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As I wait, I keep checking around for her, not expecting her to be anywhere too obvious. But I know this woman better than anyone, and she would be determined to stay at the party and prove Michael’s bullshit hasn’t affected her.
After a few minutes, a picture pops up. I squint at it, trying to make out where she is in the dark, only lit by the moon. Then I realize it’s a ripply reflection of the sky. The edge of a boat in the lower corner.
I head toward the boat house down by the water. The carriage doors swing in the breeze, unlatched, and I step through, my eyes only taking a second to lock on her. She has her shoe off, lazily dragging her foot through the water while she looks at her phone.
A board creaks beneath my foot, and she lowers her phone.
“So, Benji Jones,” she starts, her voice a little tight. “Is now when you tell me you had no idea he was planning on dumping me tonight?”
She pulls her foot from the water and pulls her legs up to the side, turning to see me. She has her blonde hair dragged up into a sexy updo that shows off her neck, and the same little black dress she wore under her graduation gown. You’d never know she spends every second she can in an art studio, covered in acrylics.
“I had no idea he was planning on dumping you tonight,” I reply, mirroring her words.
She nods, and I hold out my hand to help her up. She takes it and doesn’t let go, coming straight to me and throwing her other arm around my middle, our fingers interlocking at our sides.
“How could he do that to me in front of everyone? I mean, I knew it was coming, and I was fine with it, honestly, but I thought he at least had enough respect for me to keep it out of everyone else’s mouths.”
I wrap my free arm around her, hugging her tighter and taking advantage of her closeness to breathe her in with my chin resting on the top of her head.
“I’m so sorry. Not that it happened, but that it happened the way it did.”
She snorts into my shirt. “Part of me isn’t the least bit surprised this is how it turned out, you know? Him having the time of his life, you and me like this while you pick up the pieces.” Her cheek moves against my chest as she shakes her head, and then she says, “You always were the best part of him.”
When she starts to pull back, I look down at her. I see the sadness in her eyes, the hurt and damage he caused even when she tries to smile, and I don’t know how but suddenly my lips brush over hers.
It’s a drunken moment at first, the warmth and closeness, her tits pressed against me, and her sexy mouth so close. Then the alcohol seems to burn away and the only thing I’m drunk on is her. My hand slides down her back when her lips move against mine, and I tug her even closer still. Our hands break apart, her palm going to my chest, and mine fisting in her hair. I groan when she lets me slip my tongue past her lips, teasing against hers.
And it all starts pouring out of me.
“Fuck, Charlie.” My mouth travels down her jaw. “You’re so fucking gorgeous.” Her hand clenches in my shirt, her head falling back. “I’ve wanted you for so long.” My fingers graze over her ass. “I’m sorry, I should stop.” She lets out the cutest whimper, scared I mean I will stop, but I just needed to voice it. To say I should. The truth is, I don’t think I can.
Until she says, “Why? Why are you only telling me this now?”
I stop and ease back enough to cup her face in my hands. “Why did I wait until you weren’t with my best friend anymore to tell you I’ve been borderline obsessed with you?”
Her lashes flutter, and I swallow.
She’s been single all of a minute, and maybe I should be careful about overwhelming her, but for one, I don’t have much time. I leave the day after tomorrow for the summer before classes start in the fall. And two, it’s CJ. Anyone else I could talk my way in circles, but I’ve only wanted to draw lines with her, straight from me to her. No bullshit.
“How far do you want to run right now?” I ask her, my thumbs stroking the blush on her cheeks.
Her lips tip up at the corners. “Not far.”
She presses her lips to mine again, and I smile, kissing her back.
I’ve moved her back against the wall of the boat house when her phone buzzes in the front pocket of her dress.
She lets out a sigh, mouth still on mine, and then she wraps an arm around my neck while she pulls it out. My entire body clenches at the sight of Mike’s name on her phone.
When she looks at me, I notice the doubt in her eyes. My head drops back between my shoulders, and I groan. “Shit.”
I bring my head up to apologize for not even giving her time to process. Only I never get a chance before she’s kissing me. Hot and wanting. Then she breaks away, out of breath.
“Tell me you aren’t just drunk right now. You really want this? Want me?”
I press my forehead to hers, hard enough she knows I’m not screwing around, and our fingers tangle down by the hem of her skirt.
“You miss the obsessed part earlier?”
