“All right.”
I leaned my head against the window and tried to swallow the lump in my throat. It was probably better that I didn’t go to Charlie’s place. Better that I didn’t see him again after today. He lived too far away. We lived different lives. I would end up with a broken heart, and he would move on with someone else. Maybe in time, I would, too.
“Jonesy.” Charlie’s voice drifted over me. “You fell asleep. We’re home.” His brows were furrowed together. “You sure you’re okay? Did you eat too much? Get too much sun?”
I sat up to unhook the seatbelt. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
But when his lips brushed over mine, all the thoughts of telling him goodbye disappeared from my head. He tasted like things that I had only dreamed about. Things like a future, forever, and a happiness that I was scared to even think about with someone like him.
“Text me later.” Charlie titled my head up, so I had no choice but to look at him. I took in those deep, dark brown eyes framed by long dark lashes, soft plump lips that had kissed me until I couldn’t think straight, and that little mole that I knew would haunt me for the rest of my life. That was probably my favorite thing about him.
“Can I still come over?”
“Yes, of course you can.”
I pressed my lips to his. “What time?”
“Meet me at our spot at eight.” Charlie cupped the back of my head. “God, Jonesy, I was afraid you’d changed your mind about us.”
I kissed him again. “Never.”
Then we were all lips and tongue as he kissed me until I thought my heart would burst. I didn’t care that Mama might catch me outside with a boy. I had already told her, without actually telling her, that I was gay. Then she could meet Charlie. See how sweet, wonderful, and amazing he was. Fall for him the way I had.
Charlie’s mouth felt like it was supposed to be fused together with mine. His hands made my body come alive when he touched me, when his big palms roamed over my stomach and back. The way he groaned softly when I licked across his lips. The soft chuckle he let out when I wouldn’t let him pull away or how I chased after his mouth for more. I loved kissing Charlie. I wanted to make it my full-time job instead of racing cars for a living.
“Eight o’clock, Jonesy.” He gripped my head with his big hands when we finally broke apart. “I’ll be waiting.”
I nodded. “I’ll be counting down the minutes until I see you again.”
Then I climbed from Charlie’s SUV and headed inside the house. Once I closed the door behind me, I leaned against it, unable to hide my smile. It spread big and wide until I was sure it would split my face. I wasn’t sure the nameof this feeling that was floating inside my stomach, but I did know that I never wanted it to end.
Chapter Five
Jones
A soft cough had my eyes popping open, and I found Mama standing with her hands on her hips, watching me. She raised her brows, tilted her head, and a smile slowly began to spread over her face. Then she moved to wrap her arms around me in a big hug. She giggled softly before she pulled back to cup my head in her hands.
“My sweet little boy is in love,” Mama murmured. “What’s his name, Jones? He must be something special to have you looking the way you do right now.”
I shook my head as my cheeks burned. “Mama.”
“Don’t Mama me, Jones.” She reached for my hand. “Tell me everything about this boy who has stolen your heart.”
Sweat broke out over my skin. I wanted to tell Mama everything about Charlie, but at the same time I was afraid that once I did, the bubble would burst. “Mama, I have to wash up. I’m going out soon.”
“Do you have a date?” she teased, then her face grew serious. “Practice safe sex, honey.”
“Mama!” Heat flamed my cheeks as I pulled my hand away from hers. “You’re going to embarrass me. I don’t feel that’s an appropriate conversation to be having with your son. I know all about the birds and the bees.”
Also, the internet had already shown me everything I needed to know about sex with a man. Lubricant, condoms, that sort of thing. Shoot, should I bring that, or would Charlie have it? Did Charlie even want to have sex with me?
Mama smiled at me. “It is perfectly normal to talk about these things with your mother. Jones, I want you to be safe, that’s all. I can take you to the store if you need something.”
I ducked my head, and my hair fell over my eyes. “We’re close, but not that close. I really don’t want to discuss this with you.”
“Sweetheart, there’s no need to be so embarrassed. Everyone has sex. I have a very active—”
“Mama!”
