“What?!” June squeals.
“Shhh.”
“Sorry. When?”
“Thursday after school. The wager on the bet was for a date, and he said the date was to homecoming. He told me it was unofficial. That he’d officially ask me closer to the dance.”
“I can’t believe it.”
I bite my fingernails. “I know. I’m so excited. I’ve never been to homecoming.”
“But you’ve been to a school dance before, haven’t you?”
“I went to commencement sophomore year, but it was awful.”
“I want to go to homecoming.” June yawns.
“Someone will ask you.”
“I doubt it.” June lays her head on the pillow. “Sorry, I’m still getting used to the time difference.”
“It’s okay. It’s late. You can take my bed. I’ll sleep on the floor or on my loveseat.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. I’m going to shower and try to get the rest of this glitter and paint off.”
June glances at my head. “Don’t forget your hair.”
“Oh, thanks. I forgot about all the glitter Aubrey sprayed in it.”
It takes me ten minutes of scrubbing to get the temporary tattoos off, and I have to shampoo my hair twice before I don’t see any glitter in the suds. As I’m shutting off the water, my phone dings Beethoven’s fifth. I should change the text ring for Ford to something less ominous. I wrap a towel around myself, then read his message.
Meet me in the living room.
I text back.Give me five minutes. I just got out of the shower.
10. 24 Days and Counting
I groan, raking a hand through my hair. That text message just put the image of Hannah’s naked body in my head. Not that it isn’t there constantly. It’s been twenty-four days since the last time Hannah and I were together. Not that I’m keeping track, well, not intentionally. I just can’t get the last time we made love out of my head. The two of us tumbling around together in the meadow on a summer afternoon. I crack my neck and take a breath. I send her a thumbs-up emoji and sit down on the sofa. I glance at my unread text messages, but don’t read them. I click off my phone and shove it in my pocket. When Dave and the guys left, Jack pulled out a couple of air mattresses. I said I’d take the sofa, and Jack and Tyler laid down and turned a movie on, but they were both out cold ten minutes in. We haven’t talked about what happened tonight before the game yet. I thought we’d get time tonight, but then the rest of our friends showed up. I’m not sure why they ditched the party. They never said. We never asked. Usually, at parties like the ones on the bluffs, we hang out for about thirty minutes before everyone breaks off talking or hooking up with girls. I’m surprised they showed up and missed out on at least a make-out session with a girl.
I hear Hannah on the stairs and stand up. “Hey,” I whisper. When she’s within reach, I pull her to me, and we wrap our arms around each other.
“Hi,” she breathes into my chest. I lean down, skimming my lips across the soft skin of her cheek.
“You smell so good. Like vanilla and coconut.” I can’t help myself, and I glide lower, kissing the hollow of her neck. She lets out a little gasp, and a shiver runs the length of her. Her body softens into mine, and my entire body tightens, wanting more. I shouldn’t have kissed her there. That spot is sensitive. It’s just that I want her so much, and now I know she wants me to. Even though we can’t be together that way. I run my hands up and down her back, my desire for her spiking, and I groan. “Hannah…” I breathe into her neck.
She twists her hands into the back of my shirt. “What is it?”
I lean my forehead against hers. I feel connected to her when we talk like this. “You’re not wearing a bra.”
Her hands release my shirt, and she glides them up my back into the nape of my hair. “I’m sorry. I was in a hurry.”
I brush my lips back and forth against hers, just feeling. “Don’t be sorry. I’m not.” I tighten my hold, pressing her body against mine.
Her hands roam higher, scratching at my scalp. “Ford, we can’t—”
“Shh, I only wanted to talk to you, and hold you, one more time tonight.” I let go and clasp her hand, leading her over to the sofa. I pull Hannah close, skimming my fingers up her leg and rubbing circles along her upper thigh. She leans against me, letting out a little breath and relaxing.
