Chapter 43
43
MADDIE
“ T rick or treat!”
“Aww, look at you!” I coo as a group of three adorable little girls dressed as witches climb up the steps to Lane and Rhys’s place. I hold out the big pumpkin-shaped bowl full of Halloween candy, and they select their pieces.
“I hope we have the kind you like in there, so you don’t turn us all into frogs,” I joke.
They giggle as they drop their candy in their pillowcases. “Thank you!” they cry as they hop back down the stairs and race to the next house.
The hockey guys have a bunch of chairs and a table set up on their porch to hang out as we hand out candy to the many trick-or-treaters swarming the streets of Cedar Shade.
It warms my heart to see this tradition still alive here. There are young families with their toddlers; groups of young elementary school kids with their parents hanging a couple paces back, giving them a measure of independence; older kids prowling in groups and horsing around; and, of course, some surly teenagers wearing hoodies who are only in it for the candy.
Rhys steps from inside the house and hands me the can of Coke he went to retrieve. My heart vibrates when I see him. Just like it has every time my eyes have alighted on him since I came over about an hour ago.
There’s a hum singing through my body every second I’m close to him since last night. I wonder if he’s feeling the same way? I know that every time our eyes meet now, a smile pulls on his lips that’s somehow different from all the smiles he’s angled at me before.
Ever since I broke down and asked him to give me my first time that night weeks ago, I’d worried that after we finally slept together, things would naturally end.
But earlier this evening when I came over, and Rhys found me alone in the kitchen and whispered in my ear that he was going crazy waiting for a repeat of what happened last night, all those worries scattered to the wind.
Nothing between us ended last night. Now I’m wondering whether what we’re doing even has an expiration date.
We passed the big exit ramp without turning—the question is, what exactly is our destination?
I know it’s not smart of us to delay finding the answer. But when Rhys folds himself into the chair next to me and I feel waves of calm and delighted contentment radiating off him just from us being close to each other, it’s hard to hold on to any worry for long.
Hudson and Tuck stumble out behind him, both looking groggy.
“Why’d you make me drink so much last night?” Tuck groans at Hudson.
“Me? You’re the one who coaxed me into taking more shots at Summer and Olivia’s place,” Hudson growls back.
Hudson and Tuck have apparently been nursing hangovers all day long.
“Know what’s good to cure the post-hangover doldrums?” Tuck says. “Candy.” He shoves his hand into the basket and grabs a fistful.
“I don’t think that’s true, but fuck it.” Hudson mimics his action, and they sit down next to each other, peeling open Snickers, Milkyways, and Reese’s.
My phone vibrates with a message from Jasmine. She was gushing about what a great time she had with Chris last night—so good that they’re going on another date tonight. She keeps texting me updates.
I’m excited for her. Chris sounds promising, and I know she’s been wanting to find a steady relationship lately.
I hand the pumpkin basket off to Lane to go to the bathroom. When I walk back down, a sharp psst from Rhys draws my attention.
Just like at the party last night, he’s standing by the back door at the end of the kitchen, indicating for us to sneak away to get a moment to ourselves. Excitement simmers through me as I bounce over, loving the look of hunger that flashes in his eyes.
His hands are running up and down my side the second we step out. He pushes me against the wall, the hard planes and sharp contours of his torso pressing against my soft curves. Excitement draws tight between my thighs while our lips slant.
“I’m gonna fucking die if we don’t find a way to be alone tomorrow,” he sighs into my ear.
I giggle, resting my hands on his trim hips. “I’ll try to convince Jasmine to go on another date with Chris.”
Wind wooshes past his teeth. “I’ll pay for their dinner if they promise to take about three hours eating it.”
I roll my eyes, swatting at his chest. “Let’s go back out front, they’ll start wondering where we are.”
When we settle back in our chairs out front, I can’t help but think how nice it would be to curl up in his lap without caring who sees.