Page 25 of Coastal Runaway

Without fail, Maeve always gave me the space I needed to process my feelings. She drove us home in silence and I finally let the tears fall. Maeve placed a calming hand on my thigh. She didn’t push, but the look on her face told me that she knew that the exchange between Luke and I was deeper than just him laying out Sinclair.

Tonight I briefly let the dorky girl that I used to be creep in; momentarily forgetting the promises that I made to myself when I moved across the country to start over. By the time we got home, my tears had dried and I wore a look of feigned indifference.

eleven

Keegan

I stood under the stadium lights and peered out over the crowd. This was my favorite place in the world. The loud cheering, the smell of the coastal night air, the buzz of excitement as we took the lead in a game.

I always thought that cheerleaders were shallow and cruel individuals who got off on putting others down but I learned that really was just high school girls, not the sport.

The score board buzzed, indicating that CCU had won the game. Everyone was on their feet as we stormed the field to celebrate. A football player scooped me up onto his shoulder and I waved one pom in the air screaming with excitement.

We did a lap of the field with the team before we all headed towards the locker rooms to change.

“You coming out tonight? Should be a good night with the win.” Maggie looked over at mej.

“Yeah I heard Sigma is going to go wild.” Maeve added next to her.

“I’m pretty tired, I think I might have a steamy date with the hot tub and then just go to bed.” I said shrugging off my uniform and changing into my CCU warmups.

“You sure? Usually you’re so down to ogle frat boys.” Maggie said, hauling her bag over her shoulder as we headed out towards the parking lot.

“Yeah. This has all just been a lot lately and I haven’t been sleeping the best. I just want to relax.”

“Okay, but if you change your mind, just text.” She wrapped me in a hug and we parted ways.

Later that night, I was sitting in the hot tub on my bedroom patio. I had already taken some cute photos to post on my socials, and was laying back, just letting my muscles relax in the glorious heat when I was interrupted by the sound of the back door opening.

I picked up the remote for the outdoor sound system and turned the music volume down. Luke came walking out in a bathing suit with a towel over his shoulder. He looked up and stopped in his tracks at the sight of me.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t think anyone else was home.” He looked a little nervous

“Didn’t you hear the music?” I lifted a brow causing him to shrug. I sank down into the water, “I wasn’t really in the party mood.” I replied, avoiding his eyes.

“Are you okay?” He whispered.

“Of course, I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?” I knew exactly what he was referring to, but I was not giving him the satisfaction of seeing me weak. I didn’t like this whole nice act that he had going for him; it made me look petty when I had every reason to keep my distance from him.

“Nevermind,” he pointed back to his room and started to retreat, “I’m just going to call it a night.”

“No, I was about to get out anyway.” I wasn’t. But I also knew that there was no world in which I could relax knowing that Luke was peering at me in the hot tub through his sliding door. I stood and his eyes swept up as the water dripped down my body. My nipples hardened under his gaze… and he noticed.

“My eyes are up here,” I warned, crossing my arms to hide how my body reacted to him.

His eyes snapped to mine, “I’m aware.”

“Then stop staring at me because it’s grossing me out,” I scoffed as I stepped out of the hot tub, grabbing my towel and bending down to dry off my legs.

His gaze was, in fact, not grossing me out. I could feel that my body was getting more turned on every second that his eyes lingered, forcing my thighs to rub together to seek a little relief without being too obvious.

Damn, maybe I needed to get laid.

His eyes darkened and he chuckled, “I don’t think it grosses you out,” he took a few steps forward until he was only inches from my face, “in fact, I think it drives you crazy remembering what our bodies feel like intertwined.”

He reached out and brushed a featherlight finger over my nipple. I shuttered as a quiet, raspy moan escaped my mouth, betraying how aroused I was.

“Fuck off, Cavan.” I turned and bolted for my room.