Page 16 of Jagged Line Paradise

“I’m not fucking with them anymore. Not since we graduated and not ever again. I just wanna be with you, Lonnie.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Her face slips from curious amusement into a serious, somber expression. But she doesn’t speak. Her arms come down, she steps forward, and she reaches out to grab my cheeks. She pulls me in for a long, chaste kiss, bruising my lips with hers.

Just as my surprise wears off and I’m about to wrap my arms around her and deepen the kiss, she pulls away. She gives me a coy side smile that sends of jolt of lust through my dick.

“Good night, Andrés,” she says as she turns and walks away.

I’m stunned silent. Not just by the fact that she’s not pissed at me about those rumors being true, but by the fact that she can play coy and sexy like that so damn well, so naturally.

Fuck…the way she makes my heart pound.

I shove my hands into my pockets and grin like an idiot. “Happy birthday, sunshine.”

She gives me a final glance and a beautiful smile over her shoulder before she disappears into the dark. I stand and watch until I see her reappear again in the dull light shining just outside her home down the hill. I watch until she’s safely inside.

It takes everything within me to turn around and go back inside, rather than chase after her for just one more kiss. But good things come to those who wait, so I’ll wait.

I’ll kiss her again tomorrow.

Chapter 5

Avalon

I NEED TOgo for a run or something. I’m not a runner, but maybe I’ll start if I’m going to wake up every morning feeling this way. I woke up with dirty thoughts about Andrés on my mind. My heart has been racing and there’s a constant pleasant throbbing between my legs. I’m tempted to take care of it myself, but I know I’ll see Andrés at some point today, and I’m really hoping he can give me a repeat of last night.

It’s exhilarating to feel this way.

I feel energetic.

Happy.

Alive.

I feel hopeful and that’s the best part of all.

I take my chipped mug of coffee and reach for the door to head outside. As I pull it toward me, I see a small, folded sheet of white paper taped to it. The wordSunshineis scribbled on the front in Andrés’ familiar handwriting. Butterflies flap their wings in my belly as I practically rip the page from the door. I push through the screen door, step outside, and let it swing shut behind me, not bothering to be quiet since my mom never came home last night.

I move to sit on the dirty, plastic chair under the lop-sided awning, setting my mug on the matching side table next to it. I unfold the page with shaking hands.

Hey, sunshine. I know we meet at the bluff almostevery night, but I’m so fucking excited to seeyou that I wanted to make sure you know I’ll be there at 7 p.m. I’m offdoing a couple of jobs for Mack today, but Iknow I’ll be thinking about you the whole damntime. I can’t wait to get my hands onyou again.

Love,

Andrés XXX

I can honestly feel my heart thumping against my ribcage, my pulse pounding so loudly that it’s like a whooshing-whirring sound in my ears. I can literally hear my own blood running through my veins like a pulsing river. I feel light and heavy all at once.

I’m ecstatic.

He signed his name withlove.

I shouldn’t read anything into it, but oh mywow, I can’t help but read into it.

I’ve never felt this happy and hopeful.

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