Page 142 of Here and Now
I pull her back to my chest, her hands splayed there, and I grin down at her. “I think I already found her. What do you say? Will you let me strip you down and see if I remember what goes where?”
God, I really hope she says yes. The last few nights I’ve had to work late and haven’t been able to go to her house. I’ve missed her. So fucking much.
“What part of the body are you studying?”
“The lower half.”
She lifts up on her toes. “I think I could help with that.”
I pull her up so we’re eye to eye. “I can’t wait. Come on, I’ll drive us home.”
We make the thirty-minute trip back to Ember Falls. Kai asks a lot of questions about why we did certain things and the rules of Ultimate Frisbee. Afterward, we come up with a schedule for the week. Friday is our next home game, and Penelope and Kai will be there with me again.
“Did you like the game the last time?” I ask him.
“It was super cool!” Kai exclaims.
“This time, do you want to come on the field with the mascot? You can even hold the leash,” I offer up to him. Everettwill really appreciate this. Brutus is an absolute menace, and watching Everett try to control him is priceless.
“I can?” Kai asks.
Penelope, seeming to know what I’m up to, cuts in. “No, you cannot hold the leash. You can stand with Mr. Everett—if he says it’s okay.”
Well, there goes my fun.
Kai is still smiling. “Okay, I’ll ask him!”
I grin at Penny. “Killjoy.”
“Troublemaker.”
I shrug. “You love it.”
We pull up to my house, and I feel a bit of nerves hit me. Penelope and I have been together for almost three months. We’ve been at her house, or on nights when Kai is with my sister, or when last week he went to stay with Quinn, we’re at my house.
Lately, I just want every night with her. A lot of it is that I’m constantly on alert, and when I’m not near her, I feel unsettled. I worry and find myself making every excuse to spend each night together. She’s safer when she’s close to me, where I can protect her and Kai.
This week I had a new security system installed in my house. I want one more barrier to entry. One more way that if someone tries to get to her, they have an obstacle, and it gives her time, which is what she needs to hide or run.
On top of that, I asked Eloise for some help to do something else for her and Kai.
Once we park, we get out and I let them in, putting in the code.
“You have an alarm system?”
“Yes, I had this put in for when you’re here.”
She smiles at me. “You’re sweet.”
“I’m prepared.”
I’m also sweet, but this isn’t about that. It’s about something else, and I have to ask her, but I have no fucking clue how it’s going to go over.
“Kai, can you go into the game room for me? I got you something.”
His eyes widen. “You did?”
“I did, but I also need to talk to your mom. You’re welcome to open and try it out, and we’ll come in as soon as we’re done, okay?”
