April glances at me, cheeks flushed. “I need to go, too. Can you walk me out?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” I grab her coat, help her slide it on. My hand lingers longer than it should, tracing her wrist, memorizing the feel of her pulse.
The night air is chilly, the moonlight making the driveway glisten. April’s breath fogs in front of her lips.
At her car, I stall, feeling like there’s a rock lodged in my throat.
Now. Tell her now. Get it over with.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. She eyes me, curious, waiting. I try again, voice catching.
“April, I…”
She tilts her head, patient. “Yeah?”
Say it. Just fucking say it.
Instead, I lean in, pressing my mouth to hers. It’s soft at first, like a question. One she answers immediately, her hands fisting in my jacket, standing on tiptoes to get closer. The kiss goes from sweet to intense so fast I get dizzy, her body flush against mine, my hands splaying over her hips, mouth hungry and hot on hers. She tastes like wine, sugar, and something that's meant just for me.
I want to tell her everything, but all I can do is kiss her, pouring every feeling into the space between us. I want her to understand.
I want you. Only you.
When we finally break apart, her eyes are hooded and she’s breathless, smiling so bright it nearly blinds me. She touches my cheek, thumb tracing the line of my jaw.
“Tonight was perfect, thank you,” she whispers.
I want to say…so are you. But there’s something caught in my chest, so all I do is nod, my mouth gone dry.
She tugs open the car door, pauses. “See you soon, Ben?”
“I’ll count the minutes,” I manage.
She laughs, starts the engine, gives me one more look before pulling away.
I stand there, watching her taillights fade out. My hands shaking…part nerves, part wanting to hold her longer.
The secret presses, harder than ever. But for tonight, at least, I know she’s mine.
Maybe tomorrow, I’ll find the words.
Chapter 9
April
The last tenminutes of anatomy are a blur of fluorescent lights and the professor's mind-numbing voice, distant, muffled, and pointless. I’m half-convinced my brain melted somewhere around the kidney diagrams as my notes slid into my lap. My hand cramps around the pen even though I’ve barely written a thing. When the clock finally hits the hour, the whole class snaps awake, bags zipping, chairs scraping.
Survival mode.
Outside, dusk wraps the campus in that weird pink haze. Two girls from my lecture giggle as they go on about some party, but I just shrink deeper into my hoodie, clutching my backpack to my chest. All I want is to get into my car, crank some Ariana, and drive straight home to bed. My head’s pounding. I’m so far past tired, my bones hurt.
My keys jingle in my hand, each step down the cracked sidewalk dragging on and on. The chill sneaks up under my skirt, trailing goosebumps up my thighs. I’m pretty sure I’m limping by the time I round the last building into the student lot.
Then, I see him.
Ben. Leaning against the side of my car. That crooked smile and those dark eyes locked right on me. His arms are folded,tattoos peeking out from the sleeves of his Henley, looking so stupidly gorgeous I almost drop my bag.
All the exhaustion evaporates at once, replaced by that hurricane-in-my-stomach thing only Ben can do to me.
