30. Elyse
CHAPTER 30
Elyse
ENJOY THIS TIME
18 YEARS OLD
“ D o you think anyone’s going to notice we disappeared?”
Dominic shakes his head as he continues driving. “Who cares? We graduated, we’re done.”
He’s right, but a flicker of guilt still pricks at me. We’re supposed to be with our class, celebrating at the senior party hosted by our school. Instead, we snuck off together.
Scottie is really the only person I care about hanging out with, but she was the one practically pushing me out the door.
“If I had someone to go sneak off and have sex with, do you really think I’d be hanging out with these people?” she’d said while looking around the packed gym with her nose scrunched.
I couldn’t really argue with her, so while the chaperones weren’t paying attention, we slipped out the non-working emergency exit and drove straight to Sullivan Ridge House.
Dominic isn’t usually one to break the rules, but after prom, I think he’s trying to make it up to me. I had no idea part of the deal with us getting to spend more alone time together included both sets of our parents chaperoning prom.
Even though I’m not a big drinker, I’d hoped to have at least one drink—preferably through a flask that matched my dress. We didn’t even get to go to the after party at the Benton’s house. Despite embarrassingly winning prom king and queen, the night was pretty much a bust.
Tonight, though, it’s just us and the beginning of our last summer before reality kicks in. Thinking about the fall, and starting college, terrifies me, and I’m doing everything I can to enjoy this time while we still have it.
Dominic pulls up alongside the house. The cloudy night sky only emphasizing how much darker it is out here without any lights to speak of. He guides me inside, more by memory than by sight.
Using our cell phones, we light our usual candles and get settled on the pile of blankets I brought over earlier, just in case.
We’ve never spent a full night together and I can’t help the warmth that stirs low in my belly thinking about sleeping in Dominic’s arms.
I wrap my arms around him, bringing his lips down to meet mine. Slipping my tongue in, I instantly deepen the kiss. He opens up, taking more of me as his hands skim down my sides, and he crawls on top of me.
“We have all night, we don’t have to go fast.” He kisses along my jaw and down my neck, sending waves of heat down my spine.
My thighs fall open, making room for him. “Exactly,” I giggle. “We have all night. Think about how many times we can go.”
He laughs against my lips. “Querida mía, don’t set me up for failure.”
We continue making out, Dominic trying to go slow while I do the opposite. He slides the straps of my graduation dress down slowly, revealing the swell of my small cleavage. My back arches, aching for him to go faster.
When my breasts are finally free, the sound of a car door slamming brings everything to a screeching halt.
Dominic slides my dress back in place like it was never down to begin with. He scrambles off me and crawls over to the window.
“Shit,” he hisses. “Cops.”
What!
When he spins to face me, there’s panic in his eyes. “You have to hide,” he whispers.
I shake my head. “No, I’m not hiding.”
He grabs me by the shoulders and starts pushing me into the parlor room. “Stay in here, and no matter what, don’t come out. Okay?”
“But—”
“No, Ellie. I’m serious. Don’t come out. We can’t both get in trouble.”
That’s when the seriousness of the situation hits me. We’re not supposed to be here.
When I don’t say anything, his eyes widen, waiting for my answer. “Promise me you won’t move.”
“I promise,” I tell him.
The moment he leaves me alone, hidden in the dark parlor, the front door opens and the beam of a flashlight comes through.
“Police,” a male voice calls out. “Anyone in here?”
From where I’m standing I have a perfect view of the foyer.
I watch as Dominic comes out with his arms raised. “Just me,” he calls out.
The officer has his weapon ready to draw. “You armed.”
“No, sir.”
“Are you aware this is private property?
“Yes, sir.”
I gasp and then slap my hand over my mouth.
It never occurred to me that Sullivan Ridge House is private property. I just thought it was in some limbo since it’s right on the border of the vineyard.
The officer holsters his gun.
“What’s your name, son?”
“Dominic Alvarez.”
“Not sure if you’re aware, but trespassing is a misdemeanor. I’m going to have to take you in.”
Dominic says something I can’t make out and then he’s turning.
“Dominic Alvarez, you’re under arrest…”
My heart jumps in my throat, waves of panic crashing over me.
As the officer reads out the Miranda rights, the same ones I’ve heard on TV, Dominic looks right at me.
I don’t think he can see me, but has a pretty good idea where I’m standing, just out of sight. My throat tightens hearing the handcuffs lock, and Dominic shakes his head, silently telling me to keep my promise.
I stand there, frozen, watching as my boyfriend gets arrested.
The officer blows out our candles and moments later, they’re gone, leaving me a shaking mess. I don’t know what to do. I’m not sure what the right response is. The one thing I know for certain, is that I have to save him. I have to do something.
So, I do the only thing I can think of.
I call my dad.