Page 4 of Inviting Trouble
She lifted her chin. “Yeah. It’s the style.”
“Who’s the guy?”
“No guy, moron,” she said and stalked out the door before he could see her blush.
He caught up with her, grabbed her collar in the back and pulled, this time to cover her up. The shirt shifted so the gap hung loose in back. Before she could say some smartass remark, he jogged past her and over to the other side of the net.
Mad bided her time at the party, playing volleyball, shooting hoops, sneaking sips of her brothers’ beer, until it was late and her dad wanted to make a toast before he shut down the party. He’d be driving Park early the next morning to the airport where he’d catch a flight to basic training in Texas.
Her dad raised his beer. “To Park, we’re proud of you and glad to call you family.”
Park raised his bottle of beer and took them all in. “I’m grateful to have you as my family.” His voice was gruff with emotion, which made her eyes hot and her throat tight.
“Hear, hear,” Ty said and they all drank.
Finally the party broke up and the guys scattered. Some to their beds, some to their apartments. She went to her room, lying in bed for a long time, until the house got quiet and she was sure Logan was sleeping. Then she snuck downstairs, wearing only the long T-shirt she slept in. She’d stashed a condom in the back of the coffee table drawer for just this moment, stolen from Logan’s sock drawer. It was dark, but she had plenty of practice sneaking around.
She made her way to the sofa, where Park was sprawled under a blue comforter. “Park,” she whispered.
No response.
She jabbed him in the arm. “Park.”
Still nothing. She sat on the sofa next to him and jabbed him in the ribs. “Park, it’s Mad. Wake up.”
He groaned and shifted. She jabbed him again. His eyes opened. “What?”
She leaned close, so close their lips nearly touched. “I’m going to miss you,” she said softly.
He closed his eyes. “Oh, man, the room’s spinning. I drank too much.”
She leaned back. “How much did you drink?”
He waved his hand around. “I dunno. Eight beers. Me and Ty had one last party. So-oo wasted.”
She hadn’t noticed him drinking a lot. That wasn’t like Park. In fact, she could count on one hand the number of times he’d had too much to drink. Maybe twice, both times with Ty.
She turned on the lamp on the end table and peered at him. He squinted. She got close and stared into his eyes. “Your eyes don’t look drunk.”
“I’m feeling it, believe me.” He turned off the light and flopped back down on his side. “Go to bed, mini.”
She got brave and stroked a hand through his hair, the rough short ends tickling her palm. “Your hair feels different.” He used to have shaggy soft hair. She liked to mess it up sometimes. He didn’t push her away, so she let her fingers trail to the warm skin of his neck. “I’m not mini anymore,” she told him. “I’m all grown up.”
He rolled to his back and threw an arm over his eyes. “Let me sleep this off,” he said, his words slurring. “Seriously. Wa-a-ay too much to drink.”
Maybe he was drunk. She sat there for a few minutes, soaking in the heat of him, the scent of fresh soap and sexy man. His breathing deepened into sleep. She wanted to lie next to him, just to sleep since he was wasted, but he unexpectedly shifted, bumping her off the sofa. She stood and looked down at him, trying to memorize his features in the dim light from the streetlights through the front window. The thick lashes resting on his cheeks, the high cheekbones, the square jaw. He was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.
She knelt next to the sofa, leaned over and brushed her lips across his, stealing a kiss. A tingle went through her. She did it again, fitting her lips more firmly against his, and gasped when he was suddenly kissing her back. His lips moved expertly over hers and heat surged through her body. His tongue touched the seam of her lips, she opened for him, and his tongue thrust inside. She couldn’t help the moan that escaped as her body urged her to get closer.
And then it was over. He groaned and rolled to his side, giving her his back.
“Park,” she whispered, “I want you to be my first.”
He was quiet.
She stood and leaned over him. He seemed to be asleep. Maybe all that beer made him extra sleepy. She’d only ever had one beer and it had made her feel stupid-happy and then tired. She watched him for long minutes and finally stroked his hair one last time. “Come back in one piece, okay?”
Her eyes stung with tears and she rushed upstairs. Sleep was impossible. She tossed and turned all night and got out of bed the moment she heard movement downstairs. She wouldn’t miss saying goodbye. She quickly dressed, brushed her teeth and hair, and hurried downstairs. Park was neatly folding his blanket and tucking it away in the coat closet. It was early and everyone was still sleeping.
