Page 29 of Escaping Our Reality

We kiss until neither of us can breathe, function. Slowly, I pull my tongue from her mouth, leaving my lips resting against hers. Our hot breath mingles, carrying air from my lungs to hers, and back again.

And that’s when I see it. When I feel it. Her body relaxes, her shoulders roll forward, and she sighs deeply, contently.

This is Lulu.

Lulu is a completely different person from the Ella everyone in her circle knows.

And Lulu is all mine.

Chapter 12

ELLA

It’s been less than forty-eight hours, and I haven’t been able to get him out of my mind. I’m surprised I made it through the school day without cutting class to drive out here. If it weren’t for a stupid math test, I probably would’ve.

And Ella Hill doesnotcut class.

Can you imagine what the school administrators would say? My classmates? My parents? Why being the talk of the town isn’t what sweet little Ella Hill should be known for. Avoiding drama means I get to avoid my parents, and avoiding them works way better for me than pining after them with unrequited love.

Besides, why should I skip class? Ry and I parted with no promises. No plans to see each other again. No commitments of a relationship.

Sure, that kiss was… well, it was everything.

And sure, I’m almost positive I heard him whisper, ‘My Lulu’, against my swollen lips. But that doesn’t mean anything, right?

And yet, here I am. About to show my hand. About to be the weaker link. I figure anger is the easiest way to follow through with this asinine plan, so that’s what I choose.

I spot him—well, half of him—the second I walk through the bay of the garage. He’s lying underneath a car on one of those rolling cots with just his legs poking out when I walk up. He knows I’m here. He senses me. I know he does because the clanking noise he was making when I pulled up has stopped.

I fold my arms across my chest. “You’re gonna kiss me likethat, and I don’t even know your full name?”

He pushes out from underneath the car and shields his eyes from the bright, overhead lights. He has a grease stain streaked across his cheek. So freaking sexy. I shake my head to clear my thoughts.

Standing up, he leisurely grabs a towel from his back pocket and wipes his dirty hands. He takes a step toward me. “We kiss likethat, and knowing my full name is your only concern?”

Well, of course, that isn’t my only concern, but it became the most plausible reason for me to come here this evening. To see him again. And holy hell, did I want to see him again.

Anger, I remind myself, think anger.

We’ve already established I’ve been acting like a lunatic for the past day and a half, my brain completely monopolized with thoughts of him.

Five different times yesterday I found myself sitting in my vehicle, ready to trek all the way across the county to see him. To be near him. To kiss him again.

But I didn’t.

Each time, I begrudgingly climbed out of my SUV and sulked back into the house. We ran into each other at the coffee shop randomly. Me, driving out to see him on purpose, that’s a completely different situation. And it’s not like I can wait on him to come see me. He doesn’t know where I live. And that’s assuming he even wants to see me again.

Ry tosses the rag to the side and steps even closer to me. Close enough that his body grazes mine. I freeze. I’m afraid that any slight movement will disconnect the tether pulling him to me.

Bending his head, he whispers against my earlobe. “Because my only concern iswhen can we do it again.”

Shivers run down the base of my spine, swirling deep into my stomach, wetting my panties. All these feelings are foreign. And wonderfully delightful.

Kiss me. Kiss me forever.

I pray he can read my thoughts.

My lips part…

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