Page 64 of Tiny Fractures

Cat

I didn’t tell my parents about what happened with Adam when I got home after the party. It would just result in completely unnecessary drama, given I was flying back to New York in the morning. I have every intention of forgetting about the encounter altogether.

The flight back to NYC is quick, but I get antsy during the cab ride home. My mom is occupied with my younger siblings, and I spend my time staring out the window and checking my phone. My mom seems to know that my heart and mind are somewhere completely different because occasionally she’ll catch my eye and grin.

When we finally pull up in front of our home, I jump out of the cab, grab my bag, and hurry up the front steps to unlock the door. Inside, I hurry to my room, where I drop my stuff and pull out my phone from my bag, dialing Ronan’s number with eager fingers. It rings and rings, but Ronan doesn’t answer.

Disappointed, I hang up and drop my phone onto my bed before I decide to begin unpacking. I throw unworn clothes back into my closet and the dirty stuff into my wicker hamper. I decide to freshen up and change my clothes, and I’m standing in the bathroom when I finally hear my phone ring twenty minutes later. I sprint back into my bedroom, and a huge grin spreads across my lips when I see Ronan’s name displayed in bright letters on my phone’s screen.

“Hey,” I say, unable to hide my relief and excitement.

“Hey, sorry I missed your call. I was out for a run,” he says, sounding winded. I imagine his shirt, damp and clinging to his lean muscles. “Are you home?”

“Yeah, we got back half an hour ago,” I say, dropping onto my bed, letting my head fall back onto the pillow.

“I want to see you badly, but if you’re too tired…” Ronan trails off.

My grin becomes even wider. “Not tired at all,” I say. “I want to see you, too.”

I hear him chuckle in a low voice. “I’ll be over in twenty minutes.”

“Okay.” My heart is beating hard in my chest and my hands are clammy with nerves and sweat. Jesus Christ, I’m a basket case over this guy. “I can’t wait to see you.”

“Same here. I’ll see you in a few, baby.” There it is again. He called me “baby” last night and again now, and it sends a small, pleasant shiver through my body.

We hang up. Instead of calming down, my heart and head go into overdrive. I desperately search through my messy closet and come up with a pair of jeans and a basic black V-neck shirt. Once I’m dressed I fuss with my hair but end up making it worse than it was after the flight. You’re being ridiculous, Cat. I take a deep breath and decide to let my hair be. No use in messing with it; it’s too unruly. Once I’m done, I walk around my room, sit on my bed, stand up and walk around again until finally I hear a knock on the door.

“I got it!” I yell to my mom as I spring down the stairs and toward the front door, yanking it open.

Ronan is tall and gorgeous, his skin sun kissed, as if he’s been outside a lot these past few days, and it makes his green eyes look incredible. Some of his dark-blond hair has lighter strands bleached from the sun, and he’s wearing dark jeans that caress his hips and a simple white shirt that hugs his shoulders and arms, hinting at his lean, muscular chest and torso before covering the top of his jeans. Stop staring.

His smile is breathtaking as he takes me in, his eyes roaming across my body. Finally, he steps toward me and cups the back of my head in his right hand, coaxing me to face him. I don’t know what I expected, but when his warm, soft lips find mine, my legs buckle. Ronan’s left hand finds my lower back to pull me in even closer. I willingly part my lips and let his tongue explore mine while I reach around him to his shoulders and hold on to him as if my life depends on it.

When our lips finally part I can feel the heat in my face, and Ronan’s eyes are glossy, his cheeks flushed.

“Fuck,” he mutters in a low voice, and I giggle. “I can’t believe how much I missed you.”

The happiness I feel at this moment is indescribable.

“I hate to interrupt this obviously joyous reunion,” my mom says with a smile in her voice, my siblings—Benny and Samantha—right behind her, “but we need to squeeze by you two lovebirds and run to the store. We’re out of groceries.”

She stops in front of us and looks at Ronan with a warm smile. “Are you going to be joining us for dinner, Ronan?” I just love how warm my mom is with him.

“Oh, I don’t want to impose,” Ronan says.

“Not at all. Why don’t you stay? Unless you have to go home, of course,” she says, and Ronan gives me a questioning look.

“Stay!” I say, almost pleading.

“Alright. I’d love to.”

“Perfect. We’ll be back in a bit. You two, behave!” my mom says as she shepherds my siblings past us and out the door.

Ronan takes my hand, and I let him lead me into the house. I close the front door behind me before Ronan scoops me up and into his arms. I loop my legs around his waist while he interlaces his fingers under my butt, holding me against him, and I dip my head down to kiss him, appreciating the softness and warmth of his lips on mine. But before things can get too heated, my mom is back in the house, my little brother, Benny, and my little sister, Samantha, just behind her like little ducklings.

“Sorry, guys,” she says awkwardly. Ronan is still holding me against his body, and I blush once more. I’m surprised my face isn’t permanently beet red at this point. “My car isn’t starting; I need to call a tow or something. Last thing I need right now. I really need to replace that piece of junk,” my mom mutters.

“I can take a look at it for you,” Ronan offers as he slowly lowers me back to the floor.

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