by Dee J. Stone
Mom puffs up her light brown hair. “I’m going to call Mrs. Newberry tomorrow morning and we’re going to get this all straightened out. You’ll be back there in no time.”
“Mom, did you not hear anything I said? I don’t want to go back there.”
“We’re not allowing you to quit Kelman’s.”
Rey’s cheeks blow up, his face all red. He narrows his eyes at Mom. Rey’s the good kid. Always has been. He hardly ever talked back to Mom and Dad. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s acting a lot like me.
He pushes back his chair and stomps up the stairs. The door to his room slams.
“What has gotten into him?” Mom asks.
Dad shrugs helplessly.
“Elvis.” Mom turns to me. “Do you know what’s bothering him? He needs to snap out of it and return to school. I still have time to convince them to take him back.”
“I don’t think he wants to go back to that school, Mom.”
“Of course he does. What nonsense. He was talking nonstop about it ever since he got in.” She gets up and starts collecting the plates.
“Give him a chance to cool down, Shirley,” Dad says. “It’s his first time away from home. You remember what happened when we tried to send him to summer camp.”
I remember that. We must have been around eight years old. All of Rey’s friends were going and Rey begged Mom and Dad to go, too. After only one night, he called to bring him home.
He begged me to go, too, but Lex and I planned to build a fort that summer. One made of things we found around the neighborhood. I remember how glad we were when he came back. We spent weeks working on the fort until one of the neighbors made us stop because it was too dangerous.
Rey gets homesick. He can’t be away for more than a few weeks.
“I’ll speak to him,” I tell my parents. They nod, seeming thankful.
Rey’s door’s locked. I knock. “It’s me.”
No answer.
“C’mon, Rey.”
After a few seconds, I hear movement. The door opens. For a minute, I think he might slam it in my face. But he heads back inside. I follow and sit down next to him on the bed.
I don’t say anything. Neither does he. We don’t look at each other. I reach for his stress ball, squeeze it, then toss it to him. It hits him on the thigh. “I get it,” I tell him.
“Whatever, Cruise.”
“Ever since you left, I wanted you to come home.”
He raises his head. “You did?”
“Yeah. Missed you like hell, bro.”
His lips lift in a small smile. Then he frowns. “You have Lex.”
I shake my head. “No one can replace my twin brother.”
Rey picks up the stress ball from the bed and squeezes it until his knuckles get white. “I feel so much better at home.”
I nod. “Can imagine. But you were making friends there. After some time—”
“Nah, Cruise. The kids are cool, I guess. But they’re not Derek and Jared.”
“Yeah. Sucks to miss the last year and a half of high school just to go to a prestigious school.”
His eyes light up. “Right? I didn’t get that at first. When I told Derek, he was happy for me, but also sad. I didn’t get it. But now I do. You go to a different school, and you think you’ll be tight with all your friends. But then you call them and they tell you some joke you don’t get. Because you had to be there.”
I nod.
Rey shrugs. “Seems stupid.”
“Nothing’s stupid. If you’re happier here, stay here. There will be other opportunities in the future. You are one helluva violin player. That won’t go unnoticed.”
Rey’s face looks so much more relaxed now. “See, Cruise? That’s why I need to stay here. You always know the right thing to say.”
I wave my hand.
He laughs and claps my shoulder. “Mom’s pissed, though. I mean, she’s right in a way. I didn’t give Kelman’s a real chance. But if you know something’s not right for you, why stick with it?”
“You’re having second thoughts?”
If he shakes his head any faster it’ll snap right off. “Hell no.”
I softly punch his arm. “Just be honest with Mom and Dad and tell them how you feel. I know that’s not easy with Mom, but she’s been working on listening to me. Maybe she’ll do the same with you.”
He nods. “Thanks for everything, Cruise. You’re not the jerk everyone makes you out to be,” he jokes.
I grab his head and bury it in my armpit. “It’s been years since I’ve done this, but the occasion calls for it.”
“Quit bullying me just because you’re two minutes older!” he yells, just like he did when we were kids.
I chuckle. “I got homework. We’ll talk later?”
He gapes at me. “You’re doing homework?”
“Yeah. Didn’t know kids actually do that shit.” I shrug.
“Oh, get out of here already.”
***
Lex opens her window and smiles at me. I moved back into this room only a month ago, but the memories fly into my head like I’ve been in here all my life. Having a room across from hers made me feel good when I first started crushing on her. I didn’t spy on her or anything, but we’d sometimes sneak out of bed late at night and shine flashlights on each other’s windows. We’d play some games like holding out objects in the dark and the other one had to guess what it was. Or whisper words the other one had to guess. Rey found out one night and demanded he be part of it. He snuck into my room. It wasn’t the same. Didn’t feel as special.
Last month, when Lex and I weren’t talking to each other, I tried not to think of the memories. Sometimes I looked out my window and saw her sitting by hers, staring at the moon, just like I did. I wanted to say so much to her. Wanted to be close to her again. I can’t believe my wishes came true.
“Hey, beautiful,” I say.
“Hey, handsome.”
“You sure you’re not tired? You got dance practice tomorrow morning.”
Lex waves her hand. “As if I can sleep. I can’t get you out of my head, Cruise.”
“And I can’t get you out of mine. If I were able to, I’d fly right into your room, gather you in my arms and kiss you so hard you won’t be able to sleep no matter how hard you try.”
Lex covers her mouth and giggles. “You’re making me blush.”
“Good. It’s working.”
She giggles again. I’ve always loved her giggles. She thinks they’re annoying, but they’re one of the greatest things I’ve heard in my life.
“Still have a flashlight?” she asks with another laugh.
“Want to?” I ask.
She laughs again. “Yeah?”
“Okay, be right back. What do you want to play?”
“I always loved Guess That Word.”
“Ah, good choice. But I have to warn you. I can’t guarantee the words won’t be a little dirty.”
“Cruise!” She grabs a small ball off her desk and throws it at me. Except, it doesn’t get enough momentum and hits the ground.
“You killed an innocent ball,” I say.
“Well, maybe if you behaved yourself I wouldn’t have a need to murder any balls.”
“Admit you like it.”
“I’m not admitting anything.”
“Just you wait until I kiss you. You’ll be admitting more than you think.”
I hear her sweet laughs as I search my drawers for a flashlight. I love playing around with her like this. It’s like…I don’t know how to describe it. She’s my best friend, but also the girl of my dreams. The love of my life. I’ve known her since we were five years old, have loved her since I was thirteen. I want to make her the happiest girl on the planet.
After I find the flashlight in my bottom drawer and make sure the batteries are working, I return to the window. Lex flashes her flashlight into my eyes, blinding me.
“I see you found yours,” I tease.
“Yo
u go first,” she says.
“Okay.” I tap my chin as I think for a few seconds. “I’m going for a sentence.” I tuck the flashlight under my mouth. “You,” I whisper.
Lex leans closer. “Again.”
The rule is that you only have two chances until you lose the round. “You,” I say a little louder.
“You.”
I nod. “Are.”
“Are.”
“The.”
“The.”
“Most.”
“Post?”
“Nope. Most.”
“Most, duh,” she says. “Okay, you are the most…”
“Amazing.”
Her voice wavers when she says, “Amazing.”
“Beautiful.”
She swallows. “Beautiful.”
“Girl.”
“Girl.”
“I.”
“I.”
“Have.”
“Have.”
“Ever.”
She swallows a few more times. “Ever.”
“Met.”
“Met.”
“And.”
“And.”
“I.”
“I.”
“Love.”
“Love.” Her voice is pretty shaky.
“You.”
“You.”
“Soooo.”
“So.”
“Much.”
“Much.”
“I.”
“I.”
“Think.”
“Think.”
“I.”
“I….”
“Might.”
“Might.”
“Die.”
D…die…”
“If.”
“If.”
“I.”
“I.”
“Don’t.”
“Don’t.”
“Kiss.”
She swallows again. “K…kiss.”
“You.”
“You.”
“Right.”
“Right.”
“Now.”
“Now.”
I shut my flashlight. So does she. We just stare at each other. Despite the darkness, I see her chest rise and fall heavily. Mine does, too. Lex leans as close to me as possible. “Meet me downstairs.” She disappears from the window.
I slip out my room and tiptoe down the stairs. Mom’s a light sleeper. I doubt she’d appreciate me waking her up at this late hour. When I reach the door, I slowly and quietly unlock it. Lex is standing on the ramp in front of her house. I rush toward her and she runs to me. She leaps into my arms and I collapse to the ground. Her lips seek mine. My fingers get tangled in her wavy curls as I kiss her. Her moans ignite this crazy-ass fire in me that makes me want to do so much to her.
“Cruise.” She pulls back, her eyes blazing, her lips swollen, her chest rising and falling wildly.
“T. Rex,” I moan, closing my mouth over hers. She lets me continue kissing her. Lets herself get swallowed in this amazing feeling we only get to experience with each other. I’ve kissed more girls than I’d like to admit, but none of them made me feel the way my T- Rex does. I can go days without food and water, as long as I have this girl in my arms, hear her giggles, taste her lips.
“Cruise,” she whispers.
“It’s okay, darlin’,” I say, my own voice a whisper. “I’ll go slow. I won’t do anything to hurt you.”
When we first started going out, Lex was nervous. Said she liked me so much and was scared of getting hurt. I told her we’d go at whatever pace she wants. I’m not in any rush to seal the deal with her.
I gather her closer to me and scoot back until I hit the wall of her house. I stare down at her and she looks at me. I get just enough light from the street lamp to see those beautiful, big, expressive blue eyes. Every time I look into them, I feel like I’m falling into another world. Crex Land. Yeah, still gotta work on the name.
My thumb brushes across her lips. “I can never get enough of you. Even if we lived a million years.”
She rests her cheek on my shoulder. “Do you think about it a lot?”
“It?”
“You know.”
I tuck my fingers under her chin, lifting her head so I can gaze into her eyes. “Of course I do, darlin’. But like I told you, I’m not rushing you. I’ll wait forever.”
“I doubt you’ll wait forever.”
“I swear I will, if that’s what you want.”
Her arms come around my neck. She lowers her head onto my shoulder again. “It won’t be forever. I can tell you that.”
I bury my nose in her hair, breathing in her delicious smell. “If it was up to me, I’d fall asleep with you in my arms. That’s what I think about every night.”
“Me, too,” she whispers.
We sit like this for a little while. I run my hand up and down her back. Her eyes flutter closed. She dozes off after a few minutes. I can’t help but stare at her. My beautiful Lex. There’s no way in hell I could fall asleep. Not when she’s sleeping in my arms like this. I look around, waiting for something to end this. To yank me out of this dream and force me to face reality. Because this doesn’t feel real.
But no one’s around to stop this. No anvil is hanging over my head. Maybe a guy like me can be happy. Maybe good things really do happen in life. Maybe this Cruiser doesn’t have to cruise solo for all eternity.
Chapter Six
Lex
Cruiser emerges from the garage, wheeling his motorcycle toward me, his helmet tucked under his arm. He stops before me and leans forward to capture my lips with his. When our mouths come apart, I say, “You didn’t have to wake up early just to take me to dance practice. I can ask one of my teammates for a lift.”
He bends forward again to press another kiss on my lips. “I want to. It makes me feel good to do this for you.”
My stomach muscles clench. The things he says…he really knows how to melt my heart. I step closer to him and squeeze my cheek against his. Running my lips from his nose to his ear, I whisper, “You really know how to turn a girl on. With those velvet lips of yours.”
“Did you just say velvet?”
I cover my face with my hands. “I did?”
“You did.”
I groan. “I should stop reading romance novels.”
He chuckles, wrapping an arm around my waist and hauling me to his chest. “Don’t get any ideas from those books, darlin’. They’re nothing compared to what I give you.”
I burst out laughing. “You’re so funny, Cruiser.”
He hands me a second helmet. I love riding with him. I remember the first time I did, when he and I skipped school last month to go to the beach for a talk. I’m not sure if he sensed how nervous I was, how much I was freaking out inside. Not only was I scared for the actual ride, but I was freaking out due to his close proximity. I felt the strong muscles of his chest when I wrapped my arms around him. I inhaled his wonderful Cruiser scent throughout the entire ride, getting buried in it. It felt like we shared such an intimate moment.
Since we’ve started going out, I’ve ridden behind him many times. I feel the same tingly sensation every time. It starts at my fingers, travels up my arms, down my torso, my stomach, my legs, until it reaches my toes.
Just as I’m about to slip on my helmet, Cruiser takes me by the waist and tugs me to his chest. He lays a strong kiss on my lips. “I need to talk to you after practice. That okay?”
I brush some hair off his eyes, trying to read his expression. He looks a little worried, maybe nervous. “Of course,” I tell him.
Once my helmet is on, Cruiser climbs onto his bike and helps me up behind him. To tease him, I place one hand on his chest, then slowly—very slowly—bring it up until I reach his neck. Then, I bring it back down, just as slowly. I hear something form in the base of his throat. I start over, lightly bringing my hand up his chest.
His hand closes over mine. He moans my name. I lean forward and whisper a
gainst the back of his neck, “You like that?”
He moans my name two more times.
I slip my helmet off and press my lips to his skin. “I like that I have such an effect on you.”
“More than you think, darlin’,” he murmurs.
I run kisses down his neck. “I’m tempted to screw practice and do this all morning.”
His head falls back and he groans.
“Mmm?” I press my lips to his skin.
He takes off his helmet, spins around on the bike, and yanks me to him. “You little temptress.”
His lips trail kisses down my neck. My insides turn to soft candy. “I’m…going to miss practice…”
“Mmm. That’s the plan.”
I laugh. “Cruiser.”
“Saying my name just makes me want to kiss you more.”
“Mr. Dalton.”
“No…” He skims his lips lower down my neck. “Mr. Dalton is my dad.”
A beep makes us jump. I turn and see a car stuck behind a van. It beeps again. My gaze meets Cruiser and we start laughing. “I thought it was my mom,” I rasp.
“Me, too.” He runs his fingers through my hair. “We should get going.”
I nod reluctantly. We put our helmets back on and Cruiser kicks into gear. My arms lock around his middle as we speed off. I love the feeling of the wind blowing through my hair. Cruiser’s hair tickles my nose, and I sniff in its scent. It’s gotten a little longer over the past few weeks. I tighten my arms around him, hugging myself as close to him as possible.
We get to school and Cruiser parks his bike. He slings his arm over my shoulder as we make our way into the building. “You mind me watching you practice?” he asks.
“No, just don’t laugh when I mess up the routine. I can’t seem to get it right.”
“You’ll get there. All it takes is perseverance and dedication.”
I slide my hands through his. “Thanks for all the support.”
He brings our hands to his mouth and kisses the back of my palm. “I owe you for all those years you were supportive of my violin. You don’t know how much that meant to me.”
I stop outside the entrance to the gym and look up at him. “Really?”
He nods. “I felt like such crap every time I screwed up my piece. But then you were there, all smiley and telling me how awesome I was. It made me feel really good. My parents were never happy with my performance, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to impress you.”
