Page 26 of Close to Falling

“Want anything?” I ask before I shut the door.

“Yeah.”

“What?”

“Just hurry up and pay for the ice,” he says, and I’m confused, but I shut the door and run inside to pay for the bag. River has already grabbed it by the time I get through the line, so I hurry back to the car and get inside.

“That wind is chilly,” I say, snuggling into the black cotton that smells like my boy.

“It’s not cold,” he replies as he pulls out of the parking lot.

“I didn’t say it’s cold. I said the wind is chilly.”

“I think you just like wearing my hoodie.” He grins.

“I think I do, too.” I reach over and link my fingers with his. He runs his thumb across the back of my hand, and I look out the window. He’s quiet, and I’m wondering what he is thinking. The car slows, and he turns onto a dirt road. “River, where are we going?” I ask.

“I need to feel you, B,” he tells me.

“I’ve got food cooking,” I say, but not convincingly enough.

Regardless, he asks, “You wanna go back?”

“No,” I reply. Tingles crawl up my legs, and I grow desperate thinking about his hands on me. He goes around a curve before he pulls into a small field and then kills the lights.

“Come here,” he says, and I lift up the armrest and crawl over onto his lap. One thigh on the outside of each of his, I straddle him as he runs his hands up inside the shirt I’m wearing under his hoodie. “I love your skin.” He pulls me close and inhales. “You smell like me with this on. I want to smell you.” I grab the bottom of his hoodie and take it off. My shirt rides up, and he kisses my exposed skin. I run my hands through his hair and look down at him as he glances up. His face grows serious, but he lifts his lip a tad. “I love you, B.” I melt and can’t speak. I search his eyes before I look down at his mouth, and in an instant, I bring my face down and kiss him. I open my lips, and he gives me his tongue. We kiss, and his hands move lower. I feel him beneath me, and I wish we didn’t have clothes between us. I grind into him because I want all of him,as always.He moans, and it’s heaven. Sweet love moves his hands down to my backside. “Get in the back, baby. We have to hurry.”

I climb off him and crawl into the backseat. “Take your pants off,” he says, and I lift up and undo my button and slide my zipper down. I move my pants down my legs and kick off my shoes before I do the same to my pants.

“Take yours off, too,” I say. But he doesn’t…as always.He spreads my legs before he sinks down between, and I lean up to get more of his lips. He kisses me hard and puts his hand into my hair. I push up off the seat and try to feel more of him. More, more, always more. River is in my soul, and I can’t seem to do anything about it. My heart beats for him, my mind races for him, and once he brings his fingers down, my body sings for him.

***

“What took you so long?” Landon asks, seeing the halfway melted bag of ice.

I don’t look at him, but I look over at River who shrugs and says, “Dead battery. We had to get jumped off.” I lift my brow and smile at him when he looks my way, likegood cover-up. Frankie walks down the stairs as I drain the noodles, and River gets the plates out of the cabinet.

Life looks like it always has to Landon and Frankie, but to us, it’s sneaky and secretive. Love-filled looks and underhanded touches. My conscience feels shitty for lying to my family, but my heart says to keep your mouth shut, and I listen.

***

Forks are picked up, and drinks are drunk. I sit nervously, trying to think of how to bring up prom, but by some fucking miracle, Landon does it.

“So I’m taking Cali to prom,” he says out of nowhere, and my jaw hits the table. Frankie stops chewing and looks between Landon and me.

“Cali’s your friend, right, B?”

“Yeah,” I say after I swallow my pasta. “When did this come about?”

“Two days ago.” He shrugs, acting like it’s no big deal, but it is.

“Why?” I ask, and River hits my leg under the table, forcing my eyes to go to him. He has a don’t-make-a-big-thing-of-it look on his face. I ignore it.

“Because I asked her, and she said yeah, B.”

“Why did you ask her, though?”

“Why do you give a shit?” he asks.

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