Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(106)

Her arm relaxes over my stomach and, in her hand, she clutches      the bottle of rain.

“I’m scared,” she says.

Are her running days over? Am I handing my heart to a girl      who’s going to break it? I choose not to think about it and instead wrap my arms      tighter around Beth and bring her closer to me. “So am I. But we’ll be okay. I      promise.”

“You could really hurt me if you wanted.”

“But I won’t.”

“Say it again,” she whispers, and there’s heartfelt sincerity      in her voice that tells me everything I want to hear. My heart explodes and a      surging, powerful warmth rushes through my bloodstream. She loves me. I know she      does.

“I love you.” I kiss the top of her head, never feeling so      complete in my life.

“Can I stay?” she asks.

“Yes.”

She willingly molds her body to mine. We snuggle closer      together and I shut my eyes, welcoming sleep. Beth’s here and she’s mine and I      silently promise to never let go.





Chapter 52

Beth

SITTING ON THE BED OF       LOGAN’S TRUCK, Ryan keeps me tucked close between his legs and his      hands rest on the sides of my hips. Ryan’s sweatshirt wraps around me like a      minidress and the heat from his body protects me from the chilly autumn Friday      evening. He’s enveloped me in a small, warm bubble. Wood in the bonfire crackles      and snaps and creates a rich scent that relaxes me. I cuddle against him, and      the deep rhythmic vibrations of his voice lull me into a sense of ease. Ryan has      created the sensation of comforter-out-of-the-dryer warmth.

He runs his hand through my hair and whispers, “You’re      falling asleep. Do you want me to take you home?”

“I’m awake.” I pretend that he will hold me forever. Today,      I called Mom before gym. Like always, good news comes with bad. She got the car      out of the impoundment lot, but she also bailed Trent out of jail and she was      somehow shocked that jail hadn’t changed his thunderstorm disposition. She asked      me to come get her a week from Monday—after her social security check comes in.      I have ten days left with Ryan.

Ryan kisses the top of my head and returns to the same      discussion he and his friends have had every day at lunch—baseball playoffs.      Lacy sits next to me in the same exact position with Chris. She drinks from a      longneck. “I’m happy you and Ryan are together. It’s nice to be around someone      else who never says the word baseball.” Lacy takes another drink and shakes her head. “I take      that back—not someone else. I’m glad it’s you. I’m glad you’re back.”

She’s buzzing. I’m not. It’s strange to be at a party and      not be blitzed. The past two weeks have been strange. Now that Ryan has done      whatever popular people do to announce their commitments, his friends treat me      like one of their own and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I mean—they’re      jocks. All the guys standing around or sitting on this truck are big, huge,      can’t-stop-talking-about-baseball jocks. None of them has made me feel      inconsequential or like a freak. They’re nothing like Luke and his friends, who      drank every chance they got. Not one of these guys has touched alcohol tonight.      Ryan and his friends have an early morning game and they want to be at one      hundred percent.

Lacy holds out her hand and waves it until I take it. “I’m      happy I have a best friend again.”

“All right.” Chris swings Lacy into his arms. “She’s talking      sentimental, which means it’s time to dance.” With her laughing uncontrollably,      he carries her to the crowd dancing near the bonfire.

Ryan’s lips graze my earlobe, sending seductive shivers      through my body. “Walk with me?”

Anywhere.      “Okay.”

Ryan jumps off the bed of the truck and when I scoot to the      end of the tailgate, he places his hands on my hips to help me down. I don’t      need the help. I’m perfectly capable of getting myself down, but I enjoy the      feel of his hands on me. His warmth burns through my clothes and onto my      skin.

He lifts me and my body slowly slides against his. I want to      kiss him and from the hunger smoldering in his eyes, he feels the same way. He      takes my hand in his and leads me away from the bonfire, away from other people,      into the woods, and into a world of our own.