Page 24 of Infatuated

Holden walks up behind Molly and blows a raspberry on her cheek. She squeals and jerks away from him, laughing.

“What are you ladies up to?”

“Nothing,” we say together.

“Great, then you won’t mind if I steal Molly here for a few minutes. I need her to show me how she does that thing with her back again.” He helps her stand, and the two of them run off, leaving me to my thoughts again.

I’m too antsy to sit and read any longer. Bethany told me after she lost her V-card at prom, I’d know when it was time to lose mine. Prom. How predictable, right? My prom experience was a lot less physical. I went with Matt Morrison, and it was fine. We had a good time. He refused to touch me anywhere but my waist and only kissed my cheek at the end of the night.

I wanted to go with Joe, but he promised Leah Hennisey they would go together. It wasn’t a total wash, though, since he saved me a slow dance. After that night, he spent a lot of time hanging around me. I was too nervous to do anything until right before we left for vacation when we shared our first kiss.

Why was it so hard for me to kiss Joe, but so easy with Tristan?Because Joe is superficial, and Tristan is different.Joe didn’t see me until I changed my clothes and started hanging out with the popular crowd. Tristan noticed me from the moment he saw me. Now, that may also have to do with the fact that I got Bethany’s makeover before coming here. But even though I haven’t been dressing the same as I do back home, he still finds a way to make me feel like the prettiest girl around.

Grrr, sometimes I really wish my inner voice would stop being so astute.

The only way to have anything physical with Tristan is to make him believe it means nothing more to me than blowing off some steam. I stand with new determination. I can do this. It will be like acting. How hard can it be?

I walk by the barn, and he’s there with a family. He’s about to head out to the field with them, and boy does he look good on the horse. His muscular legs hug the horse’s back, and I can see just a small amount of his firm ass peeking from above the back of the saddle.

Thoughts of my legs wrapped around him in the water resurface, and I want a repeat of that, except I want us connected below the waist. I bite my lower lip, hard. I watch him ride until he’s disappeared past a few trees, and then I stand there daydreaming a little longer. His rough hands running over my sensitive flesh. His soft lips finding the hidden spots that make me squirm.

A hand lands on my shoulder, making me jump. I twist around quickly, my hand over my racing heart.

“Sorry, pumpkin. I called your name, you didn’t seem to hear me,” Dad says.

“Sorry, zoned out there. I’m a little tired, I guess.”

“Mom and I are going for a hike, and we would really like you to come. We want to get a few family pictures, and you’ve been busy the past few days with Molly and Tristan. Go get changed so we can head out.”

I start to complain, but he gives me the look, and I shut my mouth. Parents are good at giving that look. It basically says ‘try me, see what happens’. I drop my head in defeat and change into some hiking clothes.Not the way I wanted to spend my eighteenth birthday.

Slowly, I walk back to the main house and find my parents talking with Molly’s parents.

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Morrell. Are you coming hiking, too?” I ask, looking around for Molly.

“Yes, Henry invited us, thought we could discuss a few things,” Mr. Morrell says, slapping my dad on the back like they are long lost friends.

I perk up. “Is Molly coming, too?” At least, if I have to go, I could have someone to talk to.

“No, she said she wasn’t feeling well and is lying down.”

Lying down.Probably not because she’s sick. I wish I was her right now. Not that Tristan has been around all day anyway. I’m dying to see him—to kiss him. The thought of him drives me crazy and sends heat rushing to my core.

We start the hike, and both sets of parents are talking as I trail behind them, wrapped up in my own dirty fantasies. Would we sneak off and have sex in the barn against the wall? Would he be romantic and take me in the field under the stars? Different scenarios run through my mind as I think about him.

How am I going to bring this idea up to him?Hi, Tristan, I want to have sex with you. Do you want to have sex with me? It will be for fun, no strings attached.Ugh. Ican’tdo this.

“You okay back there, pumpkin?” Dad calls over his shoulder.

“Yeah, great,” I mumble.

I want to get this hike done so I can get back and see Tristan. I kick a loose rock out of my way, except it gets caught under my boot. Losing my balance, I yelp as my ankle twists, and I fall hard on my knees and hands, sending pain shooting through my joints.

“Fuck,” I yell out, grabbing my left leg as a dull ache takes over.

“Lana Elizabeth!” Mom calls out. She turns and sees me on the ground, holding my leg. “What happened?”

“A rock jumped out and attacked me,” I reply sarcastically.