobs are hard to come by there.”
I nod my head in acknowledgement, giving my support. Even with Tobi, Haylee, and Cam around me, the absence of Lane is like a black hole. He deserves better than my making him feel guilty. I’m trying not to do that to him. But if he can’t keep up with his studies, I don’t know if I’d be able to forgive myself. “Promise me if your grades start to suffer, you’ll quit. School’s too important—we’ll figure something else out.”
Lane’s fingers gently turn my chin toward him. He’s wearing a dazzling, dimple-clad smile. “You’re such a sight for sore eyes.”
My chest hiccups, hiding my snicker at the old-fashioned phrase rolling off his tongue. I try to look away, but he whispers the words again. “Kiss me.”
Fizzy, excited bubbles percolate inside me. I love kissing him.
“Hey, you two going to eat?” Tobi yells down the stairs.
Lane reluctantly pulls away and growls softly.
“We’ll be right there.” I finally find my voice to answer her.
The way he looks at me makes me feel special. If only I could see that through the week, I might believe it.
He twirls my hair around his finger. “Let’s leave early tonight. I’ll make up some excuse if I need to.”
I nod. He hooks his arm around me, bringing me up off the sofa with him, and sets me down on my feet. His arm wraps around my waist and we walk to the stairwell.
“Ladies, first.” He gestures with a slight bow, his arm out, guiding the way. I smile while my insides melt. I do my best to climb the stairs with my rubber-band muscles and mushy insides.
12
Lane
“Is that all you’ve got?” I tease Regan. We’re playing Tobi’s boxing video game. Regan’s boxer just knocked my guy loopy.
One side of her mouth curls up. “What do you have in mind?”
I drop the controller on the sofa cushion, move into her space and shrug as if I don’t care one way or another. Everyone is still upstairs and obviously, I have something in mind to take advantage of their absence.
She sets the controller beside mine and pops onto the other side of the sofa.
I dive beside her. After supper, I sneaked into the bathroom and brushed my teeth. My finger wasn’t quite as good as a toothbrush, but it worked. We meet halfway and I touch my forehead to hers. Her breath is minty like toothpaste, too.
Giggling softly, she bites her lip when my grin grows bigger than it already was. Her fingers twist into my hair, clutching tufts of my messy mop. I don’t know what it is about the way she does that, but it makes my heart beat faster, and I have the urge to be as close as possible to her.
I wrap her up, holding on tight, burying my face in her long golden-brown hair. “So, this is more than friends?”
Her mouth moves awkwardly against my ear to my cheek where she plants her lips and squeezes me in her arms. “Kiss me before they come back.”
Knowing I’m the only one she’s ever kissed makes her more alluring than she already is. I inhale the sweet smell from her hair. She feels so warm and right. The thought of her minty breath pops in my mind. I turn and kiss her cheek and then her lips. My heartbeat pounds in my chest, in my ears. Our mouths begin to move together in a give-and-take duet.
“Watcha doin’?” Tobi sing-songs a question.
Regan jumps back, slips off the cushions, and crashes her shoulder on the floor. She lands with a thud while her legs continue their momentum up in the air.
Cam and Haylee are a few steps behind Tobi, bickering on the way down the stairs. They didn’t see us kissing.
I’m trying hard not to laugh at Regan’s expense, but the surprise on her face coupled with her legs sticking up in the air is too much for me to contain.
“What happened?” Haylee sees Regan on the floor.
“Ooo, are we tag team wrestling?” Cam starts in. Cam has to get his digs in somewhere. It’s what he does.
Tobi’s laughing, partly at Regan, partly at Cam. “Cam, I can’t believe you’re even bringing that up. Regan kicked your butt last time.”
Haylee sets down a plateful of brownies, laughing. “Yeah, Cam. You were tapping out in like three minutes.”
“Whatever.” Cameron sets down the drinks. He puffs his chest out and struts to the TV. “I let her win. My dad taught me to never hurt a girl.”
“What about Lisa?” Tobi chides.
“Uh, that’s not the same thing. Besides, I didn’t hurt her.” Cam stands with his arms folded across his chest, defending himself against three girls.
The girls continue to tease him about the freshman who followed him around like a puppy for a couple of months last year. She had a huge crush on him, and his basketball teammates convinced him to take her out.
I whisper in Regan’s ear. “I’m about ready to get out of here.”
She nods.
Cameron grabs the video controller, getting the next game ready. “Come on, Regan. There’s no way you’re gonna win this one.”
Cam and Haylee showed up right after supper to play video games and hang out. Regan’s not into video games much, but she’s competitive with Cam no matter what. Sometimes it seems like she’s flirting rather than competing, but she says he drives her crazy. I believe her. It’s just I can’t help but wonder about it, and I’m pretty sure Cam has a thing for her.
Mmm, the brownies and popcorn smell so good. Chocolate breath may be okay but I better stay away from the popcorn. I reach over the sofa and scoop a piece up. Ah, it’s warm and delicious.
Haylee sits in the middle sofa with her legs outstretched in front of her, alternating between acting like she’s the commentator for the game and asking me twenty questions about school. She looks like a little kid plopped atop the cushions of a giant sofa. Her knees don’t even come close to reaching the edge. Tobi’s claimed the other side of the sectional, lying there like a slug.
I answer Haylee’s questions the best I can and watch Regan wiggle back and forth while she plays the game. It’s always a good time hanging out with my friends, but this night is dragging on. I do my best to pay attention to Haylee’s questions, but watching Regan and thinking about kissing her again has me a little distracted.
Tobi starts talking smack to Cam as she takes the video controller from Regan.
Regan takes the place Tobi left, moving across from me. Haylee continues jabbering, but Regan and I can’t keep our eyes off each other. If we don’t stop, we’re going to get caught. If we didn’t have to keep us a secret, I’d have her snuggled up next to me and this wouldn’t be such a big deal.
“Earth to Regan.” Cam nudges Regan’s head with his sock covered foot.
Her face scrunches up. “Eww gross.” She scoots away from him.
“What are you dreaming about that’s so important you don’t hear me?” Cam’s still trying to touch her with his gross foot.
Now’s as good a time as any. I stand. “I’m going to head out.”
“Dude, come on. I haven’t seen you in weeks and you’re gonna bale already?” Cam presses his palms together, begging me to stay.
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve spent any time with Cam or Haylee. Come to think of it, up to the day I left for college I spent most of my time with Regan.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, Cam.” I turn toward Tobi. “Thanks for dinner. See ya later, Haylee.”
Regan stands too, throwing a wave Cameron’s way. “Bye, guys.”
“We can take you home later,” Cam offers.
“Thanks. Practice was brutal. I’m tired.” She stretches her arms.
Tobi chimes in. “Yeah, it kicked my butt. I’m probably going to kick everyone out before too long, anyway.” Her words make our flimsy excuses for leaving more believable.
I lead the way, up the stairs, and out the door. I open the driver’s door for Regan to slide across the bench seat of my old truck.
When we pull out of Tobi’s drive, I’m not sure where I’m going yet. I hand Regan my phone. “Text Dad and ask what they’re doing.” She’s all smiles. I should have had her drive so I could kick back and look at her, maybe play with her hair. I knew I missed her this week, but being with her at Tobi’s without being close, pretending we’re only friends … was torture.
“Okay.” She starts typing. “Are you tired? I understand if you want to take me home.”
“I’m wide awake and I don’t plan on taking you home unless you want me to.” I turn on the main road heading north.
“Where are we going?” She scoots across the bench seat, close to me.
I shrug my shoulders. “Your house? Mine?”
“Mm, I’d rather not go to my house.”
I take her hand in mine.
Regan leans her head against my shoulder and hugs my arm. I love having her close to me like this.
“I thought we’d been caught. Good thing Tobi gave us a little warning. Hiding this, us, is really hard.”
My back relaxes a little. “I was beginning to think you liked keeping this secret.”
She sighs. “Not really.”
“We can’t do this forever.” I’ve got to figure out a way to convince her dad I’m not too old for her.
“It’s not forever. Only till I graduate.”
I’m going to take that as a bad joke and put it out of my mind for now. My phone pings. “What did he say?”
“Where are you? Thought you were coming to watch the band tonight?”
My brow furrows. “Huh?”
Regan shifts, untangling herself from my side. “It’s from J.”
I stop breathing. Crap! Why is she texting me? You’re the stupid idiot that exchanged numbers with her, remember?
“Who’s J?” Regan’s voice is soft. She’s staring at my phone.
After starving myself of air, the next breath comes in a gasp. “Uh, Jo’s in one of my classes.” It comes out rushed, and high pitched, and pathetic, and it’s a lie.
“Were you going to a concert tonight?”
I shake my head. “No, ma’am. I made plans weeks ago to be with you.” I shouldn’t be hiding this, but after Linc’s and our parents’ comments last weekend and her reaction to my seeing Johanna on Monday … Regan’s not ready to hear that Johanna’s in my composition class and I see her three days a week.
She leans back into me. “Good.”
I should be relieved but I’m not. I feel a little sick to my stomach. And yet, I keep piling it on. “Ross’s band called the Music Mutts.”
She laughs. “The Music Mutts?”
Keeping my eyes on the road, I nod in the darkness of the cab. “He’s showing me how to play.”
She gasps. “Really? You’d be a great guitar player.” She bounces in the seat, clinging to my arm. “You’re already a good singer. Can you play a song yet?”
I shake my head and snicker. “I’ve got a long way to go.”
My foot pushes the accelerator closer to the floor. Faster is better. She asks me about their music. All I know is what Ross has told me. I’d like to watch them play sometime, but not sure that will happen if I come home every weekend.
We pull into my driveway. “It doesn’t look like anyone’s home.” Regan sits up straight, looking around for my parents’ cars. “They didn’t text you back?”
I shake my head no, but look quickly at my phone as she slides out of the truck. I shut the volume off after the text from Johanna. She’s texted me again, but I ignore it. Nothing from Dad yet.
I open the door and flip on a light, allowing Regan to walk in first. It feels good to be home. “What do you want to watch?”
“I don’t care. Nothing sad. Want a drink?” Regan makes herself at home in the kitchen.
“Water.” I toss my keys on the counter and cross the room to pick out a movie.
After I start the movie, I hear a rustling and glance to see what she’s doing. A snicker almost escapes but I keep it tamped down. I can’t wait to taste the mint candies she’s popping in her mouth. My mom keeps a bowl full of them on the countertop.
Like a ninja, I sneak up behind her. “You got any more of those?”
She jumps and eeks out a tiny squeal.
I reach around her with both arms, laughing, snatching a couple mints, trapping her so she can’t move. After I pop them in my mouth, I wrap my arms around her middle. She settles against me, resting her arms on top of mine, encouraging me. Her hair is so soft against my cheek. The stress from the lousy first week of school releases a little more with her in my arms.
Apple and cinnamon fill the air. My dorm smells stale and a little like dirty clothes. This smells like home. I burrow my face against her neck through her hair and let more of the past week disappear. Regan feels like home.
She turns in my arms and slides her hands up my chest and around my neck, leaving a trail of blazing heat. I focus on the golden flecks of sunshine scattered throughout her eyes, deep as an ocean. Her pretty pink lips occasionally draw my focus away from her eyes. I want to kiss her. I want to know what she’s thinking.
Regan’s a sight I wish I could see every day. I lean down and press my lips to hers and then walk backwards to the sofa, pulling her with me.
She giggles at our attempt to stay connected without tripping over each other. Her hands slide down to my chest again, fogging up my brain. Mischief twinkles in her eyes. Pressure from her hands increases against me. She pushes me, knocking me back on the sofa cushions. I reach for her wrist on my way down, but miss.
After a boisterous victory parade, she plops down on the sofa beside me, settling in under my arm. I’m in heaven, sitting as close as possible with no one around to find us out. Regan stirs. I hold on to her, not wanting her to move away.
She looks down her nose at me. “I need to pee.”
I push pouty lips out at my loss and reach for the remote to pause the movie. “I’ll go get my bags from the truck.”
I dash outside and make it back in before she’s finished, dropping my bags in my room. The trophies and baseball glove on my dresser and bookshelf seem almost childish, but I miss this room. It shouldn’t feel this way after only one week, should it?
Regan steps into the hallway and sees me in the doorway of my bedroom. “Did you get everything?” She leans against the wall beside me and folds her arms in front of her. Th
e soft light bending around the door filters across her face. She looks like a dream. I can’t help staring at her.
“What?”
I flip my light switch off and quickly tug her to me. My back lands against the door frame, and I slide my hands around her waist.
She giggles at my actions. It’s dark in the hallway now, but I think her cheeks are my favorite shade of pink.
“So, you want to study together tomorrow?” I keep my hands around her and wait for her answer.
“Mmm, I don’t know. What are we studying?” She leans away from me, cocking her head to the side.
“I have some reading to do, questions to answer, a paper to write, and I thought …” I pull her a little closer. My heart beats faster. “We might have some time to examine the mechanics of kissing, strictly educational, of course.”
She touches her nose to mine. “That sounds interesting. I’m not sure I’ve studied that subject matter before.”
“Is that a yes?” I nuzzle my nose with hers.
“Your place or mine?”
As soon as those words left her lips, I covered them with mine. “I’m thinking maybe we need to get a head start on the subject. Give ourselves something to think about and discuss tomorrow.”
She looks down. “Um, this is embarrassing, but … do I, am I kissing you the right way? Do I do it right?” She picks at her fingers sprawled against my chest.
I chuckle. “I’m no expert, but I like the way you kiss me.”
She glances at me, chewing on her lip. “You seem like an expert.”
“Do we need a little more lab work or discussion tonight?”
She answers with a kiss. Her lips are so soft. They’re taking the lead. I like the way they feel on mine. Mmmm. Warmth grazes my lips and my mouth waters. I swallow it down before I taste the winter fresh on her tongue left by the mints we had earlier. We’re learning a new language. And I think we both like it so far.
Regan whispers against my lips. “Did you hear something?”
