Page 71 of Always You

“Well, I’m honored. Thank you for sharing it with me.”

I bite my lip, resisting the urge to press them against hers, going for the second best option by planting a lingering kiss on her forehead.

“Who else would I share it with, babe? Come on, let’s go swimming.”

Grabbing the blanket out of the backpack, I watch how she takes off her Converse, then dips her toes in the cold water. Her eyes pop out of her head, her teeth pressed against each other.

“It’s cold?” I chuckle, setting up everything I packed this morning.

She raises her fingers, pressing her thumb and index finger slightly together.

“Just a little.”

Her feet slowly move toward me, and I plant my ass on the gray plaid blanket that I put over the pebble stones, tapping on the free spot next to me.

“Come, sit. We can wait a bit for the sun to get a little warmer.”

She lies down, then closes her eyes while the morning sun warms our faces. It’s another warm day for this time of year, and it won’t take long before we’ll be fried out here in the sun, but I don’t care. All I care about is having her for myself all day, within the privacy of this special place.

“You’re not going back to sleep, are you?” I softly poke her side.

She peeks one eye open, then closes it again.

“That’s what you get when you, one”—she lifts her finger up in the air—“make me tired as fuck during the night by fighting with me.”

“I—” I interrupt, ready to go into defense mode.

But she brings her other finger up with a shushing sound, making me press my lips together.

“And, two”—another finger lifts in the air, and I eye it amusingly—“wake me up at the crack of dawn. Who does that? Also, were you allowed to drive just now?”

“What? Of course, why?”

She pops onto one elbow, facing me while her head rests on her hand.

“Because I’m pretty sure you went back to the creek last night and had a few more drinks. Maybe even got laid. Anyway, chances are, you’re still drunk.” She rolls her eyes, and I push out a gasping breath. I know she’s joking, but I’m taking this moment to push her buttons some more, anyway.

“One,” I say, lifting my finger, just like she did, “I went straight homeafterwe dropped you off.” She cocks an eyebrow in disbelief. “Two. I didn’t fuck anyone last night, but you already know that since we fought about it for ten minutes. And three, I’d never drink and drive.”

“Good,” she says with a satisfied look on her face, a smile curling the corner of her mouth.

I lie back, looking up at the sky, my hands folded on my stomach.

“You know, Charls. If it was anyone else, I’d think you might be a bit jealous.”

“Right. You mean, just like how you sabotage every date I go on,” she counters, and I slightly turn my head to look at her, met by an amused glare.

“Yeah, exactly like that,” I admit, turning my gaze back to the sky. “I’m man enough to admit that.”

She lets out a mocking huff. “That you fuck up all my dates, or that you’re jealous?”

Her words reach my ear, and I pop onto my elbow, mimicking her stance while my free hand reaches out to cup her cheek, instantly making her face fall a little when I touch her. Her skinfeels like velvet in my palm, and I want to move it lower to explore the rest of her body.

“I’m jealous,” I concede. “I’m jealous, Charls. And yes. I’m not afraid to admit that.” Her lips part, the tension rising between us while I wait for her to say something.

“Why?” she whispers, her voice laced with desperation, though I’m not sure what kind. Is it desperate to be more? Or is it the hope to let things stay as they are?

“Because you’re the most incredible person I’ve ever met. You’re sweet, you’re fun, you’re easy to be around, and you’re hot as fuck,” I tell her, pulling a chuckle from her, “but most of all, you’re my best friend. And even though I know it’s not fair to demand your attention all the time, I can’t help myself from feeling like I don’t want to shareyou. Because I don’t. I want you all for myself, because when I’m with you,Ifeel like myself.”

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