Page 81 of Told You So
Nick
Lying in bed, with Bethany in my arms, is the most surreal feeling I’ve ever had. She’s not the girl of my past or the girl of my dreams. She’s Bethany. She’s real. And if the past couple hours are any indication, she’s mine. The thought makes me hard all over again.
Her chest rises and falls in soft breaths beside me as she blinks lazily up at the ceiling, her fingertips trailing my arm wrapped around her middle. Her skin is so supple and warm, and I can’t keep my hands and mouth off her.
Kissing her shoulder, I sit up on my elbow and peer down at her delicate profile. She blinks slowly. The ruddiness of her cheeks, the sated gleam in her eyes, and the way her hair sprawls out over my sheets is my doing. She looks happy and sated, and I revel in the sight of her.
“How long do you think we could hide out in here before people come looking for us?” I ask.
She smiles, a genuine smile that makes me consider holding her hostage so that she never has to worry about anything ever again. “If I’m not home to get Jesse to school tomorrow, my mom will freak.”
I nuzzle into her neck, breathing her in. “That’s too bad. I was hoping we could play hooky tomorrow.”
She chuckles softly. “I wish. We have to report in about our project progress tomorrow.”
I grumble. “Professor Murray is the last thing I want to be thinking about right now.”
She cups the side of my face with the palm of her hand, and I immediately relax. “At least I’ll get to see you,” she says, surprising me. Her soft expression falters. “I should go soon. It’s getting late, and I’m already going to get the third degree.”
I sigh, watching the shadows creep into her eyes. “Your parents suck.”
“You have no idea.” She laughs, partly amused, and presses her lips against mine. She holds our kiss, inhales before she breaks away and rests her forehead against mine. “I’m going to move out soon,” she says. “I don’t know when, but...soon.”
“And leave Jesse?”
She shrugs. “I won’t be gone forever.” Her eyes meet mine and I see the pain in them, a pain I know I can’t fix, no matter how badly I want to. “I need to get out of there though.” She kisses me this time and whimpers against my mouth.
I want to joke that my persistence finally paid off but this—us—is too big for jokes. I can feel it in the words she doesn’t speak. Instead of saying anything, I kiss her back, letting my lips linger this time, savoring her. We lie in each other’s arms a little while longer before she turns around in the sheets to face me fully.
“What happens now?” she whispers.
I kiss her nose and flash her a wolfish grin. “Well...I have a few things in mind.”
“I meant what happens with us?” she clarifies with a laugh, then she sits up, the sheet falling from her body.
I groan and bite the back of my hand. “Are you serious right now?”
Bethany peers down at the bikini discarded on the floor, like she’s decided it’s time to get dressed.
“First of all,” I grab her wrist and pull her back down to me, earning a giggle I’ve never heard from her before. “I’m never letting you go; you’re mine now,” I tell her. “I mean that in the least creepy way possible.” But I do mean it. Now that I’ve seen a glimpse of what’s possible between us, I can’t ever let her go. She’s the one I want. She’s the one I’ve always wanted.
“What is it?” she asks, concern creasing her brow.
I reprise my smiles and give her a wink. “Just working out the timeline for a quickie after class tomorrow.” I bite playfully at her neck, provoking another giggle that makes my heart soar.
Forty-Two
Bethany
It’s eleven when I finally force myself to go home. Though the porch light is on, all the lights are off in the house, which is a relief. I don’t think I could handle my parents right now, not while I’m still high on the whirlwind the past few hours have been.
Quietly, I open the door and step inside. As expected, the house is silent, save for the ticking of the wall clock, and I divest my bags in the living room as quietly as I can. Although my mind is more still than usual, my body feels boneless, encouraging an irrepressible smile. It all still feels like a dream, and I can’t remember why I’d been so scared to take the leap with Nick. He’s different than Mike, I’ve always known that, even if doubt has inched its way in one too many times. Now, though, I feel it in every fiber of my being. Being with Nick is right.
Desperate to chug some water down before I collapse on my bed, I flick the kitchen light on to find my mom standing at the island. I clasp my hand over my mouth to stifle a scream. “Oh my God,” I breathe, squeezing my eyes shut. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“Where have you been?” She’s scowling and doesn’t mince words.
“I’ve been at Nick’s. We were working on our project, and I fell asleep.”
