We thank her and then I flip the page and laugh at the next series of photos—all of them of Savanna and Cindy goofing off together.
“I’m so glad your mom showed me this.” I pull Savanna in closer while I keep flipping through the pages. Her arms wrap around me, and when we get to the end, she looks up at me, giving me a devilish grin that I now know she’s had all her life.
“Wanna see my old bedroom?”
Chapter 12
Savanna
Iclose the album that houses all of the worst photos I’ve ever taken and grab Niki’s hand, pulling him down the hall and towards the stairs that lead up to my old room. It’s obvious he doesn’t think this is the wisest idea, and he’s right, it probably isn’t, but I want him to see it. I’d also like a few precious minutes to make out with my boyfriend.
Tugging him along, I lead him to the last door on the right and step inside, flicking on the light as I go. My parents haven’t changed anything, and when Niki sees all my childhood memorabilia, he steps further in so he can get a better look. I brought a lot of stuff with me to the sorority house, but there are still a ton of things filling the space. His fingers trail along the books I couldn’t fit in my current bookshelves and the rabbit figurines I’ve been collecting since I was little.
“I had no idea you liked rabbits,” he says, and he almost sounds sad, like it’s a detail he should already know about me.
“I think they’re really cute, especially the droopy-ear kind, but this collection started because I loved Easter. I’d always get so excited, more than even at Christmas. I just loved the idea of a giant rabbit hopping to my house to leave me a basket of goodies,” I tell him with a laugh. “That was so much cooler to methan an old man breaking into the house. My mom started the collection when I was five, and she still gives me a new one every year.”
His fingers run over one of the bunny figurines, the one that’s wearing little blue overalls and carrying an armload of carrots, and I see the corner of his mouth lift up.
“My parents love you, by the way, just like I knew they would.”
He turns away from my collection so he can face me. “I’m really glad they do. They’re great, Van. I really like them, too.”
I take a step closer and fist his shirt, pulling him up against me. “I brought you up here for selfish reasons,” I admit.
“Oh yeah?”
I give my old full-size bed with the pink comforter a pointed look. “I’m fulfilling a teenage fantasy, Niki.”
“And what fantasy would that be?”
Sliding my hands under his hoodie, I grip his toned waist and take a step back, bringing him with me. “The one where I make out with an insanely hot, tattooed guy in my bedroom.”
He keeps a straight face when he asks, “You didn’t get to do that in high school?”
“We didn’t attend the same school, so, no, I didn’t get to.” When the backs of my legs hit my bed, I grin at him.
“Your parents might decide they no longer like me if they walk in and find me on top of their daughter.”
“My parents know better than to come up here right now,” I say.
He glances at the door, debating the pros and cons of my plan. After a few seconds he gives a resigned sigh and steps away so he can quietly shut my door.
“That just makes us look more guilty,” I tell him.
“I don’t care. I’ll never be able to face them again if they hear you moaning.”
I perk up at that. “Will I be moaning?”
He walks back, looking hungrier with every step he takes, and when he’s right in front of me again, he leans down, so I’m forced to lie back. His hands are planted on either side of me, his strong body hovering over mine, and I wish I could go back in time and tell my teenage self about this. She’d be really fucking excited to know this moment was in our future.
“I’m assuming your teenage fantasy involved you coming,” he murmurs while he leans closer and kisses his way along my jaw.
“It did,” I quickly say, “and a tremendous amount of sex.”
He chuckles and nips at my ear. “I can’t give you that right now, but maybe I can give you something else.”
“Like what?” My voice is a breathy whisper as he sucks on my neck.
