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We were so lost in our own world that we didn't even notice the crowd had thinned out around us. Apparently, we weren’t the best chaperones.
As the song came to an end, Jake pulled me out into the courtyard and I caught the steely glare of Valerie Reed. Even though I knew it was juvenile, I couldn’t help but stick my tongue out at her.
The night air was cool against my skin, and I couldn't help but shiver in anticipation. We made our way to a secluded spot beneath the stars, and he pulled me closer, our bodies pressing against each other. I could feel his heart pounding against my own, and I knew that I wanted him just as much as he wanted me.
With a gentleness that took my breath away, Jake cupped my face in his hands and leaned in. “I just needed to kiss you.”
Our lips met in a slow, lingering kiss, and the world around us faded away.
18
JAKE
As I stood there, Molly wrapped in my arms, guilt eclipsed my happiness. The whole night, Molly had slipped beneath my defenses, making allowing me to unwind and have fun. But several days had passed since my meeting with Natasha, and I still had not told her about the visit or the agreement we had come to.
A part of me was afraid to tell her, fearful that. Afraid she would be upset with me for lying to her, or for not confiding in her. Another But another part of me knew that I had no right to keep her in the dark. She deserved to know, and the longer I waited, the worse it would be.
The thought of losing Molly made my chest tighten. I made a silent promise to myself that I would eventually tell her the truth, but for now, I just wanted to savor this moment. With my newfound determination, all my worries and fears faded into the background.
As the dance came to an end and the crowd began to disperse, Molly and I stayed behind to help with clean up. In the now brightly lit gym, we laughed and chatted while picking up stray cups and decorations. By the time we finished, it was well past midnight. When we finally made our way out to the car, we found a sleeping Hailey in the backseat. She looked so peaceful, like she had when she was little, except tonight she looked so grown up, and it terrified me.
We drove home in a comfortable silence, the only sound the faint humming of the radio and the occasional snore from Hailey. When we pulled into the driveway, I scooped Hailey out of the backseat, surprised by the warm nostalgia spreading through me for a time when she was smaller and easier to hold.
I gently tucked her into bed with a tender kiss on her forehead before making my way back downstairs. As I entered the living room, I was met with the sight of Molly curled up on the couch, surrounded by blankets and pillows.
"Would you like to stay?" I asked her quietly.
She nodded, but then hesitated. "I would, but I need to wash off this makeup first. I’ll go next door, shower and come back after."
I smiled warmly at her. "Of course, take your time." I pressed my lips against hers, savoring the sweetness. "I'll wait for you."
The moment she stepped outside, I went straight to the cabinet and poured myself some tequila. Dan had brought it back for me from his trip to Mexico last year. I had hardly touched it, but right now it sounded good. It wasn't like the stuff they sold here in the states. This stuff was smooth, nice for drinking neat and getting courage.
I sipped the liquor, enjoying the warmth as it burned its way down my throat. The familiar feeling grounded me, and I let out a deep breath. It was late and maybe not the best time to tell Molly the truth, but I didn't want to wait any longer. I needed to get it off my chest.
As I sat there, nursing my drink, the thought of Molly, naked and wet, sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine. I could still taste her lips, the memory of her touch, her scent, lingering on my skin. I shook my head, trying to focus on the task at hand.
Twenty minutes or so later, the click and slide of the back door announced her return. She was a vision in a white silk robe, with her damp hair cascading loosely down her shoulders. She carried a small bag over her shoulder. "Sorry, I took so long,” she said apologetically.
She could have taken as long as she wanted and it wouldn’t have mattered to me. "You're beautiful," I said, taking in every inch of her.
"Thanks." She blushed, taking a seat beside me on the sofa.
"Molly."
"Hmmm?" Her emerald eyes had a magnetic effect on me, as if they were threatening to draw me in, but I held my ground. She needed to know.
"There's something I need to tell you."
Concern furrowed itself above her brow and she shifted back from me as if bracing herself. "What is it, Jake?"
"There's something I haven't told you. Last week when I said I went to get my laptop charger from Dan... I lied.”
Her posture tensed, her face switching from concerned too unreadable. "Ok, so were you really doing then?"
"Natasha texted me.” I could almost see gears turning in her head. “She wanted to meet me at the bridge over Hawthorne Creek. It's a place we used to meet as kids."
Her jaw clenched, and her expression hardened. "I don't understand. What did she want?"
