Page 9 of Even In Our Dreams

“It was my idea actually…,” that heat comes back with full force, “because as we were kissing after… like… you know round two,” I barely get out the last part, downing my drink as my friends all lean back in their seats, Marlena clapping and Gemma staring at me wide eyed.

“Twice?” Lauren questions, also leaning back on her half of the swing to stare me down.

I can’t help the laughter that comes over me. I shake my head and hand over my mouth, “Twice before dinner was delivered… and once after.”

As my friends react to the news of my very productive night, Lauren hushes them at the sound of a car parking. “He’s here,” Lauren whispers and it only makes Marlena laugh harder.

“Get her,” Lauren jokes to Gemma who can’t help but to laugh too.

It only takes a moment for them to pull it together and in that time, Bennet crosses the street and waits for me by Marlena’s picket fence.

“Hello ladies,” Bennet greets us. I’m struck for a moment, taking him in as he looks over his shoulder back at Steve’s truck he borrowed just for tonight. Blue jeans look damn good on him and the white tee is stretched across his broad shoulders. He’s always wanted to be a doctor, but he wears blue collar well.

When his pale blue eyes reach mine, his lip turns up and a warmth flows through me.

“How are you doing Bennet?” Lauren asks.

“You came to steal her away from us?” Gemma calls out after.

He lets out a rough chuckle and I swear that deep masculine sound does something to me. There’s not just a spark of chemistry as I climb out of the seat and slip on my simple sandals, and grab my black clutch and white jean jacket, it’s as if my entire body is on fire, magnetized and pulled to him.

“You can slow down. You don’t have to run.” Lauren murmurs the joke so only I can hear as Bennet answers Gemma, “If it’s alright with you three, that’s my plan.”

I’m already off the porch when they joke with him that he can have me for tonight but I better be home by ten.

He opens the gate for me and as we wave goodbye, his arm wraps around my waist. It’s all too natural, all too comfortable. All too fast. And yet, I love it.

As he opens the truck door for me, it creaks. Steve’s truck is old and high off the ground for me. It’s perfect for the drive in though. I peek in the back of the blue truck that’s pale from age and there’s a basket and blankets, pillows too. I have to bite down on my lip to keep my smile from growing.

“Do I need to help you up?” he asks in a rough timbre that sends a sweet shiver of want down my shoulders. I’m trapped there, between the truck and his tall frame. His scent wraps around me as the wind blows and I get up on my tiptoes, giving him a peck on the lips before climbing in.

BENNET

The dim light from the projected screen casts down on her shoulders.

It’s a picture-perfect setting, apart from the awful movie.

It’s some comedy action and I lost the plot as soon as she cuddled up next to me, her hand resting on my leg… very close to a body part of mine that doesn’t need to be a part of tonight. All I can think about as we lay back in the flatbed of my friend’s truck, under a white cotton comforter, is how easy this is.

How comfortable it all feels. How she fits perfectly next to me, the pillows behind us, half a dozen of them, a box of sour candy and a bucket of popcorn in my lap.

“Is it alright if I move the bucket?” Bree asks and it takes me a moment before I catch on to her making light of what happened in the office.

Just as my expression shows the realization, she lets out the sweetest laugh.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to tease,” she says with her shoulders shaking gently.

“I don’t think for a single second that you didn’t mean to tease.”

“Okay maybe I did. Maybe I also wanted to move the popcorn so I could do this…” she starts and then I watch as she moves the bucket, placing it on the other side of her and then kisses me. A hand on my cheek, her soft palm against my five o’clock shadow. It’s soft and sweet. It’s just like her.

She nuzzles down next to me, leaving a warmth to spread through me.

Something flashes across the screen and catches her attention before I can make a single comment.

Aubrey is … unexpected. I keep thinking I need to be careful with her. That I can’t fuck this up. Yet here she is, just having fun.

And there it is. She’s just having fun.

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