Page 63 of A Million To Fall

Pacey gasps. I chuckle to myself, letting my gaze drift.

Across from me, Skye’s tucked into the corner of the other sofa with Lily, chatting in hushed voices. She laughs softly at something Lily says.

My lips tug into a smile, but I school it away.

I have no business looking at her the way I am, just like I had no business hugging her like I did. But all I can think about is how she felt in my arms—warm and soft, her bikini soaking through my shirt. No doubt this memory is going to find its way into one of my dreams. After all, Skye’s prominently featured in them the last couple of weeks. And now my brain has fresh material to torture me with.

Like I needed another reason to think about her at three in the morning. Like seeing her dote on Cassie and Bronx, patching scraped knees with cartoon Band-Aids, or attempting to wrangle a mob of rowdy kids with all of five feet and zero authority wasn’t enough to dredge up every stupid high school fantasy I spent the last two years trying to get over.

I stand, dragging a hand over my face, and make my way to the kitchen.

Jake’s mom’s standing by the counter, phone in hand.

“Hey Mrs. Davis.”

“Boston,” she purrs. She sets her phone down and crosses her arms, leaning back against the island, then watches as I retrieve a glass and fill it with water. “So, how come you’re not here with some young, sexy thing bouncing on your lap?”

I glance over my shoulder at her, shrugging.

“It surprises me,” she muses. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with a girlfriend.”

“I’ve never had one.”

She raises her brows like I’ve said something unfathomable. “Never? But you’re into girls, right?”

I chuckle. “Yeah, I’m into girls.”

And one in particular…

She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Huh. I’d think you’d be, well, fending them off. Looking like you do.”

I turn off the tap. When I turn around, she’s standing closer.

“You know you’re a beautiful boy, Boston,” she says, her voice light but breathy. “Strong, quiet, polite. And so… respectful. So rare these days.”

Her eyes roll down my frame and I shift, suddenly very aware of my posture.

“I try,” I mutter.

She steps closer still, her voice lower. “Have you had sex before?”

Her directness catches me off guard.

I blink, then nod.

Her mouth quirks. “A lot of it?”

I hesitate. What is this? “Yeah, I… I guess so.”

She smiles like she already knew the answer. “When was the last time?”

I glance past her, half-expecting Jake to walk in and start laughing at the stupid prank he managed to pull. But he’s still on the couch, his arm draped over Cameron while Pacey shouts something about filters and catfishing.

I shift my weight, water forgotten in my hand. “I don’t know,” I stammer. “A few months?”

She tsks. “Poor thing.” Her hand lifts, fingertips grazing my chest. My shoulders tighten. “That’s far too long for a boy like you.”

Her hand lingers a second, then drifts lower, pressing just enough that I feel the heat of her palm through my shirt. “Jake told me about your situation, Boss. That you were sleeping in your car,” she says, her tone laced with pity. “That it’s the reason he offered you to stay with us for a while.”