Under The Stars

7

He shifts his focus over to me. “Wow. Hi, you look stunnin’.”

“Thank you. Ready to go?” I side-eye Daddy as his gaze volleys between us, terrified he’s about to embarrass me. He never acted like this with any of Eli’s dates.

“Have a good time, baby girl.” He kisses the top of my head and levels Reed with a glare. “Have her back by ten, and no funny business. You hear me?”

“Yessir.” Reed breaks into a smile so perfect, it’s worthy of any parents’ trust. My chest warms at the sight.

We walk toward the car. “I hope it’s okay we’re goin’ to the lake. I brought some food and a blanket to lay out.”

“Like a picnic?”

“Yeah, just like that.” He grins.

“Sounds perfect.” I link my arm through his.

The lake is quiet for a Saturday night, just a few people having a bonfire down the way. Reed spreads out his checkered blanket and we settle in. He opens up a basket, pulling out various meats and cheeses, a baguette, and some grapes. My eyes widen as I realize how much effort he put into this.

“I was plannin’ on an actual meal, but was told this would be better to woo you with.” He hands me a cup of sparkling cider.

“You were told, huh?”

“That’s right.” He grins. “By a very wise woman, so I thought it was best if I took her advice to heart.”

I hide my smile behind the lip of my cup. “Reed Stanton, did you ask your mama for help with this date?”

“I figured it was worth the risk.”

“What’s the risk of goin’ to your mama?”

“Well, there’s one of two possibilities. The first is that come Monday, you’ll be tellin’ the whole school how much of a Mama’s Boy I am.” He pops a grape in his mouth, chewing slowly.

“And the second?”

“The second is you’ll be tellin’ them you’re mine.”

My stomach jolts with butterflies.

He leans in closer. “Now, I may be biased, but I’m hopin’ for number two.”

Heat rises to my cheeks as I open my mouth to respond, but he puts a finger over my lips. “I know you wanna profess your love now, but I need you to keep me on my toes. I thrive under pressure.”

He moves his finger, the corner of his eyes crinkling as he watches me throw my head back and laugh. “Lord, you’re cocky.”

He chuckles. “Always confident, never cocky. How do you think I win us all those games?”

Before long the sun dips below the water, the moon rising to take its place. I drain the last of my cider and lie back on the blanket.

“Gorgeous out here, isn’t it?” Reed settles in next to me, reaching for my hand. He laces our fingers together and it feels... nice. “I always love comin’ out here when it gets dark. There’s just somethin’ about how bright the stars shine, you know?”

I hum my agreement, staring up at the sky. It’s been the perfect date. Thoughts of being Reed Stanton’s girl should be the only thing in my head.

But they’re not.

Instead, my mind is filled with all the nights I held another boy’s hand, under a glow ‘n stick sky, telling him he was bigger than the stars.

Chase

Eighteen Years Old

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been the picture of self-control. Since finding out Goldi’s going on a date, I’m starting to understand people who let emotions rule their life. I guess when it comes to her, I’ve always been weak.

I knew it was a d**k move earlier. I could see the confusion in her eyes as my words promised things that my actions contradict. Swear to God, I tried to stay away tonight. I attempted to drown out the thoughts with the sound of hammers and drills, but nothing worked. So here I am, waiting in her room, leg bouncing and gut burning.

The ticking of the clock on her wall is the only sign the night is getting shorter, and the date is getting longer. The silence leaves me space to ruminate in thoughts of where they are—what they’re doing.

I’m such a f*****g i***t.

I’ve been torturing myself for years. Creating boundaries. Keeping her placed firmly as “little sister’s best friend,” refusing to let myself have her because it will hurt too bad when she leaves.

Everybody always leaves.

But I didn’t realize it would be like this. Like my world is breaking apart at the thought of someone else getting to touch her, feel her, love her.

A car door slams. My feet move before I can stop them, taking me to the window. Reed helps her out of the car and I watch as they walk up to the porch, my stomach sinking as I see her beaming smile aimed at him.

Fuck.

He’s looking down at her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. I grip the window pane, physically restraining myself from jumping through the glass and breaking all his fingers. My chest grows tight, body trembling as a sheen of sweat breaks across my brow. Don’t kiss him, Goldi.

She does.

I’m in a special kind of hell. Must be karmic retribution from when I sat across from Goldi while Suzy Albott had her hand down my pants, whispering in my ear how she wanted my c*m on her tongue. I ignored Goldi on purpose that night, pissed off she was cozied up to Ricky Walker. But I saw her watching. I saw her stand up and drag Ricky away, disappointment and hurt marring her perfect f*****g face.

I’m brought out of my regrets when I see her break the kiss. Finally.

Reed whispers something that makes her smile, and I imagine the blush that’s blooming on her cheeks for him. My arms strain, fighting the urge to reach out and steal the color for myself.

She walks inside, and I glare at him until he’s back in the car. I watch until taillights disappear down the street. That’s right, fucker. Go home and don’t come back.

“Chase, what the heck are you doin’ here?”

I spin around, my chest squeezing at the sound of her voice. She has no idea how much she affects me. “Hey. Thought I’d stop by… see how your date went.”

She makes a sound of disbelief. “Really?”

A thousand words are on the tip of my tongue, dying to break free. He f*****g kissed you. Did you like it? Did you think of me at all?

I lay down on her bed, propping my arms behind my head, hoping she can hear my questions through the silence. I’m not sure I’d even want the answers.

She glances toward her door before walking over to the stereo and turning on music. I smirk. Her room is on the other side of the house, but she’s always afraid her parents will hear.

“Well, it went great, if you must know.”

“Where’d he take you?”

“Down to the lake. We had a picnic.”

“Original.”

“It was romantic.”

The sting of teeth biting through my cheek is the only thing that keeps me from losing my s**t. “Are you planning on seeing him again?”

A halo of hair whirls around her as she spins to face me. Damn, she’s pretty.

“What’s it to you? You know, this overprotective big brother act is gettin’ old, Chase. You might want to spend more time worryin’ about your real sister, instead of who’s dippin’ into my panties.”

I should ask what the hell she means about Lily, but the visual of someone getting anywhere near her panties pumps rage through my blood until I can’t think straight.

I jump up, stalking toward her. “Did you let that motherfucker touch you?”

“That’s none of your business.” Her voice is a whisper now, bravado singed away by the flames of my jealousy.

“Everything about you is my business, don’t you know that? Don’t you get it yet?”

“What is there for me to ‘get’, Chase?” She throws her hands up. “I can’t do this anymore. You don’t want me in the daytime, and I don’t wanna be your dirty little secret at night.”

Fear of losing her chokes me, even as I remind myself it’s what’s best. “I’m not the right kind of person for you, Goldi. Believe me, I try every day to become something better. Something more.” The thump of my fist smacking my chest makes her flinch. “Whether I want to be around you has nothing to do with it.”

“You only want to be around me when it’s beneficial for you.”

My eyebrows raise. “Do you think it’s easy for me to stay away from you?”

“Yes! I think it’s easy!” she explodes, bringing her hands up to push me. “I think it’s easy for you to climb in my window, as long as no one sees.”

She pushes me again. “I think it’s easy to drop my friendship and then pick it up when it suits you.”

She pushes a third time. “I think it’s easy for you to mess with any girl that has a pulse, and not care how it cuts me up inside.”

This time, I grab her hands before they hit, jerking her body until she’s flush against me. She whooshes out a breath.

I can taste it on my lips.

The thread holding my restraint frays and snaps.

My hand grasps the nape of her neck at the same time she surges up, our teeth clacking together as we fumb

le to get closer, to taste deeper. My tongue licks the saltiness of tears from her lips, and I swallow her moan.

She’s climbing my body. I hoist her up, legs wrapping around my waist, her ass fitting f*****g perfectly in my hands. We move until I hit the edge of her bed and fall back, the hem of her dress bunching up as she straddles my thighs. Her hips rotate, grinding down. I groan, my eyes rolling at the friction.

Gripping her hips tightly, I help her find a rhythm.

Goddamn.

I’m not even inside her and I could come from how good she’s working me. My hand slides up her thigh and under her dress, teasing the edge of her cotton panties. She whimpers and shifts, and the tips of my fingers brush against her. She’s f*****g soaked. My c**k pulses, pre-c*m dripping out and sliding down the length.

I glide my other hand along her spine, tangling it in her hair, wrapping the strands around my fist. She gasps as I pull her head back firmly, exposing her throat.

I rest my thumb against her fabric-covered c**t. “Did he touch you here?”

“What?” She’s breathless, pushing her cunt into my hand, greedy as hell for what she knows I can give her.

“Did. He. Touch. You. Here?” I press down, teasing her.

She moans, and I trail a line of kisses up her throat, unable to keep my lips from her skin now that I’ve had a taste. My grip on her hair tightens. “Answer me.”

“No,” she breathes.

The relief is sharp.

Pulling her panties to the side, I drag my fingers through her wetness. My mouth waters as I imagine tasting it on my tongue.

Her hand circles my wrist, bringing my fingertips to her mouth, sucking. She groans at the taste.

Holy s**t.

I’m so hard it hurts, but I ignore the ache.

My fingers dip back down, circling her swollen c**t then moving lower. Two of them slip inside easily because of how wet she is for me.

I tilt forward, nipping her lips with my teeth. “I want you to ride my fingers until you come all over them. Show me how good it feels, baby.”

She throws her head back, gasping as she rocks her hips faster. She’s close. Her breathing stutters and she moans my name, her juices gushing out to the pulsing of her o****m.

She’s stunning.

Her hair is still fisted in my hand and I lean up, sucking on her neck, making sure to leave a mark.

Mine.

My abs contort under my shirt as her hand sneaks down my torso, palming me through my jeans. Her touch feels so damn good, but if she doesn’t quit massaging my c**k, I’m going to throw her down and f**k her so hard she’ll break. The music muffles our sounds, but her parents would definitely hear that. Reluctantly, I release her hair and reach down to stop her.

“Please,” she whispers. “I want to.”

I shake my head. “I don’t want your first time to be like this. You deserve soft and sweet, Goldi, and that’s not me. You know that’s not me. But I’m gonna try like hell to give it to you.”

She freezes, teeth indenting her lower lip. “You… I…” She runs her fingers through her tangled hair. “Chase, I’m not a virgin.”

My body jerks off the bed. Goldi falls to the side from the sudden movement. “Who the f**k with?”

She rolls onto her back, her hands smacking down on the mattress. “No! You don’t get to ask me that! I’m not over here askin’ for your list of a thousand hussies.”

My teeth grind so hard they’ll turn to dust any moment. I breathe deep, attempting to calm the beast inside. It’s true. I have no right. But I feel f*****g ill. I was too much of a p***y to take what should have been mine, and she gave it away to someone else.

I tug my hair, sighing. “You’re right.”

She props up on her elbows, fighting the smile that’s curling her mouth. “That’s usually the case.”

I bend down, leaning over the bed until my arms are on either side of her head. “Let’s talk about more important things, like how sexy you look when you come.”

She giggles, reaching up, and sweeping a kiss across my lips. It’s just a peck, but my chest cracks wide open, flooding with happiness I’ll never deserve.

I can’t offer her anything, can’t give her the world. But I can’t let her go either, so I’ll lay my bruised soul at her feet, and hope she tends to the wounds.

It’s always been hers, anyway.