Page 75 of The One

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

She eyed me down. “It is.”

“How so?”

“You need to live a little, Lainey.”

“I am. I’m doing everything I want, when I want. But that also means following orders and staying in this line until we’re called up onto the stage to receive our diploma.”

Her mouth opened, her head shaking. “What exactly are you doing besides graduating, like the rest of us?”

“Well, in two days, we’re going to the beach house to spend a couple of days there with friends, and the following week, we’re headed to Europe. I don’t know, Pen. That sure as heck sounds like living to me.”

I absolutely couldn’t wait for the next couple of weeks and all that was planned.

A group of us was going to Timothy’s beach house, where we’d spend a few nights. An invite I’d scored for Penelope even though Timothy wasn’t happy about having her there. And then the same group was going to Ibiza and Mykonos for two weeks—the trip a graduation gift from our parents.

Since most of us were dividing up and going to different colleges, it was probably going to be the last time we’d all be together for a while.

“That’s not living. That’s following what’s planned.” She pushed off the wall. “This is living.” She moved out of line and began walking toward the exit.

“Where are you going?” I called out.

She looked back and held her fingers to her lips, like there was a joint between them, and continued walking.

What the hell?

Is she serious?

“Where’s she off to?” Rhett asked, suddenly beside me.

I shook my head, still in shock, as I stared at the back of my sister. “To go smoke a joint,” I whispered. “I can’t believe her right now.”

“That’s perfect.”

“Perfect?”

“Yes, because you’re coming with me.”

He found my hand and pulled me out of line, taking me past the hallway and into the main lobby of the auditorium.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

Instead of answering or going through the main entrance, he turned and went through a back door. This was just another hallway, but as we got to the end, he opened the last door on the right, and we were inside a stairwell.

Rather than take me up the stairs, he brought me underneath the first flight, where there was an opening, almost cubbyhole-like and private so anyone who came into the stairwell wouldn’t see us.

Which immediately told me what his plan was.

That little shit. He really did want me, and he didn’t want to wait.

“Rhett—”

“You’re mine.” He moved me to the wall that was blocked off by the stairs and placed my back against it, his hands going to my face and down my neck to my chest. “You’re wearing way too many clothes right now.”

My back arched as his fingers hit my sides. “We’re about to graduate. I should be wearing way too much.” I gasped in a breath of air as he clutched my butt. “Don’t you think?—”

“No. I don’t think we should wait, and I know that’s what you were about to tell me. I think the timing of this couldn’t be better.” He lifted the bottom of my long white gown and went under my dress, where he touched the outside of my panties.