The Perfect First (Fulton U, #1)(76)

My stomach dropped. “What time does it start?” I checked the time. It was nine forty-seven.

“Ten.” He jammed his feet into his sneakers.

“S—” The apology died in my throat when his eyes narrowed.

“Don’t say it.” He slipped his hand around the back of my neck and held me still. “You needed me. That was all that mattered, but I’ve got to go now.” His lips landed on mine, hungry and sweet at the same time. My chest heaved and my head swam. “I’ll come back as soon as I’m finished. I l—” His eyes widened and he froze. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

“How about I meet you at the Brothel? I need to get out of this place after being trapped inside for a few days.”

“Okay, message me when you get there.” He pulled open my bedroom door. “The key’s inside the light beside the front door.” His gaze raked over me and he rushed back in, kissing me on the forehead before disappearing like if he didn’t do it quickly, he wouldn’t be able to go.

Stretching my sore muscles, I headed out of my room and into the hallway. Alexa’s door opened and she stared at me. “Oh, you’re alive. I had to stay at Dan’s because your retching nearly made me puke.”

“Sorry for the inconvenience,” I grumbled under my breath. She followed behind me as I walked to the bathroom, still squawking about something.

Turning once I was inside, I closed the door in her wide-eyed face with a smile on mine. Adrenaline surged through my veins. Damn that felt good. Hopping into the shower, I rested my head against the cool tiles. I wouldn’t have thought Reece would be the kind of guy to hold back a girl’s hair, but I’d underestimated him from the beginning. He was so much more than most people thought he was. He was a protector, loyal to his friends, accepting of me with all my flaws and ability to get myself and him into trouble, and he spoke to my body, igniting a fire I hadn’t even discovered yet. Was it any wonder I’d fallen hopelessly in love with him?





30





Reece





Her legs bounced on the bed, her toes dancing with joy as she scooped up the last of the chocolate ice cream in the bottom of the bowl.

I grabbed hold of her and lifted her shirt, blowing raspberries on her stomach. She yelped and shoved at me, spilling some of her ice cream on my shoulder.

“Stop it, you’re making a mess.” I flexed my fingers along her stomach.

She twitched and tried to push my hands away. “You’re going to make me pee—stop tickling me!”

I blew on her stomach again and she let out a breathless laugh. Her eyes glittered with a love I’d never experienced before, the kind I’d run headlong away from even the hint of, but with her, I wanted it all. I wanted even more, and that scared the ever-loving shit out of me.

Resting my chin on her stomach, I stared up at her. She balanced her bowl of melted ice cream in her hand. Chocolate covered her fingers and was splattered all over her shirt.

“We should probably get you out of this so it doesn’t stain.” I bunched her shirt in my hand, lifting it higher and exposing more of her skin.

“Was that your plan all along? To get me out of my clothes again?” She set the bowl down on the nightstand and slid one of her fingers into her mouth, licking off the ice cream.

Lifting my head, I nodded. Why lie? “I’d keep you out of your clothes until the end of time if I could.”

“You keep feeding me like this and it’s only a matter of time before I have no clothes left that fit and people start asking when the baby’s due.” She laughed and rolled over.

A bucket of icy water ran down my spine. My mouth went dry and my heart tried to brute-force its way out of my chest. Flashes of the end of last year bombarded me:: the accusations, the smug looks from so many people like they’d just been waiting for me to fuck up, the inevitable whispers even after I’d been vindicated.

Not a single word when my name was cleared. Not a single apology when they found out Celeste was a gold-digging bitch. I couldn’t go through that again. My hands went numb and it was hard to focus. The lights dimmed, winking in and out as the blood rushed to my head.

“What?”

I shot up, my back banging against the window blinds. They shook and rattled with a shrill clatter. Everything around me was too loud, like it had been the first time the accusation was leveled at me, microphones shoved into my face with people questioning what I planned to do and if I was going to take care of my responsibilities.

“It was a joke.” Her eyes widened and she sat up, wiping her hands on her pajama pants. “I’m sure my clothes will still fit. I’ll stick to these—they’ve got some room.” She tugged at the waistband of her bottoms, smiling at me.

“I need to go.” I shoved my legs into my jeans, trying not to look at her. I couldn’t stay. All I could see was Celeste. I needed to get out of there. Where the hell are my shoes? I spun in a circle in her room, scanning the floor. The whole place was a blur.

“Go where? We were going to watch a movie.”

“I’ve got to go. I forgot I need to be somewhere.” A streak of red caught my eye. I crouched down and freed my sneakers from under her bed, my numb fingers dropping them twice before finally successfully retrieving them.