Page 10 of Salace

Kiss me. Just kiss me. I’ll allow it. I’ll teach you things you’ve yet to learn.

His tongue darts out, wetting his bottom lip as he stares at me. I lean forward, just slightly, and close my eyes. His fingers graze over mine. I can feel his presence, his energy, his breath so close to me. He pulls his hand away.

My eyes snap open.

KASEY

“For the last time…” I begin again testily, “I went for a drive then ended up at the ice cream parlor on the other end of town. Then I decided to watch a movie at a friend’s house before I came home.”

Eden juts her chin out defiantly as I set the phone on my pillow, then lie down. I knew that calling her when I got back was going to cause a problem, but I didn’t think she’d act like a fucking preschooler.

“And all of that meant you had to keep your phone off?” she snarls again for what seems like the millionth time.

I shrug as I pick up the phone and turn on my back. Holding it a few inches away from my face, I do my best to force a smile onto my face, “When have you known me to pick up a call or answer a text when I’m needing some alone time? You’re too suspicious for your own good,” I chide her kindly.

But this time, you have a reason to be. At least, I kind of hope so.

“What friend was it?” she asks, conversationally.

“Huh?”

“You said you watched a movie at a friend’s house,” she presses. “Which one?” Her normally pretty face becomes tight with controlled anger.

“Jesus, Eden. What are you going to do if I tell you? Make a phone call? Check up on whatever alibi you think I’m presenting you for God knows what reason?” I run a hand down my face irritably. “I’m going to bed. I can’t do the jealousy thing right now. If you want to try to have this conversation again, we can do it tomorrow before school.”

“Kasey, don’t you dare hang–”

“‘Night, Eden,” I interrupt as I swipe to disconnect the video call.

I rest the phone against my chest, hating that I had to do that, but she’s not being reasonable right now and if I tell her I was at another girl’s house, I wouldn’t put it past her to try to start trouble smack dab in the middle of the hallway, or wherever it would be that she’d see Aimee first.

Like it’sherfault that I’ve got a hard-on for her and her mother.

* * *

Irub my eyes tiredly with the palms of my hands as I head up the walkway outside of the main building. I didn’t get much sleep last night after hanging up on Eden, and I think it’s mostly guilt.

Guilt that I lied to her. Guilt that I actually had a good time on my somewhat forced date with Aimee. Guilt that I saw Mrs. H. plastered, and wondered if that would make things easier to put the moves on her.

But it made me wonder too. Would I have a chance with either of them or would they both laugh me back into kindergarten if I told them what I wanted? Granted, I know Mrs. H. would more than likely toss me out of the house; however, something tells me that Aimee might actually be into me.

She’s playing hard to get,I assure myself as I stifle a yawn and pull open the front door to the school. Once I’m inside, I make a beeline down the hallway toward my locker, then drop my backpack so I can spin the combination and open the damn thing.

And as I start to land on the numbers I had so chivalrously picked out–mine and Eden’sanniversary–I find myself wanting nothing more than to change it to something else.

I don’t have time right now.

As the first warning bell rings and students start to scatter all around me, I smile when I decide what my new combination will be.

The day I first took Aimee out on a date.

And walked into her house to see Mrs. H. stealing as many glances at me as I stole at her.

* * *

Apiece of folded paper lands on my desk and I startle slightly, thankful that I was jostled awake from the nap I had been fighting since the teacher started droning on and on about World History.

Without glancing to my left where Eden is sitting, I reach for it and gingerly begin to unfold it, until I’m able to read what she wants.

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