I instinctively licked them and watched his breath catch at the action. “You what?” I whispered.
His eyes returned to mine and he looked at me for a few long, torturous moments before speaking. I knew he wasn’t going to say what he’d been thinking moments before, but as he continued to gaze down at me, I realized I might not have been able to handle it anyway. “I only said we were friends because I didn’t know what else to say.”
I groaned and let my head fall forward. I was an idiot. A stupid, moronic idiot. I didn’t want a relationship, but then I get annoyed when he calls me a friend.
He must have known what I was thinking, because he gave me a small, knowing smile when I lifted my head. “Besides, the truth is far more complicated.” He paused to take a deep breath before continuing. “The truth is… you’re the girl I can’t stop thinking about. The girl I want to ask on dates and kiss whenever I want. The girl I want to trust with my secrets in exchange for her own. The girl I’d give anything to introduce my mother to.” His voice broke at the mention of his mother, and I felt my doubts shrinking.
“I want to know how you lost your first tooth and what your favorite cartoon was. I want to know what your favorite flowers are so I can bring them to you when you’re sad and what your favorite candy is for when I piss you off.” We laughed as he shook his head and pushed a piece of hair behind my ear. “I want to be your New Year’s kiss and the guy you tell your friends about. I want… I just want everything with you.”
I let out a long breath and finally felt my body relax. “Yeah, friend was probably easier.”
“Maybe there was also a small, petty part of me that wanted to make you jealous. I never know what you’re thinking, and I just wanted to see if I mattered. But I never meant to make you feel inferior. I’m sorry.” He reached up and ran his hand through my hair, causing a shiver to rack my body.
“No, I’m sorry. You asked me out, and I said no. What did I expect you to say? God, I’m so stupid. I want to punch myself in the face.” He laughed, but I kept going. “But I wasn’t trying to make you jealous either. Sherry invited Chad.” I paused and tried to draw back some of my liquid courage. “I… uhm, changed my mind. About dating you. Or, uh, just going on a date with you.”
“You did, huh?”
I nodded and licked my suddenly dry lips.
We stood in silence and stared at each other as a kind of electricity buzzed around us. Slowly, so slowly I thought I might pass out from anticipation, he lowered his mouth until it was only an inch from mine. I could already taste the beer on his breath and feel the warmth from his lips as he hovered there.
A thought occurred to me, and just before he made contact, I scooted back. “Maybe we should wait for a better moment. Like when we’re not in a bathroom that’s been the destination for party quickies and drunken-induced vomit.”
His grin was almost blinding. “All the moment really needs is the two of us.”
As if on cue, banging started on the door, and a shrill female voice yelled, “Hurry up! I can’t throw up in another purse.”
Gabe and I laughed as he grabbed my hand and opened the door to a long line of angry partygoers. He leaned down toward my ear and whispered, “Don’t worry. I’m sure we can find another place.” He pulled back with a smirk. “Maybe a landfill?”
I laughed even harder as we walked down the hall. “Yup. That’s what dreams are made of.”
Alara and I were inseparable for the rest of the party. Even though Naomi and Alara were staying at Sherry’s once the party wrapped up, Alara only had water for the rest of the night. The two beers I drank had zero impact on me. But I’m pretty sure I could have drunk an entire bottle of tequila and I still would have sobered up the second I stepped outside. That’s how nervous I was. It was just after two in the morning when Alara walked me out to my car, and I was determined to make a “better moment” before I left for the night.
“Naomi seemed especially excited tonight.”
She nodded as we stepped out the front door. “Yeah, she just finished sending out all her law school applications. I think she’s ready to let loose a little.” Alara tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “She’s worked really hard these last few years, and she knows how much work law school will be… and she’ll totally commit once she’s there. Naomi’s the most disciplined person I know. But I think right now she just wants to make sure she experiences everything she can, you know?”
“Yeah, I think a lot of people get that way.” Nodding, she looked down as we descended the stairs, an awkward silence settling around us.
“So… this was your first time at Sherry’s place?” Alara asked as we reached the bottom of the stairs.
“Yeah. It’s really nice.”
“Right? I can’t believe she lives by herself. I mean… how the hell does she afford it?” She laughed nervously and stuffed her hands into the hoodie she slipped on before we walked out. We had just reached the sidewalk when Alara literally put three feet of concrete between us. I coughed into my hand to cover my growing smile, glad to know she was just as nervous.
“She doesn’t have a job?”
“No, she does. She tutors, but it’s only part time and unless it pays a crap ton, it still doesn’t explain how she can afford her lifestyle.” Alara’s footsteps slowed like she was trying to prolong our walk. I didn’t know whether it was because she knew I was going to kiss her and was nervous, or she just wanted more time with me, but either way I wasn’t complaining.
“What about her parents?”
“She never really talks about her parents. Actually, she doesn’t talk about her family at all.” She frowned and looked over at me. “I never thought about it before, but her past isn’t a topic of discussion too much.”
We both stopped talking as we took the final few steps to my car. Stopping at the front, we glanced at the driver’s side before looking at each other. Our nervous expressions quickly fled as we started laughing, both at each other as much as at ourselves.
“Why the hell is this so weird?” she asked.
“Right? I feel like we got the hard stuff out of the way in the bathroom.”
She smirked and stepped a little closer. “I feel like there’s a dirty joke in there somewhere.”
I laughed as I put my hands on her hips. “Yeah, I think there was. If Derek were here he’d be able to find it. But I’m a little distracted at the moment.”
“Are you?” She seemed to melt under my touch.
“Yeah.” I stared at her mouth, watching her breathing become unsteady and rapid. She licked her lips and I was lost. Earlier I had moved slowly, but this time I gave her no chance to stop it. Our lips met quickly, but the kiss itself was unhurried. I slowly moved my mouth in soft sweeps across hers. Alara felt stiff under me and her hand shook as I brought it up and around my neck. As the soft, closed-mouthed kisses continued she slowly relaxed and began moving her hands on her own, which I really fucking hoped meant she was ready for more because I didn’t think I could wait much longer. My mouth was eager as I slowly coaxed hers open and slid my tongue inside. When our tongues touched, her hand grasped and tugged the hair at the base of my neck, drawing a moan from me.
With both hands on her hips, I pulled her until she was flush against me. One of my hands moved around her hip and rested only an inch above her ass, while the other slowly started tracing her hip, ribs, and the side of her breast until I reached her collarbone. She shivered as I began making patterns on her shoulder, just like I did two weeks ago. I broke my mouth away only when I was positive we would both pass out from lack of air. She panted as I gently kissed the corner of her mouth, her jaw, all the way to her ear. When I nipped her earlobe, she gasped and arched into me while digging her nails into my scalp.
Alara’s confidence grew as she slipped a hand beneath my shirt and implemented my own torture as she softly drew patterns along the waistband of my jeans. I let out a small puff of air and tipped my head up when her mouth began
assaulting my neck. I savored every warm sweep of her lips, every tentative lick, and every stroke of her fingers.
We continued to explore one another until I was positive I couldn’t take any more. I gently broke our connection and pushed her back by the hips I now had a death grip on once more. Her arms fell from my body as we both struggled for air. My eyes were focused on my hands and with a gentle squeeze I let go, stepped back and met her beautiful, wide eyes.
“Wow.” The sound was so light it was more like a puff of air than an actual word. “That… that…”
I chuckled. “Yeah, that.”
It had been three days, seven hours, and four minutes since Gabe kissed me. Not that I was counting…
I was counting.
That thought had me rolling over and burying my head in my pillow with a loud groan and a ridiculously goofy smile. We had been texting nonstop since he left Sherry’s Saturday night, but we hadn’t had a chance to see each other again. Just as I had that disappointing thought, my phone vibrated on my nightstand. I leisurely turned over and stretched my hand toward it. When I brought it up above my face, I smiled as I started reading the words. Unfortunately that smile turned into a grimace as I lost my grip on the phone and it fell directly on my forehead.
“Oomph. Owww. Dammit,” I muttered as I furiously rubbed the already tender spot. I picked the phone back up and cautiously held it above my chest.
Gabe: so I believe you owe me a date…
Me: Hmm… I suppose I do. What did you have in mind?
Gabe: can I cook you dinner at our place this Friday? Derek works till 1 AM.
Me: *blushing*
Gabe: lol I promise to be a complete gentleman. unless you don’t want me to be?
Me: I’ll have to get back to you on that ;)
“What the hell are you grinning at?”
“AHH!” I screamed. Naomi smirked and moved further into the room until she sat at the foot of my bed, cradling a cup of coffee. “Jesus, I didn’t even hear the door open.”
“Probably because you were too busy making do-me eyes at your phone.”
“Shut up,” I mumbled as I shoved my phone under my pillow.
“Hey, it’s not a bad thing.”
“What do you want?”
“You’re crabby when you’re getting some.”
“SHUT UP!” I yelled as I threw a pillow at her. She easily ducked it and started laughing as I sat up higher on the bed and laughed with her.
She nodded to the pillow hiding my phone, before taking a sip of coffee and handing me her cup. “So I’m going to the bar for lunch today, do you want to come with?”
I took a generous “sip,” trying to buy some time before I had to answer. When Gabe and I spoke on the phone last night he definitely mentioned working today, but I couldn’t remember if it was the lunch shift. If it wasn’t then we could meet up somewhere else, but if he was working then I could—
“He works eleven to four today.”
I slowly brought the cup down and frowned into it when I realized I drank almost half. “Am I that transparent?”
She shook her head slowly. “No, that’s just how it is at the beginning. Almost every thought you have revolves around that person.” She smiled and stood up. “So I’m guessing that’s a yes,” she said about lunch.
“I think it’s been a yes since the beginning.”
Derek and I were setting up for the lunch shift when Sam walked in. I hadn’t seen her since a couple days before Mom’s birthday, and even though we still talked on the phone, it had been strained.
“Hey.” She looked nervous as she walked over and gave Derek a tiny wave. His face lit up some as he returned it. That was kind of weird—
“I need to talk to you,” she said as she turned to me, drawing me out of my thoughts.
I frowned before putting down my rag and walking toward her. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes. No. Yes. I’m not sure.” She slumped forward and started rubbing her forehead with the heel of her hand.
“What happened?” I led her away, out of earshot.
“Have you talked to Dad since you’ve been back?”
I froze. “No,” I said slowly. “Why? What’s he done?”
“Nothing, but Gabe, you need to tell him that you’re not coming back. He’s making plans, and I know you think he doesn’t deserve it, but you need to have this discussion with him.”
“He won’t listen. He and Miranda are like a dog with a fucking bone.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I know. But you’re starting to build a new life now and you have people you care about here, yes?”
Only one face popped into my head, but yes, there were countless people I cared about.
“Right. So think about Dad’s business strategy—it’s always been about personal attacks. I don’t know what he’ll do, but I don’t think his strategy will change just because you’re his son.” I felt sick as the truth of her words sunk in. I didn’t know what he would do either, but he was a ruthless businessman. He didn’t get where he was by waiting around and hoping things worked out in his favor.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“How?”
“Christ, I don’t know. But I will.” I shook my head and lowered myself onto a chair nearby. “I don’t even understand why. Why me? There are tons of assistants and interns at that place that would be salivating at this offer. Why not give it to someone who wants it?”
She frowned before taking a seat across from me. “It’s all about power—he’s mad because he’s lost his power over you.” We sat in silence for a few moments before she got up. “Well, I just thought you should know…”
I stood up with her. “Do you want to stay for lunch?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Derek had moved closer, cleaning the tables around us. And I swore he paused and tilted his head our way at my question.
“No, I have to get going. I’m not supposed to leave school on my lunch, but I’ve become a rebel since you left.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt it,” I joked. She turned to leave when I called out her name.
“Yeah?”
“You’d tell me if he ever did anything to you, right?”
Her smile was sad when she shook her head. “The only thing he does is ignore me.” She walked out without another word.
When I turned back around Derek was frowning as he looked after my sister. Noticing my stare, he gave me a nervous smile before walking back toward the bar.
So. Weird.
We silently worked through the shift, which was blessedly busy and took my mind off my dad. It was just after two o’clock when the bar finally died down, allowing Derek and me to work on our side jobs.
“Today must be the day for visitors,” Derek said as he nodded his head over my shoulder. I turned around to see Alara and Naomi walking through the front door. For the first time in three hours, I had a reason to smile. They hadn’t noticed us yet; they were talking to Sadie, who was wildly tossing her hands around as she told a story. Alara was back in her usual get-up, a simple olive green sweater and black jeans tucked into short black boots. She was moving her bag higher on her shoulder when she finally noticed me staring. With a shy smile, she tapped Naomi’s shoulder and then pointed in our direction. They left Sadie a minute later and joined Derek and me at the bar where we were cleaning glasses.
“Hey,” Alara said as she stopped a few feet away.
“Hi.” I laughed at her deer-in-headlights expression before pulling her in for a quick kiss. When I leaned back, her demeanor softened and she relaxed into my side as Naomi looked on with a wide grin and Derek looked on with a scowl.
“Dude,” he said as looked between us. “You didn’t think to give me a heads-up?”
“Do you require payment for her too, asshole?” Naomi asked as she reached over and smacked the back of his head. We all laughed as Derek tried to dodge Naomi’s tiny fists.
“Are you guys staying?” I asked. I must have sounded embarra
ssingly enthusiastic because Derek and Naomi started laughing at me. But I didn’t care, especially when Alara gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before nodding her head. Totally fucking worth the embarrassment.
…
The next few days were uneventful. I left a message with my father’s secretary, who told me she would get back to me with an appointment time. Who the fuck has to make an appointment to see their own father? That alone almost made me cancel. But then I thought about Sam’s warning and I knew I couldn’t avoid him any longer.
Alara and I continued texting while Derek continued to mock me, and I really didn’t give two shits from a hairy rat’s ass. When Friday finally came, I couldn’t wait for seven o’clock. I was like a kid on a car ride to Disneyland. And if our kitchen clock could talk it would have said, Stop staring at me every ten minutes, time ain’t gonna move any faster, buddy.
Normally I relished my days off, but today I would have given anything to have a lunch shift and be distracted for five hours. So with no work to occupy myself until Alara came over, I headed to the store early to pick up all the ingredients I’d need for dinner. As I stood by the checkout, I went through everything in my head one more time until I was sure I had everything for an Italian dinner. In one of the random conversations we had, she mentioned how much she loved pretty much any type of Italian food. Was I trying to score some points? Absolutely. Was I ashamed? Not one damn bit.
By the time I got home and laid the groceries on the counter, Derek was just rolling out of bed and stumbling into the kitchen.
“Morning,” he mumbled.
“It’s almost two o’clock in the afternoon.”
He shrugged off my statement before yawning and waving his hand in the direction of the brown paper bags. “What’s all this?”
Unveiling The Sky Page 16
