Page 37 of The Now in Forever
I lean in closer. “Mm-hmm.”
He says, almost into my mouth, “They make a pact to meet each other again in a year. Now you know the end.”
“Actually, it’s six months. They couldn’t wait a whole year.”
He smiles then kisses me, his lips soft and firm. His hand on the small of my back pulls me closer to him. I run my fingers over his shaved head, the short hairs soft and prickly under my skin. His hand moves so he is tickling my thigh again, this time going higher up. I move my legs so he can go even higher, under my skirt, just barely touching me but setting my skin on fire every centimeter higher he goes.
We watch the whole movie snuggled together, stealing touches and kisses. As the credits roll, Ed whispers in my ear, “Up for another adventure?”
CHAPTER 8
MONDAY, JULY 1ST
Ed walks to the bar sipping his beer. He motions to the stool next to me. “Mind if I sit?”
I shrug.
“Kyle closed the patio.”
“Probably worried about the storm.”
Ed runs his hands along the bar, the tattoos on his knuckles drawing my attention. “So far, it’s just a little wind.”
“A little?” I laugh. “It nearly blew me down the street when I was walking here. If I’d had an umbrella, I would’ve Mary Poppinsed right out of here.”
Ed laughs. The lights flicker, and he stops laughing abruptly. “Shit.”
I sip my drink in an attempt to calm my nerves. “It’s just a summer storm. We’ll be fine. Right?”
Ed nods. “Yeah, sure.”
The lights sputter again then go completely out. There are a few cheers and a couple of boos from the crowd.
Kyle clears his throat, but it does nothing to quiet the chatter. He rings a bell hanging on the wall loudly. “Folks. We have to close. Please finish your drinks quickly and go home. Be safe.”
Ed puts his beer on the counter, the aluminum making a hollow along as he does.
Kyle comes over to me. “Are you going to be okay? If you stick around, I can walk you home.”
I’m flattered that Kyle is concerned. This whole bar is full of people, and he’s worried about me getting home safely. It feels good. “I’ll be fine. We’re walking together. What about my tab?”
Kyle shrugs. “Come back, pay it later.”
I smile. “Okay.”
Once we’re outside, the wind whips my hair from my face. I squint so sand doesn’t get in my eyes. But I can feel it smacking against my legs in swirls. Walking feels like pushing against a heavy door. The light is odd too. It’s a bright golden yellow with dark gray, almost black clouds so heavy they look like suspended mountains, unmovable rocks. Then the sky opens up, and rain pours down, soaking into my heavy cardigan, dripping down my legs. We run the rest of the way, but it’s no use. We are both soaked.
I get inside, and then Ed shuts the door behind us. The lights are all off. The power’s out here too.
Brushing off my legs, I shrug out of my cardigan, heavy and waterlogged and smelling a lot like a wet dog. The storm has made it a good ten degrees colder, and the house isn’t providing much warmth. The rain is so loud, it sounds like it’s inside. It dawns on me. “The windows.”
“I’ll check downstairs.”
“I’ll go upstairs,” I say, jogging up the hardwood steps. I stop at the hall closet and grab a towel, drying my hair off.
I shut the open window on the landing and use the towel to wipe up the droplets that got in. I peek into Ed’s room—the windows are closed up tight.
There is a window cracked in what will be Anh and Melissa’s room when they come this weekend. My bedroom has the last window to close, the one by my desk. I throw on a dry sweatshirt and some leggings, feeling a little warmer.
