Ringing in the New Year (16)

By the time I’d stopped yelling and ripping paper, everyone in the school was staring at us. Reed had no idea what I was talking about and even asked if the girl standing next to him was the one I was talking about. It was clear to me when I really looked at Sarah Jane that she’d been caught in her lie.

I started to turn red from embarrassment, so Reed did what he always does when it comes to me and he tried to make it better. This time it was drawing the attention off me and onto him. He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder and smacked my ass in front of everyone.

I’d been both mortified and smug when I saw Sarah Jane the next day. I wanted to smack Reed and kiss him at the same time. We ended up making out in his truck for over an hour before we went home. I found out later it wasn't a note at all but my own note that I’d left in his locker that fell on the floor. He was about to pick it up when Sarah Jane swooped in and snagged it up.

“Do I need to spank you again?” he asks, and he smiles at me. “It seemed to work last time.”

He leans down and kisses me, and I want to say something smartass back, but my body and mind aren't agreeing. Instead I wrap myself around him and deepen the kiss. I moan into his mouth as I thrust my hips up, making him groan.

“We should stop. You have to be sore,” he says when he pulls his mouth from mine, but he only starts kissing my neck. “You’ll never have a reason to be jealous, Cami,” he says, nipping at my neck. “You’re my first everything and my only everything.”

His words warm my skin as much as his touch. “That feels so good,” I sigh.

“Reed. Cami? Are you ready?” We both freeze at the sound of Kathy’s voice.

“Kathy, don’t go back there.” Mike calls out. My eyes widen as Reed mutters a curse. I glance over to see a hand opening the bedroom door but hear a small squeal of surprise as the hand disappears from sight and the door closes.

“Mike! Put me down!” Kathy yells, and Reed shakes his head. I can’t tell if he’s fighting a laugh or he’s in pain. I’m guessing a little of both.

“She just wants to see us. We have stayed hidden most of the day. We need to get this over with,” I sigh, and he drops his forehead to mine. “Don’t we have a plane to catch?” I add.

“We own the plane. It’s always ready.” My face must show how shocked I am, because he smiles.

“I’m not going to lie. I’m on edge about going out in public with you. I don’t want to be somewhere I can’t control.” I see the uncertainty in his eyes.

“I’ll stay by your side,” I try to reassure him.

“What if this need I have to keep you close to me never goes away? Will you start to resent me?” He pauses for a moment, and I know he has more to say and I can see he’s trying to figure out how to word it. “Wouldn't I only be making you a prisoner again? I think I would build a town in the middle of fucking nowhere with walls all the way around it to keep you with me.”

“Sounds like a waste of money, Reed. You don’t need the walls. You’d have to pry me from your side. I was worried you might get sick of me clinging to you. I keep thinking about what’s going to happen when you have to go to work or something. I might have a meltdown.” I lay out everything I’m feeling. I want him to see he’s not alone in this. “Actually hearing you say that makes me feel a million times better.” He thought his words were going to scare me, but it does the opposite.

“Look at us. We’re scared we’re going to scare the other off because we can’t stand the thought of not being next to each other. It’s silly and of course we want to be next to each other all the time. We hated it all those years ago whenever we had to be apart,” he says, and I agree. I hated going back to my dad’s each night. “Now nothing can stop us.”

“Nothing,” I agree, and his hold on me is possessive.

“How about we get dressed and get the shit with the cops over with. I’m ready to take you home.”

“I am home.” I have been since the moment he burst through the door to rescue me.

“Yeah, but let's start making our life together and doing whatever we want.” He leans down. “And maybe not give my parents a key to wherever that is.” I laugh at the same time I hear Kathy calling our names again.

“Good luck with that. She’ll just hire a locksmith to make her a key or get one from me.” I’m a sucker when it comes to her. She’s too sweet to say no to.

“You’re probably right. She’ll want to come and go especially when her first grandchild gets here.” He kisses me quickly before putting me on my feet.

I’ve lost enough time as it is, so I’m ready to start our family. I want to do what needs to be done and be free of this whole mess. Getting far away from this place is the first part of moving on.

When I’m dressed I stop to look at myself in the mirror to make sure I look okay. I pause when Reed comes up behind me.

“Do I look different now?” I tuck my hair behind my ear.

“Are you asking me if you look like we fucked?” He raises an eyebrow at me and smirks, and I giggle.

“I feel a little different,” I admit.

“I thought we were close before, but now…” He doesn’t finish his sentence and he doesn't have to. I feel it, too.