“Were you just checking out my ass?”
I’m going low-ball today with just cereal for breakfast. “Nope.” I get a bowl out from the cabinet.
“You totally were.”
I take the milk out of the fridge, and when I turn around, Knox is standing right there, coffee cup in his hands, a smirk gracing his face. I pivot to the side and walk around him.
“No, I wasn’t.”
“Yes, you so were.”
I know he’s messing with me now from the hint of laughter in his voice. I shove a huge spoonful of cereal in my mouth. “Sorry, can’t talk. My mouth is full.”
Knox slides over to where I’m leaning on the counter island with my cereal bowl. “Hey, don’t be embarrassed. I totally check you out all the time. You have a great ass.”
I slap a hand over my mouth to stop my food from spewing out.
Sipping from his coffee, he walks out of the kitchen, laughing. “Have a great day, Aurora!”
Lord, save me from cocky, handsome boys. My phone chirps from my back pocket.
QuarterbackKing: Emergency.
Me: Where are you?
QuarterbackKing: Outside.
Me: Give me 5.
JD isn’t supposed to be here for another hour to pick me up. He just left not too long ago to go home and change. Hurrying back upstairs, I do a quick brush of my teeth and grab my school bag and coat. I find JD in front of the house, leaning against his Jeep, head down looking at the driveway paver stones.
“Hey. What’s going on?” I start to get concerned when he doesn’t look up at me. Dropping my stuff on the ground, I lift his head and hiss when I see his swollen and bruised cheek. “Jackson, what happened?”
I’m pretty sure I know the answer but that doesn’t prevent the seething anger from bubbling up. I get even madder when JD finally looks me in the eye and all I see is despair. I’ll never be able to understand how a parent can hurt their kid.
“Put your arms around me,” I tell him, and he does. I kiss every inch of his bruise as lightly as I can until the rigid tension in his body ebbs and he buries his face in my neck. “I’ve got you, Jackson.”
“I love you, Aurora,” he mumbles against my shoulder.
He lifts his head, and we stare at each other for a long while. JD is so beautiful. Not the most masculine description, but still. Those deep, denim-blue eyes that contrast with his brown hair and tanned skin. His full lips which should be illegal. The small dimples that make their appearance when he smiles. I will make damned sure I see those dimples today.
“Want to skip school for the day and get out of here?”
“Yes. But I can’t. Football practice.”
“How about a late arrival then. I’m really good at forging names. I can write one that says you were at a doctor’s appointment or something.”
I had to write my own parent excuse notes and sign permission slips for school since Mom would never do it.
When he doesn’t answer, I make the decision for him. “Come on. We’ll take my bike and go for a ride.”
Riding Cam’s bike always relaxes me and makes me feel better. That, and talking with Cam, which is why I often find myself sitting next to his gravestone telling him about my day.
Pulling JD with me to the garage, I fish out an extra helmet for him, then walk the bike out of the bay. After putting on my helmet and gloves, I throw my leg over the saddle as he gets on behind me. I shouldn’t get turned on, but I do, as JD slides his hands around my middle and presses up against my back. Thoughts about our weekend together make it very difficult to concentrate on what I’m doing. Berating myself, I start the bike. JD doesn’t need my lust-filled ruminations right now.
“Hold on tight,” I tell him and take off.
I decide to go down some backcountry roads, riding around aimlessly with no destination in mind. After a half hour, we come to an old field where large rolls of hay have been left scattered throughout. Pulling into the dirt road that runs parallel to the field, I slow to a stop, turn the engine off, and engage the kickstand. We take off our helmets and I place them on the ground, then reverse my position on the seat so JD and I are facing one another.
