“Do I have to get you mad again?”
No. Part of the reason she came on this date was to make decisions for herself. She needed to do this without help. Closing her eyes, she pictured how she felt sending those texts to Talon. Strong. Empowered. She didn’t overanalyze or worry like she did in real life. She just did it. And she could do the same thing here. If she proved to herself she could be that brave version, maybe she could figure out what she should do after senior year.
Thrusting her shoulders back, she opened her eyes and walked straight to the mouth of the cave. Talon slipped his hand into hers and they walked in.
She moved her flashlight around the cave. A flash of orange near the ground caught her attention. “Talon, I think I found it.” Her fear of the cave was forgotten as her focus narrowed in on the arrow. There were five or six large rocks piled together right below the arrow. She moved them one by one till she found a brown box.
Keeley lifted the lid. Nestled inside was a silver cell phone charm.
“So you can remember how we met.”
Speechless, she glanced up at him. He must have hiked up to the cave before the date. It was incredibly sweet and romantic. How lucky was she that someone like this was interested in her?
“You know, I never collected on two markers,” Talon commented. The smell of woods and sugar enveloped her. “Truth or dare?” he challenged, his eyes fixated on her lips. Every cell in her body came alive as she realized what he was asking. When she didn’t answer, he leaned forward and nuzzled her neck. “Truth or dare.”
Her pulse raced as he slowly moved up her neck, his nose brushing against her skin. Unconsciously, she angled her head to the side to give him better access. A shiver ran down her spine as he kissed the delicate underside of her jaw. His lips were so warm and soft. She closed her eyes as he kissed her again, getting lost in the sensation of his mouth on her skin.
Her eyes fluttered open when he pulled back slightly. “Keeley?” he said, waiting for her answer to the unspoken question that lay between them.
She slid her hand up his chest and wrapped it around his neck. She could feel his pulse jumping at her touch. He wanted her just as much as she wanted him. As she drew his mouth down to hers, she whispered, “Dare.”
A second later, his lips crashed into hers. It was a hard, demanding kiss — nothing soft or gentle about it. She gasped as he wound his arms around her waist and hauled her closer to him. Instantly she melted against his chest, reveling in the feeling of his hard body plastered against hers.
Pleasure shot through her as he said her name, and suddenly she couldn’t get enough of him. She wanted more. She needed more. Without thought, she tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled, forcing his head forward and his mouth to open. A harsh moan reverberated in the air as her tongue touched his. This was what she craved.
As their tongues danced in a rhythm all their own, she lost sense of time and propriety. She was drowning and she had no desire to resurface. In that moment, there were just the two of them —Talon and Keeley.
And it was perfect.
Keeley was in a study room at the library with Talon. She’d been coming to the library more and more. Being there helped her focus. There wasn’t a TV or Internet to distract her. Talon studied with her most days, right after football practice. And secretly, she kept suggesting the library because she knew Zach wouldn’t be there.
Her phone vibrated. Nicky. Was that really the time? It’d gotten so late!
We still on for dinner @The Factory?
Definitely.
Good. I need this.
What’s wrong?
I’ll tell you at dinner. See you then.
“Talon, can you drive me to The Factory? I’m supposed to meet Nicky for dinner.”
“No problem. Do I get to meet the infamous best friend?”
“I can’t believe you two haven’t met yet.” Their paths never really crossed because they lived in two different worlds — Nicky at school and Talon at the library — but Keeley was ready for them to meet. The Factory was a town away, where they were unlikely to run into anyone they knew. And she hated to be apart from Talon, even for a little while. “You should come with.”
He rubbed his jaw. “You sure?”
“Completely. I want you two to meet.”
“Good, because I’m starving.” He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it.
They walked over to his truck and she hopped in. She looked in the backseat. Piles and piles of Peeps. It looked like the factory had exploded in his truck. She was pretty sure he was secretly the Easter Bunny in another life.
They were halfway to The Factory when he started to fidget. His thumbs tapped against the steering wheel and he said, “So, I have a question for you.”
“You need a Peep, don’t you? I recognize the signs. Nervous demeanor. Twitchy hands.” He didn’t even crack a smile.
He sent her another quick glance before asking, “What are you going to do about Friday?”
Her forehead creased. “Um ... Friday?”
He exhaled deeply, laughing a little. “I should be insulted that you don’t remember, but I’m not.” He pursed his lips together. “The big Edgewood-Crosswell game. You’re going, right?”
Her good mood vanished as dread took hold.
“Have you told Zach about us yet?” he asked.
“Talon …” she trailed off, feeling uneasy.
“I hate sneaking around. I want to be able to go out with you without wondering if Zach is going to be there.”
That’s what Keeley wanted, too. Except ... “It’s complicated.” Zach was so focused on winning this one game, and she didn’t want to do anything to keep him from doing everything he dreamed of. “I’ll tell him after the game, okay?”
Face softening, Talon squeezed her hand. “I know we can handle it.”
She should have felt reassured but the hint of fear in his eyes made her worry. Was he not as confident about their relationship as he appeared?
They arrived at the restaurant, but Nicky wasn’t there yet, so they grabbed a table by the door. Talon slid into the chair next to her, leaving Nicky the seat across. After ten minutes, Keeley texted her, but no response.
When another ten passed, Talon suggested, “Let’s order so it’ll be here when she comes.”
Keeley agreed, opening a menu and sliding it between them so they could both look. She wanted to get what she and Nicky usually ordered — a platter of finger foods and a side of pasta — but Talon insisted on trying something different.
“Live a little,” he teased after the waitress left.
“We never order seafood,” she informed him, grabbing a napkin and laying it across her lap.
“That’s crazy. We’re right next to the ocean. What about hot sauce? Please tell me you like that.”