The Way to Game the Walk of Shame(54)

“No!”

“Come on, Taylor. I dare you.”

Cursing at him under my breath, I cautiously turned back, but my eyes stayed glued to the starry sky over our heads. Even when I heard him come closer. Finally, Evan took my hand and put it on his hip—on smooth fabric. My head snapped down, and I stared at the blue shorts he was wearing. Not shorts, but—

“Swim trunks,” I said blankly. “You’re wearing swim trunks.” At least I think they were swim trunks. They were dark navy and thin and very, very snug. Like tights or something, but shorts. I mean, technically he was covered up, but I could still see the lines of his thighs and stuff …

… and I was staring. My eyes snapped back up to his laughing face.

“Of course, I’m wearing swim trunks. You don’t know the Boy Scouts motto? Always be prepared.”

“Yeah, I don’t think this is what they had in mind.” I felt stupid and a teensy bit disappointed. But mainly stupid. “And I have a hard time believing that you were ever a Boy Scout.”

“That makes two of us. I try to block those two years out of my life.” A ghost of a grin appeared on his face. “It’s nice that you were thinking of me naked, though. You’re kind of a perv, aren’t you?”

My cheeks burned, and I tried to pull my hand away. “Shut up.”

His grip was tight around mine, and he led me to where he laid out his T-shirt and khaki shorts like a small picnic blanket. They were still pretty wet, but at least it prevented the sand from sticking to our butts. After we sat down, he finally let go of my hand, but only to wrap his arm around my shoulders. His bare skin was both cool and warm at the same time.

I peered up at him, and he just gave me a half smile before watching the water again. I couldn’t help wondering what Evan thought of me. Sure, we got along pretty well, and I could tell he liked hanging out with me. But did he ever feel more than that?

Not knowing the confusing thoughts running through my head, Evan wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pushed my head down, and rested his chin against the top of my head.

I laid my head on his chest and listened to the rapid beating of his heart. Thump. Thump. Thump. Hmm … it was so comfortable here. Nice and warm. His heart was like a drum, mingling with the crash of the waves to play a song just for me. My fingers fiddled with the chain around my neck. His hand touched the coin at the same time I did. His hand was nice and warm, too. Hot, even.

Maybe it didn’t matter how he felt. This was enough.

For now.





18

-Evan-

I should have been asleep. Hell, I should have been at home instead of lurking in front of Taylor’s house. And throwing sticks at her window like a creepy lunatic.

I dropped Taylor off and went home for a while. But as I was lying in bed, I realized I didn’t want to be there. I wanted to see Taylor. I wanted to talk to her. Be with her.

Luckily, her head popped out just as I ran out of sticks and was searching for a rock that wouldn’t smash her window.

“Evan? What the heck—what are you doing here?”

The rock fell to my feet with a clatter, and I grinned, not sure if I was happy because of the sight of her or because her hair was smashed to one side like a horn. “Come out here for a minute.”

“What? No.”

“Come on!”

She threw out her hand to shut me up and nervously looked behind her. I didn’t realize till then that I had been yelling. I winced and mouthed “Sorry.” Taylor gripped the windowsill with her other hand and looked down. I could practically see the wheels in her head working overdrive before she gave me a tiny nod and disappeared.

I met her at the back door. She wore a baggy white hooded jacket that looked like she had just thrown it on over her T-shirt. The hem ended halfway down her thighs and barely covered the plaid shorts she had on. No, wait, were those …

“Boxers?”

Taylor followed my gaze and quickly tugged the hem down. “I wear them to sleep, okay?”

“Hey, I’m not judging. I’m actually wearing the same kind now.” I grinned when her eyes jerked down to my sweatpants. “Want to see?”

“Uh, no thanks.” Even though it was dark, I could see her flaming cheeks. She ducked her head even lower and cleared her throat. “What do you want, Evan?”

“To talk.”

“Talk? Now?”

“Yeah, why else would I come to your house in the middle of the night?” I laughed and shook my head. “Never mind, don’t answer that. That was too easy.”

Even her ears were red, but at least she laughed with me. Taylor wrapped her arms around herself and nodded toward the hammock in the corner. “Fine. Come on.”

As I followed, I couldn’t help admiring her from the back. Over the past couple of weeks, Taylor got prettier every time I saw her. Those boxers were damn sexy. Thank god it was warm tonight. I wasn’t lying when I said I had a pair just like them. I couldn’t help imagining that the pair of boxers she had on were mine and why she would be wearing them in the first place.

I shoved my hands in my pockets and subtly adjusted the fabric around my crotch.

Taylor sat on the hammock, and my eyes drifted from the alluring plaid fabric to her white legs that obviously didn’t see the sun very much down to her small feet. I could feel heat climbing up my face.