Page 65 of On the Rocks

Her fingertips ghosted across my forehead. “I can’t.”

“You can.”

“And have my mother blowing up my phone when I don’t turn up?”

I laughed in the darkness of the room, the sound crowding us, and I pulled her closer. “I doubt Bonnie’s going to come hunting us down. We’re not teenagers anymore. She won’t care if we have sex.”

“You’re right. But she probably expected me home an hour ago, and I don’t want to worry her. She’ll do something crazy like activate the phone tree.”

“Oh god,” I said, running my hand down my face. “I forgot about the stupid phone tree.”

“The last thing I need is for someone at the reunion to tell her about Levi. Or worse, this,” she said, gesturing between us, “before I can.”

“I don’t think anyone knows we ditched the reunion to go have sex.”

“The way you drove out of that parking lot?” Cora teased. “Anyone who saw you would have known there was only one thing on your mind.”

“You could always text her.”

“I could,” Cora said softly, pressing her lips to the bridge of my nose. “But we’re leaving in the morning, and I’ve barely had a chance to talk to her. I really do want to stay,” she continued. “Only tonight’s kind of my last chance to spend time with her and figure out what she’s hiding from me.”

“Still considering your alien abduction theory?” I joked.

“Until proven otherwise, yes.”

Despite going along with my teasing, I knew Cora was worried about her mother, and I didn’t want her to stress. I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Find your clothes. I’ll drive you home. Just like I did after ourfirstfirst time.”

“You’re counting this as a first time?” she asked.

“Our first time as adults,” I said as she slid out of the bed, bending over to retrieve her bra and her dress. I studied her in the shadows, taking in those endless legs, the dips at the base of her spine, the fullness of her hips, the curve of her breast.

Yes, it was our first all over again, and I sure as hell hoped it wasn’t our last.

Cora

The Mercedes pulled up in front of my house, parking behind my mother’s car. It was a lot more discreet than Aiden’s old beater had been in high school. The truck used to rumble in the driveway, giving us away. My dad would peel back the curtains in the living room, watching us to make sure there was no “funny business” going on. But the Mercedes practically purred as he turned off the ignition.

“You don’t have to get out,” I started to say, giving up as Aiden climbed out of the car and shut his door.

There was no point in arguing since he was clearly determined to check all the boxes. He swung my door open a moment later, reaching for my hand. I hadn’t bothered to put my heels back on, instead scurrying up the driveway barefoot while I carried them by the straps.

I reached the door first, twisting to face him.

Aiden stood there, curls mussed, hands in his pockets, grinning down at me like he’d just scored his first touchdown. “So, should we recreate our first goodnight kiss as well?”

“I mean, it has been a night of firsts again.” First time sleeping with him as an adult. First make-up homecoming dance. First time being back in high school.

“If I remember correctly,” he said, “you pretty much pounced on me at the door.”

“I did not!”

“You totally did. I literally stumbled.” He put his hand on the bricks behind my head. “Had to brace myself like this.”

“Hmm,” I said, smiling as he leaned down.

“I think my arms went here,” I said, looping them around his neck. “And my lips here.” I kissed him. It wasn’t a repeat of the chaste little goodnight kiss from all those years ago. It was much sexier, all teeth and tongue, but I couldn’t stop giggling like I was still in high school.

“I see you’re not worried about your mom coming out to bust us now,” he said, laughing until I sucked his tongue into my mouth. Then he groaned.

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