Page 68 of Between Hello and Goodbye

A condom was procured, and we fell into each other, trying to burn out our feelings with every feverish touch. I drove into her hard and fast, mindless in my want of her. She wrapped her arms and legs around me tightly, holding me deep inside her while the orgasms came—white-hot and more intense than they’d ever been with anyone.

After, she showered, and I gave her one of my button-downs to wear over that pale blue scrap of nothing she called a dress. I took my turn in the shower, standing in a spray of hot water until it became cold.

Didn’t help.

I dressed and made us coffee that we drank in my kitchen, hardly saying a word. Everything we needed to say hung between us in a cloud of heated need that wanted to crash us together. On top of everything else, I’d never been with a woman as sexually compatible as Faith. She took everything I wanted to give her and gave back just as intensely. I wanted nothing more than to spend all day in bed with her, fucking and talking and then fucking some more, until we both passed out and I could just hold her…

Jesus, I am truly screwed…

At Hanalei Elementary, the front walk was festooned with a giant banner that readFriends & Family Day Jubilee!and decorated with multi-colored little handprints.

“How cute,” Faith said without much energy.

It was more than either of us had said on the ten-minute drive. I parked and strode to the passenger side just as she got out, bracketing her against the Jeep before she could slip away again.

She sighed and pressed her forehead into my chest. “Asher…”

“I don’t know what to do, Faith.”

“Me neither.Obviously.” She looked up at me, her eyes liquid green and swimming with the same conflict that tormented me. “Let’s just have a good time for Kal, okay?”

I nodded, and she kissed me softly, then took my arm. I helped her down the walk toward the back of the school. She’d tied a knot in the shirt I’d lent her, leaving the front mostly unbuttoned. You’d almost not know it was an improvised outfit.

Morgan would know,I thought as we stepped out onto the school yard. But my little brother’s smart aleck remarks were the least of my worries.Because she’s leaving.

The yard was crowded with booths, games, and picnic tables from the lunch area. A bouncy house was set up on the east side and a mobile petting zoo on the west. Under a brilliant sun, dozens of kids chased each other around, laughing and screeching and cramming popcorn into their mouths. Faith and I made our way to the folding table where school staff were selling tickets for food and games. I bought more tickets than we could possibly need and passed them out to random kids who ran by.

I could feel Faith smiling up at me. “Why do I have the feeling a big donation was made to the school at some point. Anonymously, of course.”

“It’s no big deal and the least I can do,” I said. “Educational funding is abysmal. As usual.”

She didn’t say anything but squeezed my arm, and I liked it too much how she was looking at me. How she smiled at me. I could get used to it. All of it. Waking up with her in my bed, wearing my shirt, taking her to the canyons or the beach or literally any goddamn place she wanted. Men liked to think they conquered women. What a crock. We were the weaker sex, helpless in the face of our lust. Brought down by a look, a whiff of perfume, the hint of a collarbone on a graceful neck…

I wrenched my gaze from Faith as Morgan and Nalani approached, my brother grinning ear to ear, his Nikon D7500 hanging from a strap around his neck. Nalani looked beautiful in a long flowing dress tied at the shoulder.

“Ash! Faith! Glad you could make it!” Morgan boomed and kissed Faith on the cheek. “Look who’s walking. Doing better?”

“Better, but I think I need to sit.”

“Aloha, Faith,” Nalani said. “So good to see you again. Come. You must meet my grandmother, Momi.”

Nalani took possession of Faith and they chatted and walked toward a picnic table not far, while Morgan rocked on his heels, hands in his pockets.

“Shut up,” I muttered.

“I haven’t said anything…yet.” He laughed, but it faded instantly at my dark look. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Where’s Kal?”

“Playing with friends at the jumpy house. And don’t tell me nothing. What’s up? Did you and Faith have a fight?”

“No.”

“It’s worse than that,” Morgan teased gently. “You like her.”

A retort shot to my lips. I swallowed it down. “It doesn’t fucking matter. She’s out of here on Sunday.”

“Well…okay. Have you discussed what comes after Sunday?”