“You need to leave?” I give her a slight nod before I place a light kiss on her forehead.
“I now have a very early morning tomorrow.” I look at my watch and groan. “Or should I say today?”
She smiles and for a split second, I see that doubt flicker across her eyes. Nope. Not happening, so I take her face in my hands once more and tilt her head back.
“Trust me, Sunshine, I would much rather be here with you and finish what we started.” I kiss her, restraining myself as I pull her close so she can feel just how much I want to stay. “This is all you, okay? No one else can do this to me.” Our eyes meet as I lean down and kiss her softly.
“I get it,” she murmurs, and I take a moment to thank whoever brought us together.
“Good, because I need more of that,” I say, pointing to the couch as that blush rises over her skin, causing me to chuckle. I bring her in for a hug, her arms wrapping tight around my middle. “Can I see you again?” I ask, hoping for once that the answer is different, and when she nods her head against my chest, I can’t help the shit-eating grin that lights up my face.
“Hand me your phone,” she demands. When I hand it over, she programs her number and hands it back. “There, it’s all on you now.”
I roll my eyes playfully because we both know it’s been all on me this entire time. I lean in, pressing my lips to hers because I can’t seem to stay away. I reluctantly pull away before I throw caution to the wind and stay the night.
“Don’t worry, after what we just did, there is no fucking way I’m staying away.”
She raises a brow as I lean my forehead against hers, loving the fact that her eyes close once we’re touching.
“I know,” she whispers. “Go before you’re too tired to wake up tomorrow and your coach benches you.”
“As if he could…” I tease, giving her one last kiss before grabbing my coat and pulling the door open. I pray she doesn’t change her mind before I see her again.
16
Harper
Josh: Be ready at seven
That’s all the text says. Shivers cascade over my entire body as I continue to read it over and over again. I know he’s coming back from his road trip today, he told me last night while we were talking on the phone, something we’ve been doing a lot since he left my apartment that night we almost threw all caution to the wind. After we got interrupted by his coach, I regretted not asking him to stay every day that’s passed since he left. He’s told me many times that he wants to take me on a date, but when you have a job that takes up eighty-five percent of your time, finding the time can be very hard. Especially when you’re across the country and nowhere near close enough to do all the things I know we both want to do to each other.
I read the words one more time and blush at the promise those four words invoke. How is it that my body responds more to his texts than it did in the two years I was with Cole? That seems to be the real crime here.
The clock on my stove tells me it’s five forty-five and I immediately start to panic. I have to get ready, and fast. So I rush into the bathroom, turn on the shower and start to wonder what he has planned for tonight. Once I’m showered, I go and stand in front of my closet and look at everything I own and realize I have nothing to wear. I have nothing date-worthy at all, and so I do the only thing I know to do in a situation like this. I text Mel.
Me: Date wardrobe 911! I need options ASAP.
In less than a minute she responds.
Mel: On my way!
I spend the next twenty minutes drying and straightening my hair which reminds me why I always seem to throw my hair into a bun at the top of my head. Easier. Before long, the front door bursts open and Mel comes barreling into my room with armfuls of clothes.
“Did you bring your whole closet with you?” I ask as she spreads out a bunch of options on the bed as I gawk at the amount of clothing she actually brought. “No, seriously, did you leave anything at your house?”
“Honey, that hole-in-the-wall you call a closet is a disaster and we both know it.”
I shrug because she’s right as she places everything into piles on top of my bed and I thank the universe that this woman is a friend. Who else would bring their entire closet with them?
“Okay,” she starts, standing up straight and looking down at the mountains that are currently taking over my mattress. “I have three piles.” She gestures toward the bed. “The first one is for sure bets. These are the clothes I know are the closest to what you usually wear.” She shows me a pair of black skinny jeans, a flowy top and bright red heels. She rolls her eyes at the smile on my face, knowing that I already love that option.
“Then we have the maybe pile. This option is a little more outside your comfort zone but when you see the way Josh looks when he sees you, I think you’ll change your mind.”
The blush creeps up as
