Page 100 of Meant to Be

“Me too,” I whisper.

His lips press against mine and I sigh into them. We kiss for a few moments and when he gets to his feet, my lips are still tingling.

“I’ll call you,” he says before he disappears out the door.

I blink, staring after him. I have no idea how I went from not being able to stand him in the room with me, to spending all night and day with him.

It’s always been a whirlwind with Harley and this time, it’s no different.

* * *

I spend the rest of the night mapping out the new course I’m taking. I watch my first lecture, take notes, and complete all the activity questions. By the time I’m finished, it’s almost eleven p.m. I’ve only turned my phone back on for a few minutes, when a text comes through. I dread checking it, but am surprised when I see Harley’s name on the screen.

Harley:Are you awake?

Josie:Yes.

*Harley is calling*

“Hey,” he says and a strange thrill spikes through me.

“Harley,” I greet him. “Hey. What’s up?”

“I just finished work,” he replies. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”

The pen I was using to take notes twirls ferociously in my fingers as I try to control my breathing. A huge smile takes over my face and I don’t fight it. No one is here, I can let myself feel whatever I want to feel.

“I can’t stop thinking about you either.”

I told myself once he left that I had a moment of weakness and that was that. One phone call from him and I’m melting, eager to see him again, admitting the very thing I told myself never to say out loud.

“I want to see you,” he breathes into the phone. “Can I come over?”

“Yes,” I say.

“I’ll see you soon.”

I spring to my feet and clear any mess I’ve made through the day. I rinse the sweat off and dress in an oversized shirt, combing my hair up into a semi-neat ponytail. I’m contemplating putting on a bra, when I hear footsteps bound up the porch steps.

My body glides to the door and I’m opening it before I’ve let myself gather my thoughts.

“Hi,” I whisper.

“Hi.”

He leans down and kisses me, pushing me gently inside, kicking the door shut. He bends his knees and scoops me up, lifting my feet from the ground. I wrap my legs around his waist. He stumbles over to the lounge before lowering me onto it, never breaking the kiss.

My lips leave trails down his jaw, his neck, and back up again. His hand slides up my side, underneath my shirt. My stomach sucks in as his fingertips graze along the sensitive parts of my skin.

“How was your night?” he asks me, palming my breast. I softly moan, arching my back so that I’m pushing myself closer to him.

“Great thanks,” I reply breathlessly. “I’ve started a new dental course. It’s kicking my ass already.”

He chuckles, nuzzling my earlobe before taking it between his teeth.

“You’re a smart girl, Darling, I’m sure you will smash it.”

Darling. I feel my toes curl with giddiness at the nickname he often used on me. I haven’t heard him say it for so long. It’s one of the things I often remember when I recall our nightly rendezvous’.