When I’ve managed to regain my composure, I tell Jordyn about my awkward conversation with Henry earlier.
“Twice in one day? You poor thing.” She scoots across the bed and straddles me. It has absolutely no effect, though. I can’t even think about sex after that. Well, I can, but it’s easy to keep from acting on it.
Captain comes galloping through the door and jumps up on the bed. Kelly is madly in love with him. I’ll probably leave him with her when I head off to Stanford. I can’t exactly have him in the dorms, and I can’t afford to get an apartment. And that’s when it hits me.
“Rhode Island,” I mumble, petting Captain.
Jordyn rolls over so she’s using Captain like a pillow. She reaches out to brush her fingertips over my lips. “California,” she says.
“Could we have picked schools farther apart?”
“I know.” She closes her eyes. I watch her for several seconds until she opens her eyes and pops up. “Let’s not dwell on it now. We have a celebration to attend,” she says, throwing her arm out. She yanks me up from the bed and pulls me upstairs. Captain follows at our heels.
Henry and Kelly are taking us to some fancy steakhouse for my birthday and to celebrate Jordyn’s good news. Thankfully, Kelly doesn’t bring up that she walked in on me dry-humping her daughter. When the subject of Rhode Island comes up, I try my best not to let it bring me down. Jordyn knows. She holds my hand tightly under the table.
THIRTY-SIX
The end of the school year is approaching fast, and the understanding that we’re all about to start the rest of our lives has made even the vilest people somewhat standable.
With the Stanford stuff in play, I’ve agreed to take Coach up on his offer to run drills with me. And when the underclassmen start training for the new season, I train right alongside them. Thankfully Brett and most of the other seniors have decided it’s beneath them.
“Hey, man,” Marcus says as I’m changing out of my practice clothes in the locker room one afternoon.
It’s been a while since we’ve even spoken—not since the big fight that got me suspended before winter break. I didn’t make much of an effort, honestly, and Sheila and Marcus are practically inseparable. Probably why he hasn’t tried either.
“Hey.” I take a seat on the bench to put my shoes on.
“You’re looking good out there.”
“Thanks.”
“Coach tells me you’re still on track for Stanford.”
“Yep.” I stuff my things into my bag and close the locker.
I can tell from the look on Marcus’s face that he’s feeling as awkward as I am.
“I just wanted to say congrats, bro.” He pats me on the back sort of sideways.
“Thanks.”
“I better . . .” He trails off as he heads for the door. “See ya, man.”
I watch him go, feeling weirdly sad, like that’s the last conversation we might ever have.
? ? ?
The old funeral suit—which almost fits perfectly again now—gets another outing when Henry books a big wedding gig. Kelly joins us because she and Henry are going to Vail for the weekend before the snow starts to melt. The venue is this old lodge in the foothills overlooking the entire city. We had a little spring snowstorm today, so everything’s white, but it’s still not that cold. Which is good because the bride was not about to let her wedding get moved indoors.
The best part about the wedding is that when it’s over, Jordyn and I will have the house to ourselves.
She’s smiling at me in that way that makes me practically lose my footing as we walk through the door. I desperately need to undo my top button or I might pass out.
When we reach her room, she unbuttons it for me. Then she slowly moves to the next. And the next. Never losing eye contact. It’s so hot. Once the whole shirt is unbuttoned, she brushes her hands up my chest and pushes the shirt off my shoulders. She kisses my neck, then my shoulder, then my chest, then my stomach. Her lips are soft and hot where they brush my skin. I can feel them long after they’ve already moved on to the next spot. She kisses her way back up my chest while her hands unfasten my belt.
When my pants hit the floor, I take her hands and place them at her sides, and then I slide my hands up her arms, skimming her skin with the tips of my fingers. One hand comes to rest behind her neck and with the other I brush my thumb across her lips. Her eyes drift shut. I lean in and kiss her just next to her mouth. I brush my lips right beneath her ear. I kiss her neck, pushing her hair out of the way of her zipper. My lips linger on that spot under her ear that drives her crazy, and I very, very slowly unzip her dress.
Her breathing picks up.