Page 34 of Spar
Tori grinned like a fool. She had her own good memories of the games, remembering how hot Chris had looked in his uniform.
“The football field?” she asked. What possible memories could he have of her in this spot?
He nodded.
“It was after a conference championship game my junior year. You charged the field after the game. I think Ryan was hugging on some girl, I’m not sure, but for whatever reason, you couldn’t hug him, so instead, you jumped into my arms with excitement. You smelled of popcorn and cotton candy, and it took everything I had not to kiss you right there in front of the whole town.”
She felt her cheeks warm at his admission. She didn’t remember any of it. Back then, she’d thought Chris saw her only as Ryan’s annoying kid sister, so she hadn’t wasted a lot of time worrying about impressing him. She’d probably thrown herself into his arms without a second thought. So different from now, where she worried and fretted over every movement between them.
“I don’t remember that.”
She considered telling him he was a large part of why she even bothered going to the games. Between her father coaching the team and Ryan being the star quarterback, sitting through the games felt like another family get together where her big brother was praised for his great accomplishments. Not that the praise wasn’t warranted. Ryan had been unstoppable on the football field. But it was a reminder that she wasn’t quite as good at anything when compared to her sibling.
She decided to keep her own memories to herself for now, but maybe create a few more for his tour through their relationship. She leaned over and wrapped a hand around his neck, pulling his head closer. She kissed him with the passion and excitement she’d wanted to as a teenager, deepening the kiss and raking her long fingernails through his hair.
She carefully maneuvered onto his lap, forgetting all pretenses of modesty as her dress hiked up, revealing the tiny scrap of blue material.
“Mmm.” He groaned, leaning back in the seat. “Nice panties. I see you’re still matching them to your outfits.”
“Yes, you seem to know me quite well.”
She thought back to Claire’s party and how he had been the only one to guess her questions correctly. He’d been paying attention over the years. That was clear now.
“Sweetheart, I’d very much like to continue what we got going on here, but I’m not prepared to share you, and the cars are starting to slow down as they drive by.” Chris said, brushing her hair back out of her face with two hands and pulling her head into his for a swift kiss. He lifted her up and onto the seat beside him before buckling her into the middle seat.
They stopped at several more places around town. Each location brought a story, a memory from their past. Some she remembered, others she didn’t, but every stop confirmed what she’d already suspected. She was madly crazy, hopelessly in love with him.
She’d adored him their whole lives. The knowledge was freeing somehow. She’d fought her feelings and their love/hate relationship for so long that to understand it was comforting. It had all led up to this.
“Here is the last stop,” Chris said, pulling into a familiar spot along the water and killing the engine.
She smiled, remembering that night as if it was yesterday.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Chris studied Tori, hoping she remembered this place. The spot where he’d finally worked up the courage to kiss her. Liquid courage.
She turned to him with a big smile on her full pink lips.
He tightened his grasp on the keys, letting them dig into the palm of his hand. The dull pain kept him from pulling her mouth to his. It was taking a saint’s patience to give her the date she deserved without jumping her in the truck.
“This place I remember.” Tori scooted closer to Chris, leaning forward and peering out his window toward the lake.
He grinned at her excitement and enjoyed her warm, soft body pushed up against his. Her touch, her presence was making him as giddy as hell. He needed out of the damn truck. He popped his door and jumped. By the time he got to her side, she had the door open already.
“So, you do remember our first kiss then?” He helped her to the ground.
Tori shot him a look that screamed attitude. Her face was scrunched up, eyebrows drawn together. Adorable. She was fucking adorable. “Of course I do. It was the night of your graduation.”
“Mmm.” He nodded and snagged her hand. He pulled her toward the beach with him.
He wondered if she remembered the night the same way he did. Long, tan legs in a denim mini skirt… Blond hair pulled up and away from her face in a high ponytail… Rosy cheeks from the humidity and alcohol… She’d tasted like Strawberry Hill wine coolers and had felt like a teenage dream wrapped around him as they’d explored each other’s mouths. It had been the best kiss of his life. He felt the same way even now, when he had so many more kisses to compare.
He’d been feeling sorry for himself and had sought refuge on an empty boat tied up to the dock. The last person he’d expected to come looking for him was Tori, but it had been the most amazing way the night could have gone.
She swung his hand as they walked around the bend to their high school party spot. It was on the edge of the lake and hidden from view from the road. The makeshift firepit and a few stray beer cans confirmed it was still being used by the high school kids. Parents knew the spot. Local law enforcement knew the spot. Hell, most of them had partied in the same spot growing up. Yet every generation thought this little stretch of land belonged to them.
“How did you know where to find me that night?” Chris asked. It was something he’d often wondered. Everyone else had been too busy partying to notice he was gone.
