Page 42 of No Place Like Home
“Oh, no you don’t.” I pulled her back toward me and cuddled into her, placing a kiss on her neck. “Ignore the rooster.”
“We’ve got to get up, Rowan.” She reached for her phone on the end table. “Damn, it’s ten thirty. We slept in.”
“Did we really? Oh well. That’s what happens when you keep me up all night.”
She shot me one of her looks, then cuddled closer.
I took that as a positive sign and continue to tease her. “Last I knew it was after two. So, see, we didn’t sleep that late.” I kissed her shoulder and pinched her nipple.
The tired moan that came from her made this day already a great one, but getting lost in Summer for a little while more would make waking up next to her so much better. The fact that she hadn’t pushed me away, and was kissing my chest was just the motivation I needed. Our lips met. Maybe today would be different. Maybe . . .
A door slammed, and I could hear footsteps in the house. Summer froze mid-kiss.
“Summer, Rowan? I know you’re here. Your cars are in the driveway.”
“Fuck.” Summer whispered then sat upright in bed. “It’s your mother.” She jumped out of bed and threw a shirt over her naked body, eyes wide. “You need to get out of here.” She hissed in a whisper as she opened the window.
I walked over to her. “What are you doing?” I asked as she yanked the screen from the frame and leaned it against the wall.
“I’m helping you,” she hissed.
I looked at Summer and then at the open window. She pushed me toward it, and it became clear what she expected me to do. “Oh, hell no,” I said, my voice rising.
She shushed me with her hand over my mouth. “She’ll hear you,” she whispered as she pushed me closer to the window.
My chest tensed and I shot her a harsh look. “I’m not climbing out that damn window,” I hissed at her. This was ridiculous.
“Summer, are you here?” my mom asked, her voice moving closer to the door.
She threw my clothes out the window. “Climb out, get dressed, and come around to the front door. Act like you’ve been out running or something.”
Was she serious? I stood there in all my naked glory, my hands out to my sides helplessly, watching her bounce around the room like a pinball, gathering up clothing.
She hissed at me through gritted teeth, “Get out that fucking window. NOW.” Her eyes were wild, like she’d gone mad.
“Goddammit, Summer,” I said as I looked out the window. My clothes were strewn all over the ground. It wasn’t a far drop. I could easily climb out. But still. “I’m naked.”
“Get dressed when you get out there. It’s not like anyone can see you from the road.”
There was a knock on the door.
“Give me a fucking second, Tonya,” Summer yelled. “Damn. You woke me up. Make me a cup of coffee, please.”
“Fine,” my mom said just outside the bedroom door. “But if we’re leaving at noon, you really shouldn’t be sleeping in so late.” She paused, and I thought maybe she was going back to the kitchen, but then she asked, “Do you know where Rowan is?”
“Go.” Summer mouthed the word and shoed me away.
I shook my head and sighed deeply as I folded myself out the window and jumped to the ground. My feet barely hit when the window slammed shut. I picked up my boxers and sweatpants from the grass. “This is so damned stupid.”
I bent to put my leg in my boxer, but froze when Big Red crowed again, loud. I looked up and there he was, behind a nearby bushand strutting toward me, his wings out to his side. “Go away, damn bird.”
He danced to the side then took off toward me. “Fuckingseriously?” I ran and tried to step into my boxers at the same time. I fell on my face and pulled them up as he leaped on top of me and did a chicken kick-thing.
I kicked, cussed under my breath, and flailed my arms. “Damn bird! Get the fuck off me.”
I finally got a decent enough contact with him that he flew a couple feet away, which gave me time and space to get up and run around the house, my sweatpants in my hand.
I froze. Jamison was there.
