‘Mhm?’
‘Your senior year prank.’
I bark out a laugh, a little too loud considering we’re trespassing right now, but the brilliant memory rushes back to me too quickly.
Toilet paper dangling throughout the gym, wrapped around desks, and stuffed in lockers, all witnessed by a cunning little twelve year old who caught Wyatt and me sneaking out that night and demanded we take her with us in return for not telling.
‘What a night.’ I shake my head as we round the edge of the fence and head down the alleyway that leads to the outdoor pool. ‘I can’t believe you convinced us to let you come with.’
‘Blackmailedis probably the right term,’ Cherry giggles, and the sound vibrates through my very soul. It’s so care-free and innocent, that I can’t help but think back to last weekend when I picked her up from the diner, the contrast in her now.
Rage crackles beneath my skin even just thinking about it. The way Levi didn’t even try to feign ignorance when I confronted him on Monday, acting as if it’s what she wanted. The self-control it took just to fire him and not call a hunting-party on his ass afterwards is something I deserve a medal for.
I chuckle. ‘You realise that means you’ve technically already broken in somewhere, though? That didn’t even need to be on your list.’
‘That was before my fall, though. It doesn’t count.’
‘If you say so. Did you ever tell your parents?’
Cherry crosses her heart with her free hand. ‘Never.’
‘You are a good girl, aren’t you?’
‘Only for you,’ she admits, biting down on her lip, eyes locking shamelessly with mine.
It makes me stop and swallow.
Fuck, I bet she’d be such a good girl as well.
So eager to please.
I’m incredibly glad that we’ve finally reached the pool gate where I can turn my attention elsewhere, as opposed to the thoughts that are already making my cock twitch. Somewhat reluctantly, I slip my hand from Cherry’s to whip out the key in my pocket, my energy immediately dulled from the loss of contact. Like she’s the spark that brings me to life.
‘Okay, so I know it technically doesn’t count as breaking in if you have the key, but it is trespassing, which is close enough,’ I tell Cherry as I slide the key into the lock, giving the handle a wiggle like Wolfman suggested. The lies I had to make up to convince him to give me the key were ridiculous. Eventually something clicks and the gate rattles open. ‘And I thought we might as well double up with another item.’
Edging the rusty gate open, I gesture towards the pool ahead of us, midnight-blue water barely lit up by the pale orbs of light dotted along the pool’s walls. The water is unbelievably still, the star-speckled sky reflecting along the surface, ready for us to dive into the liquid night.
‘Again, it’s probably not the kind of wild-water swimming you had in mind, but—’
‘It’s perfect,’ Cherry gasps, immediately slapping a hand over her mouth when she realises how loud she was. She winces, but her grin still overpowers the expression. ‘The swimsuit wearing makes a lot more sense now.’
Cherry glides in, letting me shut the gate behind us. I hesitate for a second, taking down a few slow, long breaths.
Because I think I’ve let myself go too far.
Having her fall asleep in my arms, being the reason she didn’t break into pieces that night, gave me a high I’d never felt before. As does every night now, when she calls me up so I can help talk her to sleep, knowing I’m the last thing she thinks of before she drifts off.
So here I am, about to walk into what might be our most torturous situation yet.
Swimming together, at night.
Seeing Cherry in her bikini.
Half-naked.
I never saw myself as a masochist, but clearly I don’t know myself as well as I thought.
I didn’t have to do this. I could’ve avoided this item on her list. But when it comes to Cherry Hensley, nothing makes sense except forher.
