About an hour after we went up to the hotel room, we get dressed and go back downstairs to find Julien and Ryder. I realize later that night, after Jayson kisses me goodnight and snuggles next to me in my bed, I never gave him an answer to his question.
Chapter 21
Elizabeth
After prom, Maria started a rumor at school that I was pregnant and that’s why Jayson was going to propose to me. For over a week, she, Jacinda, and Samantha hazed my locker and car with baby pacifiers and diapers until we went to the school administration with pictures Julien was able to get showing proof they were the ones who were doing it. Maria got a week’s worth of detention, but Jacinda and Samantha didn’t get any punishment after the cheerleading coach spoke to the principal. I know I should be over it, but it still hurts when Maria does mean stuff like that to me. I’m used to Jacinda and Samantha being world class bitches, but Maria? That stings the worst. I keep wondering what happened to the girl I thought I knew - the girl I thought was my best friend.
I look at the nightstand clock and groan. I’m too psyched from yesterday’s news for sleep. Jayson was offered the swimming scholarship he’d been hoping to get from Carolina University. If his news wasn’t awesome enough, Ryder and I both received our acceptance letters from CU in the mail, making it a triple surprise. Our plans for going to college together are finally a reality, and my brain won’t shut off because I’m so excited about our future. We celebrated with our families at Ryder’s house until one in the morning and then Jayson came back here with me. I’m pretty sure our parents know he sneaks into my bedroom at night and stays until morning when I wake him up to go home and take a shower.
Deciding to give up on falling asleep, I turn over to climb out of bed. Might as well work on my AP Lit paper that’s due soon.
I’m pulled back into bed by a strong, warm arm. “Where’re you going?” a sleepy Jayson mumbles.
“I can’t sleep.”
“Don’t go,” he mumbles again, this time against the crook of my neck. He breathes in deep and moans. “God, you smell good.”
I roll over so I can look at his face. I graze my fingers across his morning stubble and push his hair back behind his ears. Jayson really is wonderful to look at, especially when he’s asleep, his face relaxed and calm. I see glimpses of the boy he used to be in the man he has become. I’m still so wildly attracted to him even after twelve years. I look at him and he takes my breath away.
“You are such a beautiful man,” I say out loud, continuing my exploration of his face with light caresses.
“Baby, you keep sweet-talking me like that,” he trails off and rolls me on top of him with a grunt.
My body is instantly ready for him, and if his erection is anything to go by, he's more than ready for me. Placing my hands on his chest, I lift up and slide down effortlessly on his hard length taking him inside of me and clamping down hard. I guess my Lit paper can wait.
Jayson leaves around five in the morning to go home and get ready for school. I take a quick shower and then work on my school assignment. Luckily, it’s Friday so I’ll be able to catch up on my sleep over the weekend. Only if I can finish up this paper for AP Lit first since it’s due on Monday. There’s also another bonfire party tonight, not to mention I have work after school today. I groan. Maybe I’ll skip the bonfire tonight.
Around six, I hear Hailey turn on the shower in our jack-and-jill bathroom. Crap. I lost track of time and am going to be late to meet up with the boys for breakfast. I pack all my school stuff in my bag and go to brush my teeth. I wipe off the condensation from the mirror and pick up my toothbrush when Hailey turns off the shower and pulls the curtain to get out. My eyes catch hers in the mirror and for a brief moment Hailey freezes, eyes flaring in surprise and something else, something like shame. She snaps the curtain back to hide herself but isn’t fast enough.
“Jesus, Hailey!” I shout yanking the shower curtain hard enough that it pops three of the rings holding it on the bar.
Hailey is desperately trying to wrap the towel around herself but I also yank that away, modesty be damned. “What the hell, Hales?”
“It’s nothing. Honest.”
“Nothing? I wouldn’t call these nothing Hailey. What happened?” I turn her to get a better look at the huge purple and green bruises decorating her upper thigh and hip. On her shoulder is what looks like a circular burn mark that has blistered and scabbed over.
“I fell during PE. Like I said, it’s nothing.” She steps out of the shower and grabs the towel I yanked off of her, wrapping it tightly around her chest.
I give her one of my “get real” looks. “What, were you playing football and ran into the linebacker? Does it hurt?”
She walks out of the other side of the bathroom to her room with me hot on her trail. “No, it doesn’t. So drop it.”
“Enough with the flippant remarks.” I touch her shoulder. “What about this one? Get it at PE too?”
“That’s from my curling iron.”
She throws open several drawers and grabs various articles of clothing, one of them a long-sleeved shirt. She’s been wearing those for a while now, even when it’s hot outside.
“Hailey.”
She turns around giving me a brilliant, happy smile, but I’m not buying it. “Lizzie. I fell down and had a hair mishap. Do I lecture you when I see all the hickies Jayson gives you, or the fingermarks I sometimes see on your hips when you’re wearing your bathing suit? Which by the way, I really do not want to know what you and Jayson do to get those.”
She has a point, but then again, she knows those marks are ones I get in the heat of passion from my boyfriend. Hailey looks like she challenged a semi-truck and lost.
“Aren’t you going to be late?” she reminds me. “I’m surprised Jayson isn’t already beating down the door wondering where you are.”
I consider her for a minute. “Hales, you know if you need to talk to me about anything, I’m here.”
