I pull her in close. “That’s because our family includes you.”
The following weekis our last scholastic descent before finals, and we’re instructed to wrap up our community interaction projects with a nice, neat bow. Lawson and I work the rounds at the Hollow Brook Middle School cafeteria for the next few days before we decide to go out in a big way.
On Friday, our final hour with the kids we’ve come to care about deeply, Lawson jumps up on a bench in the middle of the café and whistles until he has everyone’s rapt attention. The girls especially crane their necks to get a better look at the god standing before them. Lawson has a commanding presence, something that captured me the moment I saw him as early as fall semester. Ava might have been hanging out at Beta house for Grant, but I was there for a whole other reason even if I wasn’t ready to admit to myself at the time.
“Lucky and I wanted to say thank you for letting us disrupt your lunch hour over the last semester. We’ve grown to know many of you and have really enjoyed the time we’ve spent here at our old stomping grounds. Our purpose here was to connect with you, but also to help you connect amongst yourselves, and seeing that there aren’t any of you sitting alone, I’d say mission accomplished. For those of you who still might feel disenfranchised, I want to let you know you are never truly alone. There is always someone nearby who might just feel the same. So reach out, be kind to one another, and don’t be a hater. If anyone says an unkind word toward you, or calls you names, remember that as long as you work your tail off in school, you’ll have another name for them to call you in the future—boss, officer, judge. Don’t let the bullies win. This isn’t their game. It’s yours.”
The entire cafeteria breaks out into a riotous applause, and I catch the faculty joining in as well, but I’m clapping the loudest, the strongest. I would have given anything to have had Lawson Kent as my friend all those painful middle school years. I’m so glad he’s my friend now—much more than a friend.
We take our time saying tear-filled goodbyes to our crew before heading back to the parking lot.
“Who knew I’d feel so much love in a place that caused so much pain?” I’m so light and happy, I practically skip all the way back to his truck. “And Emily and Freddy seem to be going strong. Did you see the way he was openly holding her hand?”
“Yup. I saw a few of those jocks eyeing them, too. They can eat their hearts out because Em is too far gone for Freddy Boy to ever look their way.”
I take up his hands and swing them between us. And I’m too far gone over you to ever notice any other jocks.” I bite down over my lip hard. “I’m glad we met. And I’m glad you were at that mixer a few months back so I could—”
“Harass me with caustic words regarding the size of my manhood?” He gives a sly wink, and I laugh because it happens to be true—to an extent.
“Sometimes when people tease relentlessly it’s because they don’t know how else to deal with the fact they’re crushing”—I steal a kiss off his lips—“hard.”
“You’re making things hard.” He gives my hips a light pinch before running the back of my hand over that growing hump in his jeans.
“That’s because you’re genetically mutated—you know, seeing that you’re hung with amacropenis.”
“Macropenis?” His brows rise right along with his amusement. “I see you’ve changed your tune. I knew you would, though.” His truck chirps to life as he opens the passenger door for me.
“You’re forever the gentlemen—egotistical, perverted gentleman, but neverthelessmygentleman. You’re my first official boyfriend. Can’t wait to share that nugget with Jet. I’ve always wondered how fast his head would pop off once I pounced that little tidbit on him.”
“Are you kidding?” Lawson speeds us out of the lot and makes a left at the end of the street rather than the right that would take us back to Briggs. “Jet loves me. If his head pops off, it’s all on you.” He winces into the harsh glare streaming through the window before lowering his sunshade. “On second thought, maybe don’t lay it on him all at once. Give him a chance to recover from that cherry bomb you landed on him.”
True. Filling my brother in on the fact I’m no longer holding on to my V card wasn’t the brightest move.
“We’ll see.” I watch as track houses are traded for a rocky hillside. “Where are we headed anyway? Are you kidnapping me?”
“I thought I was your boyfriend. I’m pretty sure kidnapping this early on in the relationship isn’t something you need to worry about. But if you must know.” He nods toward the upcoming sign that reads,The Witch’s Cauldron, bear next left.
“Nice. Do you have something sinister in mind with that little witchy retreat? I’m shy one bathing suit.”
He grunts out the idea of a laugh as he turns into the dirt lot. “You won’t need a bathing suit for what we’re about to do.”
Lawson hops out and helps me out of the truck. He takes up my hand and begins leading us toward the narrow hiking trail already spotted with lavender and yellow flowers. Winter has melted away like a bad dream, and all of nature is singing spring’s praises.
“Whoa.” I pull him back as we head unto the trail. “Whatever happened to skinny dipping in that glorified sex pot back there?”
Lawson takes a step in, that panty-melting grin of his spreading over his face. “You always did have better ideas. It’s broad daylight, you know.”
“I don’t see another living soul around.” I give a carefree shrug while whipping off my T-shirt. “I guess we’d better make it quick.”
I strip down to my birthday suit and hold my hands over my head as if presenting myself to him. There’s not an inch of me Lawson Kent hasn’t seen thanks to that flesh-fest we had up at the Happy Squirrel.
“Looking good,” he growls, struggling with his shoes and jeans. The sun hits him just right, and his highlights ignite a strange fiery red just a hue below black. I love that about him. I love every last detail about this boy.
We lower ourselves carefully into the boiling water with hisses and howls. It’s scalding to the touch, but we pretend to get used to it quickly.
I wrap my arms around him, and Lawson spins us in a quiet circle.
“Do you think we should be doing this?” I wrinkle my nose at the water. “You know, this coital cauldron has quite the reputation. It’s known to be a bit germy andspermy.” I mouth the wordsorry.
