Page 38 of The First Play

“Just up here watching a movie!” I call as Zander takes a seat beside me, opening the laptop.

Quickly bringing up Netflix, I get a movie going and lean back against Zander’s arm just as my mother opens my bedroom door.

“Hey, you two.” She beams at us, and I beg my expression to be the picture of innocence.

“Hey, Mom.” I glance at her, then quickly back to the screen, pretending like I’m engrossed when really I’m not seeing anything. Seriously, if someone had a gun to my head, I could not tell you what movie I’m watching right now.

Zander’s fingers curl around my shoulder. “Hi, Mrs. Erling.”

“It’s Bethany, remember?” She winks at him, and I look up in time to see him smiling at her. “You guys want any popcorn or anything?”

“No, we’re good.” I catch Zander’s eye. “Unless you want…”

“No, I’m good.” He bobs his head. “Thanks, Mrs.—Bethany.”

She laughs and shakes her head. “Well, I’ll leave you guys to your movie. And I might just…” She opens my door all the way, using my trash can to pin it open. “I’m just gonna…” She points at the big open doorframe and winks again before disappearing.

I let out a relieved sigh, sagging against Zander and fighting the urge to giggle… or whimper? I’m not sure.

My insides are going nuts. From ecstasy to panic, it’s like riding a roller coaster.

I feel completely spent.

Zander kisses the top of my head, trailing his hand down my back and pulling me against him. “That was close.”

“I thought my heart was going to explode,” I mumble into his T-shirt.

He lets out a shaky laugh and rests his cheek against the top of my head. “Tell me about it. Shit, if they’d caught us…” He shakes his head. “What do you think they would have done?”

“I don’t know.” And I honestly don’t. “I’m guessing some long-winded lecture about sex, which sounds really painful to me.”

“I think I’d rather die. Like legit.”

I giggle and look up at him, lightly kissing his chin. “It’s worth the risk, though, right?”

Leaning away, he cups my cheek, staring down at me. “If my parents found out, they’d be super pissed. My dad would probably make me stop seeing you. They don’t want me getting serious with a girl. It’s all about football, you know?”

His expression gets a little dark, his jaw clenching.

I trace my finger down it, trying to ease that tension. “We don’t have to if you?—”

“Yeah we do.” His face lifts with a smile. “There’s no way I’m not doing that with you again.”

Relief pulses through me as I grin back at him.

“And next time…” He kisses the tip of my nose. “It’ll be your turn to take your pants off.”

Heat flares through me, making it impossible to play it cool. My cheeks are no doubt fire-engine red. “Oh yeah?” I’m trying for coy, but who knows what my face is doing.

His eyes light with this affectionate sparkle that I’m pretty sure I could spend the rest of eternity soaking in. Leaning close, he brushes his lips across mine and softly whispers, “I want to make you come, baby.”

Rising up to deepen the kiss, I thread my fingers into his hair and love the trill of anticipation that dances through me.

Dating Zander Donohue is the best thing I’ve ever done. And it’s not just because of the searing kisses and this sexual awakening. That’s all part of it, I guess, but as his arm curls around my back, drawing me even closer… I know in my soul that this is something special.

I’m falling in love with this guy.

He’s no longer just a crush.

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