AllFreeNovel
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“Like I said, classic.” She’s twisting a lock of hair around her finger, distracting me when she says, “We don’t need AC tonight, and anyway, running it while you’re idling drains the battery and wastes gas. No need for that.”
“Is that so?” I need to get a little closer, suddenly grateful this rust bucket has old school, single bench style seating. “Guess you know a lot about cars?”
“I know nothing!” She squeals when I pull her close to me. “I can’t change a flat tire.” A flush is crawling across her collarbone and up her neck. “Or change the oil.” She licks her lips and lowers her voice to a whisper. “I don’t even know where the antifreeze fluid goes.”
Leaning in, I whisper back, “Then I’m going to teach you everything.”
I’m committed to moving at a slow pace, but she takes matters into her own hands. I suspect she wants to prove to me that she is, in fact, doing fine. She’s in my lap, legs astride mine, and it’s all I can do to keep my hands from deviating from the path I’ve made, slowly running them up and down along her sides from hips to ribs. “You’re beautiful,” I tell her, overcome with how much I want her, want to be anywhere she is.
“You don’t have to say that,” she whispers.
I pull back an inch, studying her. “I know I don’t. I said it because it’s what I feel when I look at you.” Raising her chin, I kiss her once and then tell her again, “Charlotte, you’re beautiful.” Her uncertain smile cracks me wide open, physically hurts me. I pull back some more. “Hey, do you think I’m attractive?”
“What?” She’s stalling.
“Do you think I’m handsome, good looking, easy on the eyes, guapo?”
“Ugh!” She leans back, both hands braced on my shoulders. “You know you are!” Shaking her head and frowning, she adds, “You know every girl in the school would kill to be with you.”
“I seriously doubt that, but I don’t care about them…I want to know howyousee me.”
Her eyes soften. “I think you’re the most beautiful boy I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“I’m gonna have to agree with you.” I trap her wrists in my hands as she goes to beat on my chest, her effort weak as her body shakes with laughter.
“Are you seriously that conceited?”
“No, I’m just proving a point.” I draw her hands up to my mouth, inhaling her scent before I place a kiss on the inside of each wrist. “You told me you like what you see and I believe you. I need you to believe me when I tell you whatIfeel and what I see when I look at you.”
She nods. “I’ll try.”
“Do you really not see what I see? Hell, every guy I know thinks you’re hot. It’s not like it’s even something that’s up for debate.”
“Stop,” she pleads, cringing.
“No,” I whisper, leaning my forehead against hers. “I can’t look away. Do you understand?”
She moves to slide in closer, but I shift her hips back before taking her face in my hands and bringing her lips back to meet mine. This, where we are right now, this will be enough. I’m leaving in less than three months, and I’m not taking this so far that we’ll both be worse off for it after.
We head back towards home a few minutes later, her hand in mine as I drive. And it’s good, it’s easy with her. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to talk or to listen the way I do when I’m with Charlotte. She wants to know everything: my favorite bands, whether or not I like working at the hardware store, what my mother’s maiden name is. She’s full of questions, and for the first time in my life, I want to answer.
“Where exactly do you live.”
“Not far from Tyler. We’re on Dutch Lane.”
“Andwerefers to?”
“It’s just me and my mom at home.”
“Oh.” Her brow furrows. “And when you leave?”
“She has a boyfriend, Henry. He’s a nice guy. And she’d never leave this place anyway…Not while Timmy’s still here.”
“How long is his sentence?”
“He has three years left…No chance of early parole.” When she drops her gaze, I look over and lift her chin. “That’s not on you, ok?”
“Can’t help it, I feel guilt by association. But I want you to be able to talk to me about Timmy, about your family, about all of it.”
