Be the Girl(55)

“Really?” I thought I was the only one.

“I told him to stay the hell away from you. That’s when I realized that it was because I wanted to be with you.”

“Really?” I sound like a doe-eyed dimwit.

He weaves his fingers through my hand, stroking my palm with the tip of his thumb, and I can’t describe the way my heart surges with happiness. I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited about anything in my life. “Yeah. I mean, you’re funny and sweet and cute—”

I groan.

“In a hot way, trust me.” His mouth is on mine again, this time more urgently, the palm that was cupping my face earlier now settled gently against my neck. It’d be an easy slide down. What it would feel like to have Emmett’s hands on me like that?

The very thought sends heat through my core.

Gingerly at first, I let my fingers wander as our mouths and tongues tangle, smoothing over his strong arms, marveling at his hard muscle. Not long ago I was fantasizing about touching this body and here I am, free to do so. The question now becomes, how fast is too fast?

I’m not sure which order it happens in—if his mouth shifts to my neck first or his hand slides up my shirt, but soon my body is being inundated by Emmett, who may be a decent guy but is not a shy one. I let my head fall back against his bed, close my eyes, and sigh my pleasure as his tongue leaves a trail across my throat and his palm smooths over my abdomen, slowly moving upward, until cool air skates across my skin. His palm settles over one of my bra cups, and I silently thank my choice of pink lace today.

I vaguely hear a door creaking open somewhere in the house, but I’m too far gone, my hand now having found its way through Emmett’s thick mane of chestnut-brown hair, my body a live wire.

“Hello, Emmett and AJ! We’re home!” Cassie’s voice carries from the bottom of the stairs.

Emmett pulls away with a heavy exhale, his hair tousled, his eyes wild, his breath ragged. A soft curse slips from his lips as he settles back into his prior position—hauling the laptop back to rest on his lap.

The stairs creak with Cassie’s slow and steady approach. She appears in the doorway a few moments later, her hair damp from the pool. The subtle smell of chlorine drifts in along with her. “What are you guys doing?”

“Homework,” Emmett says in a croaky voice. He clears his throat. “How was swimming?”

“Good. No one pushed me into the pool today.”

My eyes widen in surprise. “Someone pushed you into the pool at swimming lessons?”

“Yeah.” She nods. “Ranjeet. He thought he was helping.”

“That happened four years ago,” Emmett reminds her.

She shrugs.

“Cassie, start the bath!” Heather calls from downstairs, earning her daughter’s huff of irritation. Still, Cassie listens, disappearing into the bathroom.

My phone chirps with a text from my mom.

How’s the project going? Murphy needs his walk soon.





“Man, she’s holding me to this dog-walking thing.” I gather my books. “I should probably get going.” I don’t see us getting any more work done on our presentation tonight.

“Yeah, I’ve got a calculus test to study for.” Emmett laughs at my cringe and walks me to the door, pushing it almost shut to block my way. “Talk to you later?” His voice is low, each word somehow touching my body in an intimate way.

“Yeah.” I clear the shakiness from my voice under the weight of his gaze. “Just so you know, my mom monitors my phone. Like messages and all that.”

“Wow. Really?” The expression that takes over his face makes me want to shrivel from embarrassment. What if he second-guesses this thing between us? What if he decides he needs someone older, less supervised?

I don’t have much choice; I have to explain. “There was this thing back home.” I hesitate, dread swelling in my chest as I try to temper my voice, “I was getting these messages from people for a bit.”

“What do you mean? What kind of messages? From who?” he asks warily.

“Just kids from school sending me things.” Prayers for death, wishes for broken limbs, dreams of tragic afflictions, general hatred. Those sorts of things. I clear the thickness from my throat. “My mom’s paranoid, but as soon as she realizes that none of that is going to repeat itself here, she’ll ease up. So, just for now, know that she’ll probably be reading whatever text you send me.”

Emmett’s face fills with pity that I don’t want. “Seriously, it’s fine. It’s over. I’m here now. ” My eyes skate to his full lips. “Things couldn’t be better.”

“I can make them better.” He leans down to press a long, leisurely kiss against my lips. “Run, tomorrow morning?”

“I can’t,” I pout. “I have practice. With regionals coming up soon, Moretti’s on a mission.”

“Okay. I’ll see you in class, then.” He kisses me one last time and I force myself out of his room, half-expecting to float down the stairs.

The tub water is running in the bathroom but the door is open and Cassie isn’t in there. She’s still downstairs and, when I start my descent, she darts down the hall to the kitchen, the distinctive rattle of candy in a box trailing her. “Mom! You have to hide it from AJ!” she says in a harsh whisper that may as well be a yell.