Page 44 of Something in Between

Royce meets my gaze steadily, then sighs. “Carrie and I kind of had a thing the summer before junior year,” he says moodily.

“What do you mean bya thing?”

“We made out at that party she was talking about this morning. I was pretty wasted when it happened. After, we went out a few times, because I could tell she expected it. But I wasn’t feeling it and told her. I wasn’t up for dating long-distance either. She wasn’t too happy about that.”

“You guys seemed pretty friendly today.” I try not to feel jealous, but I am. So hedidgo out with Carrie. She’s his type, most likely. His brother even said so, said that I wasn’t the usual kind of girl that Royce liked.

“Today was the first time I’ve talked to her in over a year. I was on my way to find you, and I didn’t want to be rude by ignoring her as I was walking by. Would you have wanted me to do that?”

I think about it for a second. “No. I guess not.” I try not to be mad about Carrie. Of course he had a life before me, other girls before me.Deal with it. What did I expect? That he’d waited his whole life to kiss me too?

He leans closer again. “You know, I kind of like it when you’re jealous.” He’s actually smiling.

“Who says I’m jealous?” I huff.

“I’m saying it.” He’s fully grinning now. “It means you like me. And I like you too, Jas. A lot.”

I melt. I turn to him, and he puts an arm around my shoulders again. “You smell good,” he says, his nose in my hair. “Is that coconut?”

“Mmm-hmm,” I answer as he moves from my hair and buries his face in my neck, planting soft kisses there, then works his way back up.

I close my eyes and tilt my chin so that our lips meet. He kisses me softly at first, but soon our mouths are open, and the kiss deepens. His hands, my hands, they’re everywhere. I can’t get enough of touching him. I hug him under his jacket, wrapping my arms around his strong back. We’re both breathless.

But I pull away when I realize we’re not alone, and we’re in public, at a restaurant.

“Sorry,” he says. “Got a little carried away there.” He has a goofy smile on his face, and I want to kiss him again. Maybe I should be embarrassed, but I’m not.

“I have to ask Suzanne if it’s okay, but will you come with me to the farewell dinner?” I ask, already texting her.

“Of course,” he says.

He pays the check even though I try to hand him a twenty. Suzanne texts me back to say someone canceled, so Royce can join us. We attend the dinner, where I thank Suzanne and say goodbye to Richard and Simon, and we all promise to keep in touch. The whole time we’re there, Royce holds my hand under the table, and I squeeze it back.

When we get back to the hotel, I stop before we go through the double doors. I run out to a small grassy patch and kneel in the dirt. I’d forgotten to do this earlier, and it’s my last chance.

“What are you doing?” he asks, kneeling next to me.

I show him the tiny bottle and pick up a tiny handful of dirt. “I like to collect earth or sand from the places I’ve been, and I forgot to do this all weekend.”

Royce nods and doesn’t ask more questions. He helps me fill the bottle and close the stopper. “There. A little part of D.C. you can take home.”

I’m nervous when we get in the elevator. I wasn’t sure what the plan was—we didn’t say anything to each other, but somehow I know we both assumed we would spend the last night alone together. But where?

Do I go up to his room?

Invite him to mine?

“I have, uh, roommates,” I say.

“I don’t,” he says.

We’re suddenly shy now, and he looks just as nervous as I am, which makes me feel better. “Your room, then,” I say.

He looks at me from under his dark lashes, his long bangs falling into his eyes and smiles so sweetly. “Okay.” He presses his floor number.

Then he pulls me closer to him and we’re kissing again, kissing like mad, and a part of me is worried someone else will get in the elevator and another part of me doesn’t care at all who sees us.

When the elevator stops at his floor, we’re out of there faster than a senator rushing to the House floor to filibuster an important bill. He makes me feel things and want to do things I’ve never felt before. Every part of me is addicted to him. Being with him is like waking up, like I’m just discovering something new and amazing about the world, and I tell him so when we stop kissing for a brief moment.

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