Spencer doesn’t need to hear anything else from me after that. His hands easily grab the back of my thighs, lifting me from the floor and carrying me to the end of the hallway, to a room I’m sure now is his bedroom. I wrap my legs around his waist, nibbling his ear and neck as he walks us through the house.
His grip around me tightens as I reach his earlobe, and I feel his chest reverberate as he groans.
“Hayden,” he warns.
I chuckle to myself, not caring to stop what I’m doing. I know exactly where his weak spots are, and I sure as hell don’t intend to stop now.
“I’m glad to know I still know some things about you,” I whisper against his ear before tugging my hand into his hair and pulling him toward me, claiming his lips once more. He reciprocates my kiss while blindingly kicking the door open, not caring to close it behind him once he steps inside.
Spencer doesn’t need to hear anything else from me after that. His hands easily grab the back of my thighs, lifting me from the floor and carrying me to the end of the hallway, to a room I’m sure now is his bedroom. I wrap my legs around his waist, nibbling his ear and neck as he walks us through the house.His grip around me tightens as I reach his earlobe, and I feel his chest reverberate as he groans.“Hayden,” he warns.I chuckle to myself, not caring to stop what I’m doing. I know exactly where his weak spots are, and I sure as hell don’t intend to stop now.“I’m glad to know I still know some things about you,” I whisper against his ear before tugging my hand into his hair and pulling him toward me, claiming his lips once more. He reciprocates my kiss while blindingly kicking the door open, not caring to close it behind him once he steps inside.
His eyes search my face, looking for any sign of resistance, anything that will tell him that I don’t want this. Spencer will respect whatever I say. He’s noble that way.But no matter how hard I try to convince myself that telling him no is the right thing to do, I can’t voice it. I can’t push him away. I can’t make him see reason. Because, at this moment, all I want is for him to take me in his arms and say he loves me.“Why now? I mean, we haven’t seen each other in seven years. How is it even possible that we still harbor feelings for each other?” I sound frustrated, but the frustration is entirely directed at myself. I wish I could control these feelings, to tell my heart who to love and who to hate, but whenever Spencer is concerned, I don’t seem to have the reins over my life anymore.“I admit I’ve been afraid to see you. I was thankful that
I’m not sure how to react to Spencer’s words, so I clear my throat, looking out the window, pretending to analyze his new house’s exterior.I don’t understand what’s going on with him—with us—lately.Why is Spencer trying so hard to get back into my life, kissing me and willing to be punched for it? What is all of this supposed to mean?I know how I feel about him, and I know I shouldn’t feel like this anymore, not after so long. But does that mean Spencer feels the same way? Does he still have feelings for me?It can’t be…Seven years is a lot of time. Too much for someone to hold onto feelings that are supposed to be long gone.I’m one to talk, but I’m different from Spencer. I never thought he could still nourish feelings for me after we broke up in such an ugly way. For
Spencer is staring at me, his piercing blue eyes studying my face carefully. He’s dressed in black sweatpants and a hoodie, his hands in his pockets. Were he and Chad hanging out before coming here? They didn’t seem to be on good terms when my brother told me to leave the school last night, but now they are here together, so it makes me wonder if it means they’re okay.I’m instantly reminded of our kiss, and I feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment, so I try to cover them with my hair, letting it fall over my shoulders and face.“I’ll take you home,” Spencer answers matter-of-factly, as if the whole silent exchange with Chad was this obvious.“Why?” I press stubbornly. “I came with my dad. I can go back with him.”“You heard Chad. He’ll take your dad home. Come on, you look like you need some sleep,” Spencer insists, taking one hand out of his pocket and laying it on my
I can’t believe this is happening.As Dad drives us to the hospital, my mind is swirling with horrible scenarios of what could have happened to Lauren.She was supposed to be on her shift. She told me this morning she would be working.Did she get hurt on duty? How bad is it? Is it a good sign we don’t know anything else?After my father said she was in the hospital, I helped him get Mom off the couch and put her in the truck. I climbed into the back seat, completely mute. I couldn’t make myself utter a word, and I still can’t.I don’t know what to say. Anything I say will be meaningless until we know more.Should I comfort my parents?I shake my head, not allowing myself to go down that road.Lauren is fine. I know that. She’s the toughest, strongest person I know. Whatever happens to her, she w
Quit? How could he suggest something like that?I went to college, studied all those years, graduated, and got a job so I could make a living and help around the house. Quitting sounds like giving up. Like I failed somehow. I’m used to earning my own money, to be able to give back—even though in smaller doses—everything they did and still do for me. It’s not fair to them to simply quit. And do what?“Why would I do that? I don’t have any idea about what I want to do,” I tell them, creasing my brows in confusion.“You can write your book. Isn’t that something you always wanted?” Mom suggests.“This won’t pay my bills, Mom.”“You don’t have to pay for anything. That’s what we’re here for,” Dad adds, leaning back in his chair.I turn to face him in disbelief.“Of cours
As much as I try to wait up to see if Chad comes back to the ranch to sleep here, I know it’s not likely. He has his apartment downtown, and he looked so pissed at me and Spencer that I don’t believe he’ll show up tonight.He did tell me he’d see me tomorrow, so staying on the porch waiting for him is just stupid.Honestly, I don’t know what I’d tell him if he asked me what that was about. He knows I still like Spencer, so it’s not like that was a surprise. But I can understand him being overprotective of me.Maybe I’m just overreacting. Maybe he just wanted to talk to Spencer and ask his friend what was going on. Maybe it was a surprise to Chad that Spencer still has feelings for me.Is that what it even was? Does that kiss mean that he still has feelings for me?Or maybe Spencer was just feeling nostalg
“I’m sorry,” I choke, swallowing down the lump forming in my throat. “I didn’t mean to make you relive that moment. I know it was hard, and it doesn’t even compare to what you’ve been through, but… you’ve always been stronger than me. I can’t go through any of that again, Spencer. I just…can’t.”“I get it,” he mumbles in a low voice, his eyes turning to me again. “I—”“Hayden!” I hear Chad calling me, but it doesn’t even sound like him. I dart my head to the side, spotting him a few yards away from us, his eyes heavy on Spencer. His voice is raspy and serious, nothing like the cheerful Chad I know. “Time to go.”“Hm, yeah, sure. Spencer and I were just—”“Lauren is waiting for you. You can go ahead, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Chad takes a few steps forward, and I don’t know what it is, but by the way he’s behaving and portraying himself, I can tell he’s pissed, although I have no idea why. Also, he’s talking to me, but his eyes never leave Spencer’s face, so
It amazes me how a kiss can feel so familiar, and yet, so new and exciting after so long. For years, I wondered what it’d be like to kiss Spencer again, to feel his lips on mine, his electrifying touch on my skin… And now that I am experiencing it again, it’s nothing like I imagined it would be.It’s so much better that it’s hard to put into words. It’s hard to even understand what I’m feeling.It’s like he was molded just for me. Our mouths, our bodies, they complement each other so well.The kiss is not as desperate as I remember us being back in high school, but I can still feel the passion behind it, even though it’s a soft, almost hesitant, kiss.I can feel Spencer is holding back. I know I am. My entire body is on fire right now. If I could simply shut off my brain, I know I’d be encouraging him to go further. But there is this distant, tiny string being pulled in the back of my head, reminding me of