Page 80 of Play Pretend

We made our way across the yard to the house. The door was open, and the darkness inside was like a blackhole. Suddenly, she dug her feet into the wooden porch, stopping us. I rolled my lips between my teeth, forcing myself to stay silent.

She wanted to go inside, and I’d stand out in the cold with her for however long it took for her to work up the courage to do it.

“Maybe I can’t,” she whispered. “Not yet.”

I gently turned her toward me and crouched so I could get closer to her face. “You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready to do,” I said firmly.

“It shouldn’t be such a big deal,” she muttered. “I’m being so dramatic.” Another humorless laugh left her.

I knew it wasn’t her talking. It was years' worth of bullshit her father had fed her.

“You’re not being dramatic,” I said, my voice low. “Don’t you see how strong you are?”

Her eyes flicked between mine. “You think I’m strong?”

“One of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”

Silver lined her eyes, but she blinked the emotion away. She turned her face toward the house, toward the door taunting her.

“I don’t know about that.”

Gently, I gripped her chin between my fingers. “I know. And I’ll remind you every time you forget.” Her breath hitched, and it took all the strength I had not to kiss her right then.

I forced myself to take a step back, to put some distance between us. “Call out what you need, and I’ll get it,” I said, walking into the house. The light was blinding as I flicked it on, and when my eyes adjusted, I smiled.

Her place was a lot neater than the first time I’d seen it. I wasn’t sure if she was keeping it tidy because of me or not, but it was cute.

“I need my makeup bag,” she called from the door. “It’s in the bathroom on the counter.” I nodded as I headed that way. “Oh, and my curling iron. It’s a mess in there. Sorry.”

That was an understatement. Makeup and hair products were scattered all around the counter, overflowing out of an open makeup bag. I wasn’t sure what all she needed, so I just put everything in it. The zipper strained as I pulled it up, and I held my breath as I waited for it to bust.

When I returned to the living room, she was still standing on the porch, her hands wringing together. “What else?” I asked, setting the bag on the couch.

“I just bought groceries, so can you grab some of the perishables? I don’t want them to go bad. Oh, and my clothes.” She groaned. “I don’t know what clothes to get.”

“I’ll get the food after the clothes. How about I just grab some from your closet? Ifyou hate what I pick, I’ll come back and get more.” She smiled softly as she nodded.

“There’s an overnight bag in my closet.” Her face paled at the mention of the closet, her smile disappearing, but I didn’t react. If I did, it would only make her spiral more.

Going to her room, I looked through her closet. It was so weird doing this. Her bed was unmade, the sheets white with little pink flowers all over it. The quilt on top was a pale green and white plaid pattern. Shoes littered the floor, and her jewelry sat in various little dishes on the dresser.

I grabbed a few of my favorite dresses, then moved to the dresser and hesitated. She needed panties, but it felt so wrong going through them.

Deep breath.

The drawer easily slid open, and little lacy panties stared up at me. They were delicate and pretty, with a scrunch on the back that I knew would make her ass look incredible. I grabbed a pink pair, lifting it up. God, what I wouldn’t give to see her in these.

I shook myself. Now wasn’t the time.

Quickly, I shoved a few handfuls into the bag before moving on to the next drawer, finding matching lacy bras. She was killing me. They were soft and see-through, with an underwire.

I was going to die, and her bra and panty drawers would be my heaven.

I needed to stop. I sounded like a fucking creep.

After filling the bag with bras and panties, I grabbed a pair of sandals she always wore and moved to the living room. She was staring out at the yard and turned around when she heard me.

“I got everything,” I muttered, hoping she couldn’t see the raging hard on in my pants. “I, um—” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I grabbed your underwear, too.”

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