Page 25 of The Honor Society

“Other than those very important things.” I tilt my head. “Is there something I’m missing about the last few weeks? I remember us, but it feels like I’m missing an important part of the puzzle.”

She eyes my wounds then looks back up at me. Her lips part. “I, I hurt you.”

“Did you dump me?”

She swallows. “In a way, I guess, yes, but I hurt you and there isn’t any forgiveness for the choice I made.”

“Was it to protect yourself or someone you love?” I ask.

“Why?”

“It changes things.”

“Both.” She whispers. “It was to protect both.”

“So, I was the fall guy in order to protect what matters the most your own life and that of someone else, what sort of loser would be mad about that?”

“Axel, I’m serious, you should hate me. Loathe me. You should kick me out of--”

I devour her next words, I taste her on my tongue, and I swallow the reality of our situation. I remember everything she wants me to forget. The way the cold hard ground felt when I collapsed against it, and the way she cried like she had no choice but the one she took. I also remember how hard it is to hate someone you love.

And I do.

I love her.

She pulls back, her eyes search mine. Maybe for permission, maybe for me to say I remember more, either way, I tug her head back down and flick her tongue with mine. The way she likes.

She jerks away. “You remember that?”

“My body has excellent muscle memory, Charlie.” I slowly slide down the countertop and grip her by the hips grinding her up against me. A fever of heat washes over me. Fuck. I want her. I want her so bad I’m shaking.

I tug her towards the living room and slowly push her down onto the couch.

“Your stitches!” She says.

“We have more glue.” I kiss her deeper, harder, pull back. “Don’t take this from me, this ability to make new memories, to piece together what I have left.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” She says in between more kisses.

The sound of something getting knocked over has me lightly pushing her back and catching the can of antiseptic in my hand before it can hit the floor

She frowns, briefly. “Yeah okay, Spiderman, or do you prefer Peter Parker?”

“I hate the name Peter.” I wink and slowly put the antiseptic back into the kit.

“Good reflexes though for someone who once said his spirit animal was a sloth.” She puts her hands on her hips.

I slide my hands through palming her hips forcing her to get closer. “I said that? Really?”

“Yup.”

“Hmm probably because I was trying to keep you in bed with me longer,” Our foreheads touch. “Or I was preparing to unleash a list of reasons why sloths are secret killers and rather not actual sloth as in lazy right? I mean seriously if you see one in the wild you should back away slowly. After all, they’re the perfect weapon. You assume they’re lazy when underneath, they have a claw that could slice you into ribbons.”

“So you’re saying you identify with a creature who’s underestimated?” Her eyes narrow, too perceptive, too close. I’m not sure whether to applaud her or add more to the panic speech above and go with an entire zoology lesson.

Shit. No. Yes. Shit! I kiss her hard and then kiss up her neck. “Yup, see how distracting I can be when I’m secretly doing something else.”

My fingers find her bra and unhook it. Shit that really was close.