Page 82 of Secret Love

“Really?”

He shrugs a shoulder. “Why not?”

“I just… figured you’d want to go back up the coast for school.”

“I don’t know,” he says, clearly uninterested in talking.

I won’t push it. He’s already missed several admissions deadlines, according to the arguments I’ve overheard with his mother. He graduated from Belle a few months ago. No job. No real college plans. No ambition.

A part of me is grateful to still have him around. Perhaps more than just a part.

I almost wish he’d never leave.

“Besides,” he adds, “LA isn’t so bad. I think I might stick around a while longer.”

I smile. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he whispers as he leans in and kisses me again.

We fall together into another familiar place. I lie on my back with my head against his pillow while he balances over me with one leg between my knees. He runs his hand along my side, but he doesn’t move it lower. He barely even grazes my breast as our tongues dance. I run my hand up the back of his neck, getting lost in his thick, brown hair.

I’ve never felt ready for any more than this. But, lately…

My heart skips twice. My nerves buzz within me.

I tilt my head, breaking the kiss. “So, I, um… I scheduled another audition,” I say, my gut clenching. “The director asked for me personally.”

“Cool,” he says, his warm breath on my neck as he kisses my chin.

“They’re making that Night Trials book into a movie,” I say. “Dad really wants me to star in it.”

“Let me guess…” Fox looks at me and smirks. “It’s the opportunity of a lifetime?”

“He might have mentioned that,” I say, dripping with sarcasm. “Have you read it?”

“No.”

“I’m reading it now. It’s really good.”

“Cool.”

He kisses me on the mouth. I swallow hard.

“There’s a…” I pause as my insides twist into knots. “It seems like there’s a really pivotal love scene in it and I, uh…”

Fox stops.

“I’ve never done one of those before,” I say quickly.

He nods once. “Well, I’m sure you’ll do great,” he says.

“Thanks.” I hold my breath. “I’m just a little freaked out about the idea, I guess.”

“Will there be nudity?” he asks with a devious smile.

“No,” I answer. “I read they want PG-13, but… still. Kissing my co-star is one thing. Being horizontal with them is something else.”

“You’ll be surrounded by professionals the whole time. Nothing to worry about.”

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