Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
ELIZABETH
A n incessant noise pulls me out of an exhausted sleep. At first, I think it’s my alarm for school. But then I remember that it’s Saturday. Intending to fall back asleep, I flip over and snuggle into my body pillow.
The noise stops, only to start up again.
I’m going to kill whoever keeps texting me at—I squint to focus on my bedside digital clock—ten in the morning on a weekend.
Stretching, I groan at the severe stiffness of my aching muscles. Why am I so sore?
Last night.
Jayson.
I had sex.
It really happened. Jayson and I really happened.
A smile spreads across my face. Oh, yes, it definitely happened.
The bathroom door clicks open, and Hailey peeks in.
“Thought I heard you moving around.”
I pull back the covers for her to join me, and she belly flops onto the bed.
“So?” Hailey grins, propping her chin to her closed fist.
I don’t know if I’m ready to tell her about last night. I buy myself some time by deflecting.
“How was your Valentine’s evening?”
Hailey gives me a knowing look but replies, “Brea and I just hung out and watched cheesy Hallmark movies. We also tried out your new swing. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not.”
My phone chimes again, but I ignore it.
“Are you really going to make me pull it out of you?”
“Pull what out of me?” I ask innocently.
“Fine, have it your way. I heard you and Jayson come in here at six this morning. Mind telling me what my big sister was doing out all night?”
I cringe. Were we that loud sneaking in? Did Mom and Dad hear us?
“Dinner at Ana?s was fabulous.”
“Not what I’m talking about, and you know it. Dinner doesn’t take twelve hours.”
Hailey tickles me, her fingers attacking my rib cage and under my knees where she knows I’m most vulnerable.
“Okay! Uncle! Uncle!” I capitulate.
“Spill the beans or I go for your feet.”
When I hesitate to answer, she makes a grab for my foot, and I jerk it away.
“After dinner, Jayson took me to our old fort.”
She waggles her fingers as she waits for me to continue. “And?” she prods, inching her hands closer.
“And it was everything ,” I exhale, picturing Jayson’s face hovering above me, his eyes boring into mine as we made love for the first time.
Hailey jumps on top of me with a fierce hug. “I knew it! Oh, Lizzie. Oh, I’m going to cry.”
Slightly bewildered, I push her off and sit up. “Why are you going to cry?”
“Happy tears. I’m so happy for you. Are you okay? You did use protection, right? How do you feel?”
For some unknown reason, I remember the words Mom said to me when I was little about crying love tears. I get it now.
“I feel good.” I falter, trying to find the right words. “Changed. Different.”
“That’s all I need to know. I don’t need any details. I just wanted to make sure you were happy about it.”
“I am.”
“Mom left some breakfast for you. They don’t know you stayed out all night. I covered for you.”
“Thanks, Hales.”
“And take a shower. You smell like Jayson’s cologne.”
I toss my pillow at her as she exits through my bedroom door.
“Heading to Brea’s,” she yells.
Unlocking my phone, there are several texts from Jayson, Maria, and Julien. I read Julien’s first. He sent me a picture of him and Elijah at their dinner in Fayetteville. Julien has his arm behind Elijah, and Elijah is leaning into his side. They look so happy together. I hope they had a good time last night and didn’t run into any problems.
Me: Love the pic you sent. How did it go?
While I wait for Julien to respond, I read Jayson’s texts.
Jayson: Wanted to be the first to tell you good morning. Love you, Princess.
Jayson: Thank u for giving me the best gift last night. I will cherish our first time forever.
Jayson: I’ll drop by later. Check your windowsill.
Jayson: Many more next times to come.
I look over and see an origami star on my windowsill and get up to grab it just as Julien texts me back.
Julien: We had a great time. Stayed at a hotel after.
Me: And?
Julien: No ‘and.’ Don’t want to jinx it. But what did happen was nice. Very nice. Not one to kiss and tell wink emoji
Me: So happy for you both. Really. Give E a huge kiss from me. Love you. Always.
Julien: Love you too.
He sends me another photo, this one of him and Elijah at a table drinking coffee.
Julien: Don’t forget to delete our convo.
Me: On it. xxxooo
I delete our entire chat and the two pictures he sent. Since Jayson and Hailey know the password to my phone, Julien asked me to erase any text or picture that included him and Elijah. I wish he would talk to his brother, especially since things seem to be getting serious with Elijah. I remind myself that it’s Julien’s story to tell when he’s ready to tell it.
I should read Maria’s texts next, but I can’t seem to do it. I don’t want to hear about her date with Ryder last night.
What if they took things to the next level like Jayson and I did?
Okay, that’s extremely hypocritical. I shouldn’t be jealous over the possibility that Maria may or may not have had sex with Ryder, and I hate myself for it as much as I can’t help feeling that way.
Sitting down on my bedroom floor, I open the paper star Jayson left for me. Inside is a quote: “ You aren’t just a star to me, you are my whole damn sky .”
I press the paper to my chest. Once I feel more settled, I gather the courage to read Maria’s texts.
Maria: Text me as soon as you get up.
Maria: It’s past 8! You never sleep past 7. Text me asap!
Me: Just woke up. Didn’t get home until late. How about you?
Maria: Normal time.
Normal time? I bite my lip and ask myself if I really want to know.
Screw it. I do.
Me: No sleep overs?
Maria: Nope. Ryder took me to dinner and brought me home after.
Maria: I did try to attack him in the car. He looked so f’ing hot last night.
Me: And?
My heart is thrumming.
Maria: Said he wanted to go slow. Wasn’t ready for that yet. frowny face emoji
Relief pours through me.
Maria: U and Jay do the dirty?
Me: You are so crass vomit emoji
And this is where I lie to my friend, something I have never done before. I’m not ashamed of what Jayson and I did last night, but I do not want even a hint of it to get back to Ryder. So, I lie.
Maria: That doesn’t answer my question.
Me: Nothing major to tell. Jayson was very romantic. Lit our tree up with lights and hung paper stars with love notes in them. Made me a tree swing. Dinner was nice. Then came home.
Maria: Guess we both struck out.
Me: Jayson is coming over. Need to get ready.
Maria: Ryder said he had to help his dad today so I’m going back to bed.
Me: Hugs. Sweet dreams.
The need to go pound out some of this pent-up energy suddenly hits me. I take a quick shower and decide that banging on the drums would do me good. Maybe Dad will join me, but when I get downstairs, he isn’t there. Mom is gone, too.
I grab the toast she left out for me and head to the music room. Taking a seat behind Dad’s Yamaha drum set that he uses to practice with, I twirl the sticks between my fingers, trying to decide on what to play. Scrolling through my phone, I select the Foo Fighters’ “My Hero.”
As soon as I hear the first beats at the beginning of the song, I quickly join in and lose myself in the tribal pounding of the drums. My arms and legs work in synchronicity, and I can feel sweat already trickling down the hollow of my spine from exertion.
I’m so connected to what I’m doing, I almost lose the rhythm when an electric guitar joins in. Ryder stands in front of me, riffing the chords like a pro. We grin at each other like fools, never once breaking eye contact as we play. I’m breathless by the time the song ends.
I fan my face. “That was awesome.”
He stopped doing lessons with Dad after…
I don’t go there. Not a trip down memory lane I want to take right now.
“Want to do one more?”
“Absolutely. Your pick. Fast or slow?”
Ryder scratches the side of his jaw with the guitar pick. “Another fast one. How about some Fall Out Boy? ‘Sugar, We’re Going Down.’”
I select the song on my phone and hit play. Ryder cues into the music with his guitar, and I can’t help but stare at him. He really is gorgeous. Dark hair that’s more black than brown, and those eyes, such a unique color that resembles amber when the sun hits them.
There are also some subtle changes that have occurred over the past year. His shoulders and chest are wider, his hair a tad longer, his arms thicker with muscle. Jayson is taller, his body more streamlined from swimming, whereas Ryder is more muscular.
Ryder catches me checking him out, and my face burns a fire-engine red. Totally busted.
Jayson and Dad appear in the doorway, as Ryder and I finish the song.
Dad walks in and picks up his bass guitar. “You guys sound good together. Mind if your old man joins in?”
“Sure.”
“What’s up?” Jayson says.
“Not much. Keeping busy,” Ryder replies.
Jayson gives me a short, sweet kiss.
“Hey, baby.”
I tap a drumstick against his butt. “Do you mind waiting while we play?”
“Not at all,” he replies, kissing me one more time, and pulls up a stool.
“What do you want to play?” I ask Dad.
“Do you guys remember ‘Come Closer?’”
“Oh! I love that one.”
He wrote it for Mom.
Ryder strums the first three measures of the song to refresh his memory. “I think I got it.”
I tap my drumstick against Jayson’s knee to get his attention. “Would you mind videoing us?”
I want to treasure this rare moment—me, Dad, and Ryder playing together like old times, and Jayson with us.
We play a few songs together, and when we finish, Dad lifts me up in a great big bear hug.
“Love you, Pumpkin.”
I squeeze him harder. “Love you more.”
I’ll be leaving for college in a little over a year and will miss getting my favorite daddy hugs. I want to pack as many in as I can, especially since he’ll be gone again for a six-city tour in a few weeks.
When Dad leaves, Ryder goes to the minifridge in the corner and takes out three waters, handing me one and tossing the other to Jayson.
“That felt really good. It’s been a while since I picked up a guitar.”
I miss playing with him. Just one more thing I lost when things…changed.
“We should do it more often.”
Jayson hooks his arm around my waist. “What brings you by?”
I give him a perplexed look. Ryder has a key like everyone else and can come over whenever he wants to. He doesn’t anymore, but that’s beside the point.
“Taking a break before I have to head back to the garage.”
“Maria said you guys had a good time last night,” my mouth blurts before I can stop it.
“Yep,” is his one-word reply, then, “Saw the video of the tree.” A flash of sadness briefly flickers across his face before disappearing. “I need to head back.”
Jayson surprises me when he suggests, “If you have time, why don’t you come to Ruby’s with us. Liz and I were going to grab some lunch in town.”
Ryder hesitates, so I push. “You’ll come? Please?”
He glances over his shoulder before replying, “Sure. Yeah. I’ll come. Thanks for asking. Mind if I meet you guys there?”
“Half hour?” Jayson asks.
“I’ll be there.”
Jayson waits until he hears the front door close.
I’m abruptly lifted and pressed against the adjoining wall, and I only have a second to blink when he lands a hard kiss on my lips.
“I couldn’t wait another second to get my hands on you. One of these days, I plan on fucking you while you’re draped across your piano.”
I’m hefted higher when he wedges a leg between my thighs.
“Get yourself off.”
He doesn’t wait and grabs my waist, grinding me on his thigh. The ease at which he takes me from zero to sixty is ridiculous.
Sealing his mouth over mine, he captures my moan when I climax. That was fast.
Jayson shuts and locks the door.
“What are you?—”
“Your dad is still in the house, and I don’t want him to kick my ass if he finds me defiling his daughter.”
He turns me and pushes me face-forward against the wall.
“Arms up,” he commands, and I obey without question.
He sneaks clever fingers under my shirt and plays with my nipple, while his other hand slinks underneath the waistband of my yoga pants.
“Be very quiet,” he whispers in my ear, sending a cascade of goose bumps down my arms.
I nod yes, lost in the sparks of pleasure he reignites when he plays with my swollen clit, still vibrating from the first orgasm.
“You’re soaking.”
He slips one finger inside me and groans. I love that he finds pleasure in touching me.
My back arches, begging for more. A second finger joins the first, and he finger-fucks me to another embarrassingly quick orgasm. I bite my lower lip to stifle my moan of release. Lips kiss all along my neck until my tremors die down and my legs stop shaking.
He pulls his hand out of my pants and twists me back around. With a wicked grin, he sucks his fingers clean.
“You are so dirty.”
“And you love it,” he replies smugly and unlocks the door.
He checks to make sure the coast is clear. No dad in sight.
“Ready for lunch?”
“Dad!” I yell.
“Yeah?” he answers from upstairs.
“Going to Ruby’s with Jayson and Ryder. I’ll be back later.”
“Okay, hon.”
My legs are still wobbly, and Jayson laughs the entire way to his truck. He helps me up and buckles me in, then comes around to hop into the driver’s seat.
“That was a really nice thing you did, inviting Ryder to join us.”
“Anything for you, Princess.”
He reaches for my hand and places it on top of his thigh as he backs out of the driveway.
“How are you feeling this morning?” A hint of nervousness creeps into his voice.
“Good. A bit sore.”
“I could tell. You flinched a little when I fingered you. How do you feel about last night? About what happened between us?”
Is he worried that I regret being with him?
“Jayson, pull over.”
“Why?”
“Just pull over.”
He slows the truck and eases onto the grassy shoulder. Once he puts the truck in park, I release my seat belt and climb over the console to straddle his lap. I cup his face and press soft kisses on the corners of his mouth.
“Last night was the most incredible night of my life. Do not ever think that I regret what happened between us for one single second. You made it beautiful.” I peck his nose. “ ‘You aren’t just a star to me, you are my whole damn sky . ’ ”
A whoosh of relieved breath tumbles out. “I needed to hear that so badly.”
“Many more next times, remember?”