My stomach flipped over. I dropped my gaze from his in surprise, not knowing how to respond. But God, that had felt really, really … good. “Um, I uh—”
Chase’s fingers slipped under my chin. I looked up. He leaned close, his gaze on my mouth. His lips caught the light just as they lowered to mine. He tasted of whiskey and wildness. He tasted delicious. Of things I shouldn’t be doing. My eyes fluttered closed.
I didn’t even know him, but in the moment I felt his tongue slide into my mouth, I didn’t care. I felt triumphant! This was so easy! I wanted to tell Joey. You see? I can find someone awesome. Someone who’s not a chump. He kisses beautifully. He’ll make my first time great as well. He’s so into me.
Wait, I wanted to tell Joey?
Suddenly, Joseph’s face was in my mind. Blue eyes, not brown. Dirty blond hair, not Chase’s hair. I tried to refocus on the soft slide of Chase’s mouth and wondered if Joseph’s skin felt the same. Was Joey’s skin stubbly?
I definitely refocused on Chase when his warm hand that had suddenly materialized on my side, slid purposefully around to my front and dangerously toward my breast. Oh. Okay this was interesting. Warmth spread through me.
I expected his hand to stop. To wait for permission. To see if it was okay with me.
I mean I’d kissed a few boys at school. This was how it went, right?
But his hand continued gliding … right up over my breast.
I gasped, breaking the kiss.
The sound of a throat clearing behind me caused me to jump. “Jazz,” said Joseph’s hard voice. “How about you introduce me to your friend.”
MORTIFICATION FEELS VERY much like a heavy load of lava rolling around in your gut. You burn from the inside out, all your blood and organs pushed uncomfortably out of the way, including your tongue. I was dying. I mean, to be caught mid feelup?
Gah!
Caught by Joseph?
Die.
Chase hopped to his feet and reached for my hand, pulling me up. Well brought up boy that he obviously was.
“Hi, I’m Chase Kennedy,” he said to Joey with a hand out. Holy shrimp guts, I didn’t even know his last name, and he was almost on a first name basis with my girls. I folded my arms across my chest to belatedly keep them safe.
“Chase, this is Joey,” I managed.
“Joseph Butler,” said Joey and shook the proffered hand. “So how do you and Jazz know each other?”
Chase glanced at me, smirking.
“Uh, through work?” I said.
“We met today.”
Joseph’s eyebrows rocketed upwards, and I winced, looking away so as not to catch his eye.
“So how about you guys?” Chase asked Joey. “No offense, you don’t look like you’re in high school.”
“We’re family friends,” said Joey. “I’m back from college for the summer.”
“Oh yeah? Where are you at school?”
“South Carolina.”
“Gamecocks?”
“Yeah. You?”
“Tar Heels.”
So he went to Chapel Hill in North Carolina? That wasn’t far. Oh my God. Where was my mind going? My plan didn’t include staying in touch. It had to be quick, fun, and easy.
“Nice. Battle of the Carolinas,” said Joey referring to the hundred-year-old rivalry between North and South Carolina. “We’re rivals.”
I snorted without meaning to.
Then Colt walked up. A regular college boy sausage fest. I slunk away to find Keri Ann as they talked sports scores, Greek and fraternities.
“I just got cock-blocked by your brother,” I moaned to Keri Ann as I flopped to the sand next to her and our friend Liz.
“He’s just making sure no one takes advantage of you,” defended Keri Ann after I filled them in.
I let out a groan and fiddled with my anklet, digging my toes in the sand. “What if I want someone to take advantage of me?”
“I know the feeling,” said Liz. “What does a girl have to do to get some anyway?”
Both Keri Ann and I whipped our heads to look at our class valedictorian. “Lizzie!” I gasped in delight and watched Liz’s face turn puce. “Did you really just say that?”
“I did,” she admitted with a grin, setting her chin up. “Seriously, though.”
“You did what?” asked Jasper coming up to us. By far the most good-looking boy in our year, he was doubly blessed by being smart too. Liz had probably totally stolen his thunder by being named valedictorian.
“Finish my valedictorian speech?” she offered in the kind of cautious questioning way that meant she was totally making it up and seeing if he’d buy it.
“Right,” he said. “So, Liz. I, uh, was wondering if you wanted to take a walk or something? I wanted to chat with you about next year.”
There was a long awkward pause where Liz, ever cautious, went through a very obvious internal struggle, then abruptly got to her feet. Her blush had returned with a vengeance. “Yes, sure,” she squeaked and cleared her throat. “See you in a bit, girls.”
We waved.