Page 35

April

Rain.

It’s the bane of my existence.

Staring out the doors of my apartment, I want to scream. It’s not that I don’t actually like rain, but I despise it when I have to walk in it. I could drive, but what’s the point when I’m only going to the library and it’s a five-minute walk.

It’d started raining last night right after I got home. I’d stopped in town long enough to get a few groceries I knew I was gonna need. More coffee. Lunch meat. Bread. Some flavor packets for water. And a lasagna. I’d been craving pasta, and I didn’t want to order from in town. Frozen was fine with me.

Sighing, I step back and close the door to my apartment. I grab my rain jacket and pull it on. It’s light enough that I won’t burn up in it, but it’ll keep the rain off me just as well. It was a little warm out, enough I had on a t-shirt with my ripped jeans. Thanks to the rain though, I put on a pair of my Chucks rather than flip-flops.

Once I have myself ready to go, I snatch up my bag and make my way out of the apartment and into the rain. I keep my head down, not only to keep the rain out of my face, but also to keep anyone from noticing me. Several people I know, who are friends of Samuel’s, are still here. I just want to get to the library without issue.

Thankfully I’m able to do just that.

The library is open 24/7 for students and there’s usually someone always around. Now though, with so many still gone and doing spring break stuff, it’s completely empty. Somewhat freaky with no one here.

It’s okay though, I find myself a spot, drop my stuff, remove my jacket and get to it. I can do this. I just need to focus. Get my schoolwork done and soon I’ll be graduating. I won’t have to be here anymore. I won’t have to deal with any more tormenting. I won’t have to debate about running away or dropping out. I’m determined I won’t let anyone get in my way, but it’s not been easy. The next few months won’t be either.

After spending several hours in the library, I’ve made progress and am happy with what I’ve done so far. Gathering my stuff up, I make my way outside into the cloudy, yet now dry, afternoon.

Instead of going straight home, I head toward the coffee place on the corner. It’s a locally owned business and way better than any franchise. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, but this place, well it’s got better everything. The barista who works here, she’s a master in getting the flavors just right.

Once I have my coffee and head back out, I feel like I’ve got a small pep in my step. Weird as it sounds, I’m feeling good. I’ve made a significant dent in my assignment. I’ll be able to finish it before everyone else is back and we are back in class. I simply feel lighter in general. That’s what Margo’s coffee does to a person.

I nearly have the entire cup finished by the time I get home and nearly lose my footing when I see who’s sitting on the step of my apartment building.

The building itself is an older house remodeled into four apartments, all with their own entrance. There’s even a walkway to go to the back for those who live on the second level to be able to go in through their own entrances.

Sitting on the steps to mine though is someone I never expected to see again.

Fool.

I make my way the rest of the way toward my place, his eyes watching me as I do so. When I get close enough, he stands to his full height.

“What are you doing here?” I manage to ask without sounding breathless.

The sight of him standing in front of me wearing jeans that fit him in all the right places along with a fitted dark gray T-shirt under his cut as well as boots on his feet, makes him look hot. Hotter than hot. Even better with the shades he’s wearing over his eyes. Guess it being cloudy out doesn’t bother him when it comes to him wearing his shades.

I wish he wasn’t because I’d love to see his eyes again. I found the bright green of his eyes beautiful. On him, they couldn’t be anything but.

“You left before you could give me your number,” he says. My eyes drop to watch his lips find each word. “Found out you go to school close by and where you live, decided to stop by.”

“You decided to stop by because you didn’t get my phone number?”

“Yep,” he smirks and steps closer. So close I could smell the cologne on him. It’s heaven. All wood and leather mixed with spice.

“So, you found out where I live and stopped by.” This doesn’t make any sense to me. Why would he . . . Wait a minute. Narrowing my eyes, I demand, “Were you put up to this?”

“Put up to what?” he asks as one of his brows lifts over his shades.

“Put up to coming here. Checking in on me.” I swear if he was, I was going to lose my mind.

“Nope,” he says way too easily.

I want to believe him, but I don’t. I know my best friends’ dads way too well.

“Don’t lie to me,” I whisper, dropping my gaze and shaking my head. “I can’t stand people who lie to me.”

Fool closes the distance between the two of us, reaches up and grips my chin, lifts my head, makes me look back up. The first thing I see is that he’s lifted his sunglasses up on top of his head. The second is his intense stare is locked on me.

“I don’t want to be someone you can’t stand, so yeah, they asked me to look into what was going on with you. Our club is only thirty minutes away, so it wasn’t that big of a deal. But for the record, knowing you were this close there’s no way I would have been able to not come and see you.”

“Why?” His admission baffles me more than I like to admit. It also warms a part of me I don’t understand.

“Why what?” he asks, while stroking his thumb across my bottom lip.

“Why would you come here to see me if not because you were told to?”

“How about we go inside your place, and I explain that to you?” Fool suggests, dropping his hand, only to take my free hand in his.

“Um, okay.” I don’t know why I’m agreeing to let him in my apartment but letting him in is what I’m about to do.

Hand in hand the two of us walk up to my door. I let go of his hand to dig my keys out of the side pocket of my bag and unlock the door. I step inside with Fool right behind me. He closes the door, sealing us inside and immediately the air feels a whole lot thinner than it usually does.

I’ve never had anyone in my apartment besides Kayla and Mercy. Or their parents.

I glance around seeing everything in order. Just the way I’ve always kept it. Nothing out of place. My little couch was situated as a divide from my kitchen. The TV was hanging on the wall, placed there by JC when he was here last Christmas. The kitchen was small and barely big enough for one person, but it worked. I was able to have my Ninja coffee maker set up on the small counter space. It’s all I needed to be honest. I thrived on coffee while at school.

“Nice place,” Fool mutters, drawing me out of my thoughts.

“Thanks,” I tell him and step back to put my stuff away and take my shoes off. I’m not one for wearing shoes in my space. I hate shoes, period, but I wear them because they’re a necessity. Plus, outside in the world who knew what you could be stepping into. The last thing I want is to step into a pile of dog poop. My neighbor upstairs has a little Shih Tzu that doesn’t care where it goes, including my front step.

After putting everything down, I return my attention back to Fool only to find him yet again in my space.

And it’s not just in my space, he’s in my space, his hands slide around my waist, his head comes downward, my head tilts back, his lips find mine.

Oh. Oh. Oh.

My. God.

Fool kisses me and it’s nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. Lips. Tongue. Control. He’s dominating it as if we were in a bed and he was inside me. But how can that be? It’s just a kiss.

Without breaking his mouth away from mine, Fool walks forward, me going backward. Our lips fused together, his tongue dueling with mine. He stops us at my couch and twists to sit and brings me with him, my legs going on either side of his waist.

Oh. Mighty. God. Please don’t let this be a dream.