I feel him sigh, reaching out his arm so I can snuggle in against him. He’s so warm and solid; this is the best spot in the whole world.
“This is all because I broke a promise to you. I’ve never broken a promise to you and this is why; look at us. I’m supposed to be with you, I said I would be.” He looks so sad and broken. “Laney baby, I’m so sorry I walked away. I just had to make sense of what you said and how it made me feel. All I heard was that you don’t trust me, but I realize you were saying that you do trust me, enough to tell me your fears. Maybe you were a little harsh.” He smiles slightly, but not a real smile. He props up on one elbow, looking down at me lovingly, desperately. “I get what you’re saying, Laney, I do. There’ll be girls and parties, but there’ll be boys and parties where you are, too. All I can tell you, with all my heart, is that there is only one you. I’d never risk this; us.”
God, he’s amazing. I know he believes everything he just said, and I know he’d die before he consciously hurt me, but girls can be persuasive and so damn manipulative. Alcohol and college are the matches to their gasoline.
“Not everyone leaves for good, Laney. Not your dad and not me. Life doesn’t overwhelm us all. It throws snags, but we’ll deal, together, like we always have.”
He’s right, he’s not a runner. Maybe I’m overreacting and imagining the worst.
“You know what, Ev, can we just forget I said anything? We’ve still got weeks left before it’s even an issue, and maybe all the girls there will be really ugly.”
He laughs and places a kiss on my forehead. “We’ll curb it for now, cause I’ve got time left to show you I belong to only you. Prepare to be wooed and subdued,” he says with my smile, half love and respect of a best friend, the other half love and sultriness of my man and forever; the smile only for me.
“Woman, you went a lil’ crazy, so you know I’m picking the movie, right?”
“As long as it’s in this room, pick away.” Like he’d leave this room right now, surely he’s not dying to tell my dad how he missed using the front door. Oh yeah, Evan, you da man. Pick the movie, Mister All Powerful, cause you win.
I don’t even ask—he chooses Robin Hood. He thinks it’s the “manliest” of my collection. I try to hold my eyes open, memorizing how often he breathes, the sound when he blinks, the exact speed he rubs my arm...but soon I am asleep.
Chapter Eleven
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EXPLORATION
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Laney
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Summer is bliss as Evan and I spend every second we can together. We fish a lot, lay out by the lake, and look up at the stars. Our slumber parties are a nightly occurrence. Tonight when he shows up, I have big plans of my own. His text pulls me out of mentally writing “Make Your Move for Dummies.”
Evan: Hey Sugar Bear. Leaving gym, home 2 shower, then b there. Maybe 1 hr.
Laney: Hurry...safely.
Evan: Why, what’s up?
Laney: Lil chilly in this outfit. Need snuggled.
Look at me, all suggestive vixen. I can’t very well send him to the University of Orgy without some clue of what he’s missing.
My phone starts ringing, “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers. It’s our matching ringtone that Evan picked out. It only plays when we call each other.
“Hello?”
“Woman, you can’t be telling me stuff like that over text when I’ve gotta drive to you. You trying to kill me?” He’s actually groaning out his words.
Hearing him so worked up sends goosebumps across my skin. “Oh, I’m sorry, my bad. I didn’t think of that.” Lie. I’m kinda good at this game.
“What are you doing right now? Where’s my Laney?” His soft chuckle sends warmth throughout me.
“She’s right here, under her covers, all chilly and lonely.” That was my best innocently sexy voice, which I didn’t even know I possessed.
“I’m hanging up now, baby. I’m gonna run off the road. See you in just a bit.”
Oh Lord, now I actually have to face the music. I’m sooo scandalous! Bout time!
I jump out of bed and quickly brush my teeth, spray on some body mist and brush out my hair. I take one last look at my new ensemble; boy cut pink sleep shorts and a matching cami. I almost put it back at the store, losing my nerve, but I’ve got a point to make.
“Hey, sleepyhead.”
I rub my eyes, waiting for them to readjust to the dim light. I must have dozed off waiting for him, but his sweet, throaty words in my ear, his arms around me, and his body pressed against mine from behind is a welcome wake-up call.
I roll over to look at him, shaggy brown hair still wet from his shower and latent heat in his blue eyes. “Hey, sorry, I fell asleep.”
“Don’t be sorry, I love sleepy Laney. I missed you.” He rubs his nose along mine; I love it when he does that. How will I live without this? No, stop that.
“I missed you, too.”
“Mmmm, good. Gimme some sugar.”