Page 19

19

JACOB

“Jacob.” A voice calls my name from behind me.

I stop in my tracks and whip around to discover Skye running faster than a whippet, down the darkened street.

She smiles wider than the Golden Gate Bridge. Thumbs hooked into her backpack straps, she waggles her free fingers to wave to me. She’s so fucking cute. Her usual neat buns are now a complete mess as she bounces toward me.

“Oh my God, you walk so fast,” she pants, her hot breath creating billows of clouds into the chilly night.

“Where’s your jacket?” I ask.

“I don’t have one. I got a lift with Violet.”

I pull my arms out of my black leather jacket and lay it over her shoulders like a cloak.

“Thank you.” She grabs the collar and pulls it around her neck before she bends at the waist and grabs her knees. “My lungs are burning. I can’t run,” she says through struggling breaths.

“What are you doing running in the dark?” I push my hands into my pockets to keep them warm, pulling my shoulders up to my neck.

“To get you, silly.”

“I thought you’d be spending one last night for old times’ sake with Owen?” I feel sick to my stomach at the thought of his hands on Skye. Jealousy is a familiar but unattractive trait of mine when it comes to her.

“You are such a doofus.” She stands up straight again. “Urgh, my heart is beating so fast. You should feel it.”

I step back.

She’s a temptress. It’d be really easy for me to place my hand between her boobs.

But I don’t.

“If you had stayed around, you would have heard me telling Owen where to shove it and also…” She takes another deep breath, puffing and panting, as she tries to get her words out. “I told him that I’d met someone.”

In utter disbelief, I open my mouth to say something, but no words come out.

“He’s a doofus too. But you’re a gorgeous doofus, and you’re my doofus.” Then she throws me a megawatt smile. One that melts me to my core.

“You haven’t changed a bit, you know that? You still look like the girl who sat beside me in high school.”

“Because I still behave like a child?” she jests.

“No, because you’ve barely aged.”

She taps her foot against mine playfully. “So you were my first kiss?”

“Yeah.” Baring my teeth, I cringe. “About that.”

“I shouldn’t have gotten upset when Lincoln told me. It was a beautiful first kiss.”

“It was?” I ask in disbelief. For me, it was an incredible first kiss. A kiss of all kisses. One I have never forgotten.

“The best. Are you sure you’d never kissed anyone else before me? You French-kissed me like an expert.”

“First kiss,” I confirm. “Also, my first boob squeeze.”

She snorts. “Why didn’t you tell me afterward and then ask me out?”

“Because Owen beat me to it two days later.”

“Even though you told him you’d kissed me?”

“Yeah.”

“Jay,” she whispers and her eyes go soft with emotion.

“Don’t feel sorry for me. I only have myself to blame. I’m not that same guy anymore.”

“You’re really not.” Her eyes linger on my tattooed arms. She licks her lips. “You have huge muscles now. How often do you go to the gym?”

“Almost every day. Do you like my arms?”

“I love your arms. Your tattoos are so sexy and the whole bulging bicep thing is…” She fans her face with her hand. “So hot.”

I wink. “Keep imagining what my body will feel like pressed against you.”

She whimpers. “Stop, Jay, or I might drag you into the bushes and let you show me.”

“If only.”

“If only,” she repeats.

I have to change the subject because there is no way I can give in to temptation now. “Owen is away for a few weeks, then I’ll speak to him.”

“Okay. I wish it was sooner.” She sighs, looking around, and shivers. “I don’t like the dark,” she whispers.

“C’mon.” I summon her to move. “Let’s quick-march into town and grab a cab.”

“Good idea.”

“Give me your backpack and I’ll carry it.”

“Just like old times, when you used to walk me home from school? I have fond memories of you walking with me.”

“Good times.”

“There are always better times to come.” She bumps her shoulder against mine as we begin the walk into town.