Page 48 of No One Else

“I excused us and drove her back home and broke up with her. I’ve never brought anyone else home after that.”

She reaches her hand across the table, clasping mine. “I’m so sorry you and Pete had to deal with that. People can be insensitive.”

I nod, swallowing away the lump in my throat. “I was too sick last week to fully appreciate it, but when I came out to find the two of you laughing together... it really meant a lot to me that you treated him like a person.”

She squeezes my hand tighter, fierceness in her eyes. “Heisa person.”

I slowly release a breath, unable to meet her eye.

“He told me some of the things you’ve done for him. It must be hard being a caregiver so young.”

“He’s all I have. If anything happened to him...” I swallow again, harder this time. Whatever is lodged in there won’t fully clear. “Whoa, I didn’t mean to get this intense.”

“I like you opening up to me,” she says softly. “And I’m glad you have a good relationship with him. It was so obvious how much he loves you. How proud he is of you.”

My cheeks heat at her praise. For whatever reason, stuff like that has always made me uncomfortable. Like I don’t deserve it.

We say our goodbyes then to Miguel as we leave, with promises to return soon. I drive her back and walk her up to her dorm room, brushing my hand lightly down her arm as we stop outside her door.

“I had a good time tonight,” she whispers, gazing up at me.

“Me too,” I whisper back. Though there are other people milling around in the corridor and common area down the hall, it’s like we’re in our own private bubble here. I sift my fingers through the long length of her hair, unable to keep my hands off it any longer. “I don’t know if it’s proper etiquette for a first date, but I really want to kiss you.”

Her gaze turns sultry, a coquettish smile flirting along her lips. “Well, we’ve already kissed twice before. Maybe the third time’s a charm.”

I stifle a groan, not knowing if I can handle a flirty Natalie. My brain just might explode.

She steps in closer, entwining her arms around the back of my neck, and I bend down to meet her, my world turning right the instant our lips touch. I’m home again, everything about this girl settling me, grounding me.

I lick along the seam of her mouth and she lets me in, her tongue slick and warm against my own. She gives back as good as she’s getting, nothing shy about my beautiful, confident girl.

My hands move in her hair to cup the back of her head, changing the angle of the kiss, letting us explore each other deeper. She makes the tiniest noise of pleasure and I groan aloud this time in response, using my other hand to span her lower back, drawing her in tight to my body.

She enthusiastically presses against me, her fingers running through my hair, over my shoulders, along my upper back. Everywhere she touches is a brand, claiming me, marking me for her own. I gladly submit, craving her touch. There’s no one else for me. The chemistry I’d always suspected we’d have is off the charts.

I’m about ready to press her into the wall, grab her leg and hitch it over my hip so I can grind into her when someone wolf whistles at us, breaking the spell. She steps back, flustered, her eyes glazed over with hunger. She blinks and it clears, but the rest of her is still deliciously disheveled. She runs a hand over her hair in an attempt to smooth it, glancing up at me shyly.

“Goodnight, Evan,” she says breathlessly, her chest rising and falling heavily.

“Goodnight.”

She unlocks her room and peeks over her shoulder at me one last time before going in, the lock engaging behind her. I stand there for a minute longer, willing my body to calm down before I leave, unable to keep the spreading grin off my face.

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