Page 24 of One Last Time
Kristin places her fingers in my palm, and I start to pull her up. However, she falls back, and I lose my footing, causing me to go headfirst into the pool with her. I get to the surface quickly, only to find her gigglinguncontrollably.
“You fell in,too!”
“You pulled me in,” I say as I splashher.
She leaps into my arms, and my heart races. “I’msorry.”
“It was worth it.” She wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my torso. There is no way in hell I’ll stop her this time. I don’t give a shit about right and wrong or friendships. I want her. I want to kissher.
Kristin’s eyes stay on mine, her breathing accelerates. My hands are splayed against her back and then her eyes close. The urge to close the distance between us and kiss her is strong, but I don’t. Instead, I let her lead it. If she kisses me, I can’t be at fault,right?
Sure. We’ll go with that. It isn’t as if I’m the sober one and knowbetter. . .
Her lips come closer, closer, until her head lolls to the side and falls onto myshoulder.
Okay, that wasunexpected.
“Hey,” I say softly, but she doesn’t respond. I can honestly say this is afirst.
Her legs go limp around me, and she lets out a loud snore against my ear. “All right,” I say as I lift her in my arms. “You’re asleep. In the pool.” I push her hair back, and she sighs as I pull her legs up into my arms and hold her against my chest. We get to the stairs, where she becomes dead weight as I climb out of the water. Her arms and head hang down, but I know she’s breathing thanks to the loud sound escaping hermouth.
I carry her to the chair and place herthere.
Nowwhat?
Eli’s house is fucking massive, there’s no way I can carry her up those damn stairs without falling. I’m not in my twenties anymore. Hell, I’m pushingforty.
Still, I can’t leave her here soaking wet and passed outdrunk.
Thankfully, it’s hot as hell in Tampa, so I don’t have to worry about her freezing to death. I’m not sure what the protocol is here, but I don’t think she should sleep in her clothes. The idea of undressing her doesn’t exactly seem right,either.
I’m an actor, a damn good one, and I can put myself in a role. Sure. I’m her gay best friend and don’t give a shit about finding whatever is underneath these clothes. I’m not attracted to her in the least. That’s myrole.
I’m a goddamnidiot.
Sliding down the strap of her outfit, I focus on anything but the way her skin feels against my fingers. I don’t concentrate on the humming noise that she lets out when I repeat the motion on the other side. Hell, I don’t even register the uptick in her breathing when I graze the top of her breast to pull the one-piece whatever the hell this outfit is down herbody.
My eyes look to the wall as I remove it from her long, toned legs, praying to God she’s got something on underneath. If she’s naked, I’m fuckingdone.
When I look back, I’m grateful she has a bikini on. “Noah,” shemoans.
“I’m just getting you out of the wet clothes. It’sokay.”
“Okay,” Kristin rolls over as I get it off her feet. “You’re sohot.”
Kristin is back to snoring and pulls her legs up. I grab two towels off the table to cover her with. Her tiny fingers grip the edge of the towel as she tucks it under herchin.
I push back the hair from her face, and her eyes open just a little. “I’ll stay out here with you,” I say, not even sure if she’sawake.
“Camping isfun.”
My lips form a smile as I rub my thumb against her cheek. “Yeah, camping sureis.”
I head inside to change and grab a few blankets. I have no idea if it gets cold during the night, but I’d rather not take a chance. When I come back outside, I place one over her and then settle into the chair next toher.
I may have to stick around Tampa a bit longer than Ithought.
Chapter Seven
