Page 51 of Off Limits

My eyes fill to the brim. I bite my cheek to keep from crying as my stomach slides from my body. He’ll hear it in my voice instantly, and he’ll stay on, even if he doesn’t want to.

“I do.”

“It doesn’t seem like it.” Disappointment and hurt fill my ear and shoot straight to my heart. “Good night, baby girl. Dream about me.”

“Good night, Loch. I always do.” It’s become our routine goodbye, and I’m happy he sticks with it, even tonight.

I stare at the dark phone in my hands. What just happened? Why did I have to say that? Do I really not trust him?

I fall asleep feeling confused, sad, and a little less excited for him to come home.

On Friday, I’m a ball of anxiety, tense and jittery. The phone calls between Lochlyn and I have been…strained…since that night, mostly cut short. He has a morning midterm and then will be on his way home. I have midterms until three. He’ll be at Chelsea’s by the time I get back from class.

Trying to focus on my tests is nearly impossible. But I’m doing well in my classes and understand the material, so I’m fairly confident I can swing at least a decent grade.

Friday classes are just me. Chelsea has some but a different schedule, and she’ll be finished by noon. After going home and changing my clothes into something a little more…attractive, I find myself standing at the front door to the Reynolds' house. I’ve never been nervous about letting myself in before. Yet here I stand, butterflies in my stomach and heart in my throat.

Taking a deep breath and shaking out my arms, I push the door open. Nobody’s around.

“Hello?” I call out to the emptiness.

“Upstairs!” Chelsea yells down.

Before I can do more than throw my jacket on the coat hook, Lochlyn walks down the stairs.

I open my mouth to say something, but before I can, he takes my face between his palms and closes his mouth over mine, tongue sweeping through my lips. Six weeks of missing him culminates in this one kiss. Somewhere in the back of my mind there are alarms going off that Chelsea is upstairs, can come down at any minute and see us, but in this moment, I don’t care. All I want is Lochlyn’s lips on mine.

Far too soon, he pulls away and rests his forehead against mine, hands still on my cheeks. “I love you,” he whispers.

I close my eyes as my heart hammers against my sternum. “I love you too.”

He pulls me against him tightly, arms around my waist. It’s my favorite kind of hug from him. His arms are so long that they can wrap completely around me, crossing my body so his hands rest against the opposite hip. It locks me in so tight I can barely move.

Breathing him in, my nerves settle, a peace washing over me and working through my extremities. The hug is nowhere near long enough as we slowly slide apart, hearing Chelsea walking down the stairs. A hug is one thing, but being bound so tightly is very different.

“Oh, well, I guess you see Loch’s home. I was asking if he wanted to do anything tonight as a welcome home, but I guess he has other plans.” I have a pretty strong feeling the other plans involve me, though based on how things had been before he came home, I’m not entirely sure.

“Yup, just said hi. It’s okay. I have some stuff around the house to catch up on anyway.” I’m giving myself the out I hope I need.

“I guess that’s good, because I just got off with Bren. We’re going away for a few days, leaving in about an hour.”

My heart jumps. Chelsea will be gone? For a fewdays?I’m not sure what I’ve done to deserve the good fortune. I just hope I’ll have a chance to make use of it.

“Where are you going?” Lochlyn tries to sound calm, but I hear the edge in his voice.

“Skiing.” Chelsea doesn’t ski.

If Lochlyn wants to say anything to discourage her, he keeps it to himself. I’m hoping that’s a good sign because if Chelsea is gone, we can be together, uninterrupted. I already told Mom I need a few days off from the store to reset after midterms.

“Do you need any help packing?” Chelsea and I lock eyes on each other, hers filled with shock at Lochlyn’s words.

“You’re…you’re not going to try to talk me out of it?”

“Is there a point?” Lochlyn’s voice is dripping with disinterest and exhaustion.

“I mean, no, not really.”

“I figured as much.”

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