My brain short-circuits.
Any rational thought I had? Gone. Just completely obliterated.
I yank at his jeans, impatience taking over, urgency spilling from every touch. And then he’s inside me, stretching, filling, making me forget how to breathe. My gasp turns into a whimper, his name slipping past my lips like a prayer. He moves slowly at first, controlled, but there’s a dark edge to it, like he’s holding back somethingdangerous.
I don’t want him to hold back.
My nails dig into his back as he moves deeper, a low groan vibrating through his chest. His forehead presses against mine,sweat-slick skin locking us together. The tension coils tighter and tighter—until, suddenly, everything breaks apart.
My body breaks apart under his, pleasure crashing through me in dizzying waves, stealing every ounce of air from my lungs. His grip tightens as he follows, a rough, guttural sound tearing from his throat.
We collapse together, tangled, breathless, the world sloping back into place around us.
He lingers, his forehead resting against mine. Then his thumb brushes over my cheek, the softness of it almost jarring after what just happened.
“You good?” His voice is low, like he’s afraid to disturb the moment. But there’s something fragile there too, something real.
I nod, struggling to catch my breath, my hands still clutching at him like Ineedto hold on just a little longer. A slow, shaky smile tugs at my lips.
“Yeah,” I whisper, finally at peace. “I’m good.”
Chapter 23
Alli
My body is tangled in the sheets, and a little sore in the best way. I just smile to myself. Jared. Us. It started on the couch—slow at first, but then… it wasn’t. The heat between us was suffocating, pulling us in with a force we couldn’t resist. At some point, we moved to my room, avoiding the chance of Olivia walking in on us bare and tangled up in each other.
Morning light spills across the bed, warm and golden, like something out of a movie. Except I’m not the effortlessly cool lead—I’m the awkward girl who somehow landed the hot guy. And for once, reality is better than the dream.
Then, reality crashes in. I sit up abruptly, heart racing when moments from last night hits me. I can’t believe I actually slept with Jared.
What the hell are you doing? Did this really happen?
It’s like staring down the hardest exam I’ve never studied for. I exhale sharply, forcing the chaos to quiet down.Focus, Alli. This isn’t some grand romance. One step at a time. Don’t overthink it. You’ve got this.
But my brain clearly didn’t get the memo as more thoughts pile on.Oh, sure, just keep telling yourself that while you spiral into a full-on meltdown. You’re really nailing this.
My inner monologue has turned into a judgmental version of myself. Super helpful.
I let out an exaggerated sigh.Yeah, I’m totally crushing it.
Honestly, if this was a reality show, I’d be getting a rose from the chaos department.
“Okay, Alli,” I say to myself—barely audible—trying to ignore my inner thoughts and blush creeping up my cheeks. “Just breathe. This is fine. Totally fine.”
Except, it’s not. Because along with those happy memories comes a swarm of anxiety that tightens around my chest like an overzealous boa constrictor. What if this changes everything? What if he thinks I’m just another notch on his bedpost?
Oh my god, am I a jersey chaser now?
I slap myself.
Allison Marie Castillo, you are not a jersey chaser. You’ve known Jared for years. He’s seen you before the makeup and with the braces.There’s no way he would ever think of me that way, surely.
I throw the covers off, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. My feet touch the cool floor, and I can’t help but shiver. “Great, now I’m awake and cold. Perfect,” I mutter to myself, wishing I had a magic blanket that could shield me from all this emotional chaos.
Why can’t I just be one of those chill girls who rolls with the punches? You know, the kind who can casually say, “Hey, I just slept with my super hot friend. No biggie?” Instead, I’m sitting here like a bundle of nerves, practically hyperventilating at the idea of falling head over heels.
I pull my hair back into a messy bun and head toward the bathroom, trying to distract myself. “Just don’t overthink it, Alli. Be confident. That’s your specialty,” I say to my reflection, rolling my eyes at myself.
