Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(115)

I suck in a breath and rush out the words before I lose the      courage to say them. “I trust you.” And please, please don’t use that against      me.

“I’m in love with you,” he whispers.

“Are you scared?” I ask him. Because I am. Terrified.      Earlier I was anxious, but not frightened. This isn’t me giving him a memory.      This is me giving him my heart.

“I don’t want to hurt you. Tell me if I do and we’ll stop.”      Ryan slides his thumb over my lower lip. The warmth he creates melts the      fear.

Unable to speak, I nod. In painfully slow movements, Ryan      lowers his head closer and edges his body over me. His lips press gently against      mine and as I gasp for air I whisper the words to him again. “I love you.”





Chapter 57

Ryan

I’VE NEVER BEEN THIS CLOSE to      a person. Skin touching skin. Legs and arms wound tightly around one another.      Lying on my bed, Beth’s tucked close to my chest and she slowly runs her      fingernails up and down the inside of my arm.

I kiss her head again, revel in the scent of roses, and fight      the urge to shut my eyes. Every single muscle has fallen asleep and my mind      wanders lazily, but I want to hold on to this moment a little longer. “Are you      sure I didn’t hurt you?”

She’s answered before, but the anxiety still creeps deep      inside. Beth glances at me from under long dark eyelashes. “I’m okay.”

The anxiety level increases. We went from fine to okay. “I hurt      you. Tell me the truth.”

“It burned some, but I’m okay. It’s not like you were...” And      she drifts off.

Heat scorches my face and neck. It’s not like I was in for that      long. “I’ll get better. It’ll take some practice and then we’ll both feel      good.”

Beth giggles and her happiness eases the anxiety. “Practice? Do      you ever turn off the jock?”

“We should create a schedule. Maybe stretch beforehand.”

She laughs loudly and the sweet sound squeezes my heart. Beth      rarely lets happiness overwhelm her and as if on cue she releases a weighty      sigh. Her body grows heavier against mine and I pull her tighter to me. Beth is      dead wrong if she thinks she can leave me.

“I was thinking...” Her fingers begin tracing my arm again, but      this time her touch is stiff and apprehensive. “Maybe I could talk to Scott      about my mom. Maybe he could help me help her.”

I kiss her head again, close my burning eyes, and clear my      throat. I get to keep her. My Beth. “That’s a great idea.”

“You need to go to sleep,” she groggily murmurs into my chest.      “The writing competition is tomorrow.”

“I love you,” I whisper into her ear. She cuddles closer to me      and I realize what a dick I am. I’m telling my parents about Beth as soon as      they come home and I’m walking out on that homecoming field with her on my arm.      Screw what Mom and Dad think. Screw the rest of the town. Screw perfection. This      girl is mine.





Chapter 58

Beth

I AWAKE TO THE SOUND OF       BIRDS chatting happily and beams of sunlight highlighting the dancing      dust particles in the air. A cardinal rests on a bush outside the window of my      room in Scott’s house. The bird flaps its wings and rises into the sky—into      freedom. I wonder if the bird in the barn ever escaped.

The scent of bacon and onions drifts in the air. Scott      promised to cook hash browns this morning. I hop out of bed and I’m surprised by      the image in the mirror. I’m smiling. It’s more than that—I’m different. Last      night made me different. My eyes shine like Scott’s do when he’s around Allison.      In fact, my entire face glows and I’m hungry. Starving. For more than food. I      want to ask Scott if he can help Mom. Hope floods my body and makes me feel      high. I can get used to hope.

I toss my hair into a bun and go out into the kitchen. Scott      glances at me as he hovers over the stovetop. “Good morning, Elisabeth.”

“Good morning, Scott.” I almost giggle at how cheerful I      sound. Me—giggling. That’s funny in itself.

He does a double take as I sit at the counter and the      annoying I-know-everything grin stretches from ear to ear. “Whatever side of the      bed you rolled out of this morning is the one you should roll out of every      day.”