Page 3 of Your Fault

“Another?” the bartender asked. I knew I was overdoing it, but it was my party. I could have what I wanted, right?

Just as I was about to knock it back, a hand appeared out of nowhere to snatch it from me.

“I think you’ve had enough.”

That voice.

I looked up, and there he was: Nick. Nick in a button-downand slacks, his dark hair starting to fall out of place, beaming with suppressed excitement, joyful.

“Oh my God!” I shouted, bringing my hands to my mouth. A smile appeared on his face.My smile, the one he reserved just for me. I jumped into his arms.

“You came!” I shouted, pressing my cheek into his, squeezing him, smelling him, feeling once again whole. He squeezed me back. At last, I could breathe. He was there. Thank God! He was there with me.

“I missed you, Freckles,” he whispered in my ear before pulling my head back and kissing me on the lips.

I felt my nerve endings awaken. It had been fourteen days since I’d felt his lips on mine, his hands on my body.

He pushed me back and looked me up and down.

“You’re gorgeous,” he said hoarsely, grabbing my waist and pulling me close.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to keep myself from kissing him again. I knew we needed to restrain ourselves: there were people everywhere, our parents were there, and their presence unnerved me.

“I wasn’t about to miss your birthday,” he said. I could feel the electricity between us. We’d never been apart for so long, at least not since we’d started going out, and I was used to having him all to myself every day.

“How’d you get away?” I asked, not wanting to let him go.

“Don’t ask,” he said, kissing the top of my head. I closed my eyes in ecstasy, smelling his cologne.

“Lovely party.” He laughed.

I scowled at him. “It wasn’t my idea.”

“I know,” he assured me.

I felt my heart swell with happiness and relief. How I’d missed his smile.

“You want to try the Noah special?” I asked, winking to the bartender, who got straight to work.

“You’ve got your own cocktail, Freckles?” he asked, raising an eyebrow when he saw the pink liquid with its strawberry garnish. His expression was hilarious. “I guess I have to try it…”

The poor thing drank the whole glass without complaining, even though it tasted like melted gumdrops.

I grinned from ear to ear, and he couldn’t resist doing the same. His hand reached out and pulled me in, and he brought his lips to my ear, just brushing the sensitive skin there, and that scant contact was enough to make me feel like I was about to die.

“I need to be inside you,” he said.

My legs trembled. “We can’t. Not here,” I whispered, trying to control my nerves.

“Do you trust me?” he asked.

What kind of stupid question was that? There was no one I trusted more.

He could read my response in my eyes, and he smiled in turn.

“Wait for me behind the pool house,” he said, with one last peck on the lips. I grabbed his arm as he turned.

“You’re not coming?” I asked.

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