I watch her get dressed, enjoying the last glimpse of her body before she hides it away under her leggings and a baggy sweater.
Then I pull on my sweatpants and get ready to walk her home. While she waits for me, she wanders over to the window and pulls back the curtain.
She peers out, and her body goes tense. “You can see straight into my room.”
It’s an accusation, and I have no comeback. I hang my head, caught.
Avery barks out a laugh, and she punches me on the shoulder.
“Edward Turner, have you been spying on me?” The teasing tone is a relief. I look sheepish and put a hand over my heart and shake my head.
“I don’t believe you.” She shakes her head, and she’s still laughing about it a few minutes later when I walk her across the street.
She fumbles her key in the lock while I wait on the bottom step.
Before she opens the door, she turns to me as if waiting for me to say something.
I’ve never wanted to speak so bad. I want to tell her how wonderful it was, how alive she makes me feel. I want to kiss her and tell her I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused and how I wish I could absorb it all for her. But like a dumbass I stand there with my hands in my pockets.
“Um.” She bites her lower lip. “Would you like to do that again sometime?”
I take the stairs and grasp her head between my hands. My lips crash into hers, and I try to convey all I’m feeling in that one kiss. Yes, I’d like to do that again. But no, I still can’t offer you anything more.
She tastes like sex and coffee and her own special flavor. I grunt like an animal, and she smiles.
“I take that as a yes.”
She slips inside, and I wait until I hear the lock catch on the other side of the door before heading back to the house.
17
AVERY
My body tingles with memories of Ed’s hands on me. I stretch lazily and climb out of bed. His sweater is on the floor where I dumped it last night, and I pull it on. My nose wrinkles at the musty smell. It needs a wash, but I love wearing it. I love feeling like I’m his, even if he made it clear that will never happen.
I sigh at my stupid schoolgirl fantasies. I should have known Ed would never be the guy for romantic dinners and sunset strolls by the lake. But darn it, we have a connection. We have chemistry. I can’t believe he wouldn’t want to explore that.
I should walk away with my dignity and not settle for a man who only wants one thing. My cheeks heat at the memory of that ‘one thing.’ If there’s a chance to do that again, I’m going to take it. I’ll just have to harden my stupid heart.
I can do casual. Or at least I can try. Because if there’s an opportunity to feel Ed’s hands on me again, I’m taking it.
Sunlight streams in my bedroom window as I pull the curtains. I can’t believe he can see right into my room. But that means I can see into his.
I peer across the street, and I have to tilt my head up to see the small attic window. His curtains are closed, but there are two pieces of his notepad stuck to the window. He’s written across them in large black letters:
Morning Beautiful.
My heart warms at the words, and a stupid grin forms on my face. Darn, he’s going to make it very hard to do casual.
“Something’s different.” Paige peers at me over the downy head of a sleeping Noah. “You’re glowing. Is it a new skin care regime?”
“No.” It’s my lunch break, and Paige has come in early for an appointment for Noah to meet me for lunch.
“Did you get a facial?”
“No.” I shake my head and look away, peering into the cabinet of the cafe so Paige doesn’t see the blush heating my cheeks.
“Oh my god, you had sex!” Half the cafe turns to stare at us, and the teenage boy behind the counter drops a cookie on the floor.
