I wanted more moments like the one we shared in the trailer. The way he’d kissed me—the way I’d kissed him. It felt amazingly chaotic and I loved it. It was filled with the passion and desire that we used to have for one another, but different enough that it was still new and exciting. Just thinking about his kiss had my lips tingling in anticipation.
I jumped up out of bed and grabbed the sweatshirt of Reid’s that had caused so much trouble. A good kind of trouble. A kind that helped me end something that should have been ended long before Reid showed back up. I zipped it up over my pajamas—a motocross T-shirt and a pair of cropped black leggings—and slipped on my tennis shoes. I grabbed my keys as I was walking out the front door and carefully closed it behind me, not wanting to wake my sister. Not that she wouldn’t have supported my new go-after-what-you-want attitude, but I didn’t want to waste another minute. I couldn’t lay in that bed another second wondering about all the what if’s.
I was done waiting for answers to come to me.
*
The glow of the television lit up the windows of the cabin and I was happy to see someone was still awake. I hadn’t called Reid on my way over. I wanted to surprise him. I wanted him to see that I could come to a decision about us all on my own. I parked the car and made my way up the stairs and I peeked through the window. Reid was sitting in the recliner, a blanket pulled up over him, his eyes wide as he stared at the television. Hoyt was on the sofa and looking equally as enthralled by what they were watching. Judging by the way they both jerked at a loud noise and whatever was on the screen, I had a good guess it was something in the horror genre.
He always was a big baby when it came to scary movies. While I loved them, I practically had to drag him to the theater with me, but he still went every time and held my hand like he wasn’t scared at all. I remembered feeling the tight squeeze of his hand around mine every time something unexpected happened, or how he’d kiss my neck when there was something he didn’t want to see and play it off as him making a move. It was sweet and silly and one of the reasons I fell for him. He might have acted like the big, tough guy, but he had a vulnerable side, even if he only let me see it. He’d probably even gone as far to suggest that he and Hoyt watch whatever it was to validate his man card, which made the sight of him sitting there that much more comical.
Reid pulled the blanket tight around him, not wanting to cover his eyes and look like the chicken I knew he was. He might not have been scared of fast bikes and big jumps, but put on a slasher flick and all bets were off.
I rapt on the window—loud enough to draw their attention—before I ducked out of sight.
“What the hell was that?” Hoyt asked, grabbing the remote and hitting the pause button. “You heard that, right?”
I covered my mouth, trying not to let them hear the laugh I was fighting back as I made my way over to the door.
“Had to be the wind,” Reid reasoned. I heard the heavy thud of their footsteps across the floor. I assumed they were walking over to look out the window I’d just knocked on. I counted to three before pounding my fist against the front door. One, two, three times. They both screamed. Deep, masculine screams, but screams nonetheless.
Reid whipped open the front door and was greeted by the laughter I’d been holding back the entire time.
“You boys watching a scary movie?” I teased, watching the angry, I’m-gonna-kick-someone’s-ass look on his face fade to an embarrassed smile.
“Son of a bitch, Nora,” Reid said, taking a breath.
“I’m sorry,” I said, holding my hands up. “I couldn’t help myself. You were so into the movie. It was like I was being handed a prank on silver platter.”
“You’re gonna pay for that,” he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me inside, undoubtedly from the monster he was afraid was lurking outside. I was intrigued by his playful warning and even more by the wicked grin that fell on his lips. I had a few suggestions for punishment, starting with the mandatory placement of my lips against his.