Page 90 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

And I even manage to steal her for an actual date. It’s just a drive in, but I don’t care, I’m putting effort into it. She’s still hesitant and nervous to do anything outside her own bedroom. We haven’t had a repeat of our pool fun, not even a hike, but I’m hoping the drive in will fix it. I choose a horror-comedy mix that I hope she’ll like.

I text her just before I leave and see her skitter out of her front door. She glances at my house, then jumps in my car and ducks like someone will see her. I laugh and pull out onto the road. We have to go to the next town over for the drive in, which means she starts to relax, but something is bothering her. I can tell.

The way she chews on her bottom lip, stares out the window, taps her toe to her own rhythm, rather than the music. I take her hand and kiss her palm. “Sky?”

“Your brother is pissing me off.”

“The muffins?”

“He’s angling.” She doesn’t provide any other information.

Be a good brother and keep my mouth shut about how he wants to be with Bonnie, or be a good boyfriend and out him. Before I can decide, she continues. “He apologized to me but did it horribly. Saying ‘sorry if your feelings were hurt’ and suggested me having another party at the end of summer, a goodbye party.”

“That’s not a terrible idea. Bonnie’s heading out. Chase is leaving. Isn’t there anyone else you want to see before they go?”

She shakes her head slowly. “I don’t have friends outside of Bonnie.” After a deep breath that humbles me all over again, she plays with her fingers in her lap. “This group of girls was really nice to me in my Sophomore year. But then they got all distant and bothered. I realized it was because they just wanted to swim at my pool and play the games and shit that I had. So, when I stopped inviting them over, they didn’t have a use for me.”

I squeeze her hand. “Fuck them.”

When we finally get to the drive in and park, Sky looks around, expecting to run into someone. I don’t blame her. It seems to be a constant thing in Indiana, but I wrap my arm around her, pull her close, and kiss her every chance I get. She feeds me Twizzlers and giggles when I tear through them like an animal.

This is what dating should be like – fun. Us making memories that matter, kissing whenever we feel the urge, teasing and sassing each other without any kind of fear. I take her out to dinner at some hole in the wall restaurant, where we have a great time, and then comes the tricky part. Dropping her off.

“Sky, I’m not dropping you at the corner of the avenue.”

“Yes, you are. With your brother being all weird and mine being determined to meet … you, this is how it has to be.”

She kisses me hungrily, then jumps out before I can stop her. I make sure she gets home safely either way, then park and hum to myself as I walk in. I grab an orange from the kitchen and head upstairs.

Another weekend for the record books. I’m starting to think this shit with Sky is the real thing. Sure, we still have to figure out how to tell our families and the huge question of the future, but I can hold out for three months until she comes home for spring break, right? Then, another two or so until summer.

Once I’m back in the league, I can move to different areas to fight. I won’t have to settle for Indiana. Arizona could be an improvement. I think of all of that as I flop back in bed. I get a call and pick up the phone eagerly.

“I’m going to be a little busy this week, so I probably won’t be as talkative,” Sky says.

“Everything okay?”

She swallows audibly. “Um … so I found out what Chase wanted to talk to me about the other night. Apparently, my mom will be visiting soon.”

I sit straight up and see her holding Dracula, eyes on him and only him. Fuck, this is hard for her. “Sky.”

“Two years of nothing and all of a sudden … Dad’s a mess, and … there’s just too much going on. I’m sorry.”

“Do you want help?” I let the question hang. I’ve told her she just has to ask, but it’s my turn to offer, my chance to prove this is a serious relationship, not just me getting my hands on her whenever possible. I’m taking it.

Chapter 28

Sky

I hate that question. I’d rather focus on Dracula, charting his own exploration across my arm. He digs his little feet into my shirt and moves the fabric over my skin before making it to my shoulder.

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t mean me being there, baby.” He drops his voice. “I mean talking to me. You never talk about her. You … you don’t have to. It’ll drive me crazy, but I’m trying very hard not to force you.”

“I just don’t know what to say.”

It’s true. I don’t know what to think. I don’t know how to feel. One moment I’m mad at Chase for keeping the secret that he’s been talking to her all this time, making plans for her to visit; the next, I feel sorry for him. For Dad. That hope in our father’s eyes will be fading soon, I just know it. Disappointment will run riot in this house, and I’ll be forced to live with it.

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