Page 79 of Rear View
No. I wasn’t. I wanted him there with me, instead of wandering off with Publicity Princess. Shoving that petty voice aside, I shook my head. “I’ll be fine.”
Trina settled a hand on the cap of his shoulder, her smile saccharine. “I’ll take good care of him, Ryah.”
He maneuvered away from her, his eyes almost feral as he closed in and lifted me from the ground, pinning me against the wall. I squeaked and my heart did a contented little somersault when his mouth met mine. The kiss was slow and warm, and I wanted nothing more than to keep it going. All night. Forever.
When he pulled back, he lowered me down and tracked his thumb across my cheek. “Don’t forget me, now.”
I couldn’t if I tried. Trina looked away, her arms crossed over her chest. My inner Petty Betty smiled, all swagger and full of teeth.That’s right, he’s mine.
“Be back soon.” He winked, and with that, he left.
Throwing the latch in place, I dead-bolted the door and headed back to the couch, touching my swollen lips, the warmth of his kiss still lingering there.
My phone buzzed with an incoming call from my parents. Grinning, I answered.
“Hi.”
“Hey, sweetie. How’re you?” Mom said, her voice high and sounding suspiciously like she already knew the answer.
My smile widened further as I headed for the massive en suite bathroom, with its golden marble countertops, slate-tile shower and two-person Jacuzzi. “I’m good.” Turning on the latter, I set the temperature and let it fill.
“A little birdie told us you went away for the weekend.”
My dad’s voice came on the phone. “With a boy.”
I laughed and headed back to the room to grab my nightclothes. “That little birdie has a big mouth.”
“Don’t be mad at your brother,” Mom said. “He was just excited.”
A text pinged through, and I eyed my screen.
Zoya: Hey, girl. Just getting to your message now. You headed to see your parents?
Me: No. I’m with Xavier.
The ensuing pause had a visual chase across my mindof her spitting out a drink as she fumbled her phone. I snickered.
Zoya: Holy shit! I just spit out my drink!
I barked a laugh, but I got it, seeing as the last time I’d left Edgewater was over two years earlier, when Z and I took off on a camping trip to celebrate finishing undergrad.
Zoya: Good for you. You need this, Ry. Just be safe and make sure to get you some, girl.
“Sweetie? Are you there?”
“Yeah, sorry.” I stared out across Emerald Cove, the calm settling over me so foreign, I had to work to let it in. My shoulders lowered, my muscles eased and I inhaled deep. “I’m here with Xavier.”
“I’m so happy for you,” she said, a smile in her voice.
I was happy for me too. Happy and greedy for more. Greedy for everything. I wanted this, to be with Xavier. Unshackled and free. To look forward to the future.
A message dinged in on my laptop from Professor Barlowe. I rolled my eyes and closed it down.
“You sound good.”
Something I hadn’t been in so, so long. Something she’d noticed but couldn’t pry from me. Like a dark cloud that had been lifted—well, not completely. But itwaslifting. I hadn’t heard fromhimin days, and I was out of Edgewater, so it was a start. “Ifeelgood, Mom.”
“So, you like him, then?” Dad asked.
