Page 24 of Love Wasted

Past

Cass: Age 16

Paxton: Age 18

Tommy Shepard has definitely improved his kissing skills since the first time we kissed in the eighth grade. My first kiss was a ploy to get Pax’s attention, and you can guess how that turned out—complete failure. He didn’t even notice.

Now, only two years later, I’m standing in my front yard just beyond a tree, finding out a kiss can feel like something special. Every sixteen-year-old girl wants to feel like her experience is distinct from any other.

Tommy’s hand begins to move to the hem of my t-shirt, lifting it slowly, and my mind pauses a minute, questioning the decision to let him continue. Then he tilts his head just a little, making our lips seem so compatible that my head becomes foggy.

As his hand moves up the flat, smooth skin of my belly, I sigh, and that’s when I’m startled by the booming voice of the one person I least expected at this moment.

“Cass, what the hell?”

Dropping my shirt immediately, Tommy quickly takes a step backward, stumbling away from me.

Eyes wide, I stare, shocked at an angry Paxton Luke. Tommy looks like he might be sick, his eyes never leaving Pax’s stoic face.

“I…I…” Shit. Get it together Cass. I know Paxton feeds off of my lack of confidence. Squaring my shoulders, I clear my throat. “I feel like that should be my question to you. I’m on a date, and you’re interrupting.”

Pax’s eyes narrow then his gaze bounces between Tommy and me. Tommy now looks like he’s gone past the sick point and straight to the edge of death.

Stuttering, Tommy blurts out, “I didn’t realize she was yours, Pax. I mean, I heard…well, never mind what I heard, but it was an accident.”

“What?” Pax and I exclaim at the same time, both staring at Tommy incredulously.

“What have you heard?” Pax’s face has changed from red to a sort of weird ashen color.

“I’m not his!” My voice is strangled. Those words never fail to sting a little.

“It’s just… You know what, I gotta go. I’ll miss curfew.” Tommy practically sprints to his car without a glance back.

Without thinking, I swing and smack Pax on the arm. My hand stings a little.

“My turn—what the hell, Pax?” Angry, I continue, “You’ve got to stop scaring all the boys off!”

Rubbing his arm, he smirks. “You hit me.”

“Don’t you dare smile at me!” I scold him, but damn if I don’t love that crooked smile.

“Look, Cass, Tommy Shepard is an asswipe. You don’t need to be kissing him, let alone letting him feel you up. It would be all over the locker room,” he lectures. Being lectured by Pax drives me insane.

“It’s none of your business!” The volume of my voice rises as I speak.

I try stepping around him, but he wraps his hand around my arm, swinging me around.

“You are my business, Cass,” he insists. I can’t read the expression his face, but he looks like he’s in pain. There’s anger, and there’s something else I can’t put my finger on.

My heart resents him, hates him…loves him.

“No. I’m. Not. Stop this, Pax. Quit coming to my rescue when I don’t ask for it—when I don’t need it. Stop doing this to me. Why are you always butting in? What do you want?” The words spill from my mouth, words I shouldn’t say, words I’ve always needed to say.

Releasing my arm, he takes a step away, turning toward his house. Staring after him, feeling a little defeated, I shake my head and turn for my own front door.

His voice freezes my retreat, but I don’t turn around. “Because you’re Laney’s best friend and she cares about if you’re hurt or not.” He swallows before continuing, “I don’t want anything from you.”

When I walk through the front door, I slam it behind me and walk past my very confused parents sitting in the living room.

---