Page 68 of Crash

He starts to slide his hand inside my leggings, but I grab his hand.

“You know this love thing we have going? I think it’s the best.”

“I agree. Now, let me show you how much I love you.” When he starts to nibble on my neck, I almost give in. For self-preservation, I jump off his body.

“I promise that when we come back, we can spend the entire day in bed, but we have to go to Tash’s house for breakfast. She texted two hours ago. Come on!” To show him I mean it, I slap him on his bare ass.

We’ve been in the car for ten minutes and he hasn’t let go of my hand, and that’s not even the best part. The kisses I get every time he stops for a red light top the hand holding.

It was like this yesterday too.

I sigh in happiness at the thought of yesterday, the most perfect day of my life. I woke up alone in his massive bed, disoriented and sore from the night before. With no Luke in sight, I went in search of him downstairs only to realize I was alone in the house. He walked in as I was texting him, carrying several bags of groceries. When I tried to help him with the bags, he ordered me to sit as he made us breakfast.

This was followed by more lovemaking and another shower. When I mentioned going to campus to buy books, he insisted on driving me. When we ran into one of my friends in the bookstore, Luke walked away and paid for my books, which caused our first fight as a couple.

The fight ended when he kissed me senseless right outside the bookstore.

“I’ll buy you whatever the hell I want, whenever I want. Deal with it,” he whispered against my lips.

“What are you smiling at,” he asks as he parks in front of Tash’s house.

“You. You’re not what I thought at all.”

“Well, what did you think?”

“That you were a spoiled rich kid.”

“Well, I kinda am, so you weren’t wrong.” He gets out and before I can even get my door open, he’s offering me his hand and helping me out of the car.

“Yes, but you’re sweet, and funny and kind. And a good cook.”

“You can thank my mom for that. She let me help her in the kitchen despite all the messes I used to make.”

That’s another thing. I assumed they let servants do everything for them, but I’ve come to realize that his parents were very hands-on in every way, and they raised three amazing sons.

“So,” I say as we walk to the house, hand in hand, “we’re going to tell everyone we’re just friends and I only invited you to breakfast because your parents are away, and I feel sorry for you.”

He stops walking, but when he sees the smile on my face, he pulls me into his arms.

“I was right about you, though. You’re a huge pain in the ass.”

Before I can open my mouth to tell him he’s right, the front door is yanked open, and Tash let out a shriek loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood.

“Get in here!” She grabs Luke’s hand and pulls us both inside, slamming the door behind us, engulfing us both in a hug.

“Dee told me, but I had to see for myself. I didn’t believe it until just now.” She takes our coats and throws them in a closet. “Chris! You were right. I owe you ten bucks.”

Chris steps out of the kitchen holding a mixing bowl and a whisk. He looks at me and Luke, who now has an arm thrown casually across my shoulders.

“I want that ten bucks now. Go get it and put it in my pocket. I’m not cooking until you pay me.” Tash sighs, but pulls out ten bucks from her own pocket and puts it in Chris’s.

“I’ll just steal it back from him later,” she whispers to us.

We follow them back into the kitchen to find Sandy and Jake sitting at the table.

“Hello, family,” Luke says as he kisses Sandy’s cheek. “Big brother.” To Jake’s annoyance, he kisses his cheek right before he swipes his mimosa, finishing it in one gulp. “And just so you all know, I have a girlfriend!” He picks me up and plants a wet kiss on my mouth.

“Oh my god,” I say, hiding my face in my hands.

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