Chapter 3 #2
“You want to know what the best part of this playground was?” she asked as she turned to face him.
“No, what?”
“It was right here next to the slide that we kissed for the very first time,” she said shyly.
He tried not to smile too brightly. “I wasn’t sure if you’d remember that.”
“I did. And if memory serves, we came back here often because it was a little secluded from the rest of the playground.”
“Yup.” Carefully, he closed the distance between them. “Would it be weird if I said I’d really like to kiss you again, right in this very spot?”
Kelsey’s hand slowly smoothed over his chest. “I was kind of hoping you would.”
That was all the encouragement he needed to touch his lips to hers.
Teenage Kelsey was living her dream.
Adult Kelsey was too.
Over the years, she often wondered what would have happened if Jayce had come back for one more summer. Would they have become serious? Maybe truly become boyfriend and girlfriend? But more than anything, she wondered if she would have lost her virginity to him.
It was something she had wanted more than anything at the time. Jayce Nash was the first boy she had ever loved and even though her life was kind of a mess right now and this wasn’t exactly the best time for her to do anything rash…
She wanted all the things they never had the chance to do.
She wanted all the things they never got to say.
And more than anything, she wanted all the things they never got to finish.
The kiss was a little soft, a little chaste, and she kind of liked how he wasn’t the kind of guy who just dove in with abandon.
This was a nice way to get reacquainted, and she allowed herself to simply melt against him.
Her arms slowly wrapped around his shoulders as she hummed with pleasure.
Jayce must have felt the same way because she felt his own low rumble as he started to take the kiss deeper.
Then, suddenly—perfectly—things weren’t so soft and chaste.
They shifted, moved against each other in the moonlight.
Kelsey’s breath quickened as she reached up and raked her hands in his hair.
His arms banded tightly around her and it was everything she had imagined it would be.
Passion was building, and it was crazy how much she wanted him.
Needed him.
Don’t go there…
Seriously, her life was currently nothing but chaos and indecision, but she refused to think of this as anything more than…unfinished business.
Even in her own head it sounded wrong, but it was what she was going with for now.
Jayce lifted his head and breathlessly stared down at her. “Damn. That was nothing like the kisses we used to share here.”
Blushing, she nodded. “I know. This was much better.”
Resting his forehead against hers, he murmured, “I have to agree.”
For several moments, they were content to just stay wrapped around each other. A soft breeze blew around them and Kelsey shivered.
“I forgot how cool the temperature used to get when the sun went down,” he said, holding her impossibly closer. “Maybe we should head back toward the cabins.”
“Okay.”
Hand in hand, they strolled back toward the path that would lead them to their cabins.
Neither said anything and it was a very comfortable kind of silence.
Her mind wandered to what was going to happen once they got to her door.
They’d kiss—obviously—but…would it be wrong to invite him in?
Or maybe they could go to his cabin and… and…
And what, dummy? What exactly do you want to do?
Pfft …that was a ridiculous question. She wanted this almost perfect night to go on.
She just had no idea to what end.
“What are your plans for tomorrow?” he asked. “Anything scheduled?”
Shaking her head, she continued to focus on where they were walking.
“Nothing scheduled. I sort of came up here with no actual idea of how I was going to spend my time. I realize now I probably didn’t need to book a two-week stay, but…
” She sighed. “It could be nice to just relax and unwind with no obligations, right?”
“We’re gonna find out,” he teased, playfully nudging her shoulder. “My grandparents are looking to play bingo and do arts and crafts. My folks are planning on keeping them company. Honestly, I don’t know what they expected me to do, so I’m going to be winging it too.”
Looking up at Jayce, she smiled. “Maybe we could wing it together?”
He smiled back at her. “Absolutely.”
“We’re definitely going to try out the paddleboats since they weren’t here the last time.”
“Plus, they’ve got to be safer for us than the canoes.”
They both laughed and the next thing she knew, they were approaching their cabins. It was on the tip of her tongue to invite him to join her, but he beat her to it.
“Would you like to come in for a little while? It’s not very late and with no TV or Wi-Fi, I know I would enjoy having some company.” He gently tugged her closer. “Plus, I’m not ready for this night to end.”
Her heart raced at his admission, and it was slightly thrilling to know they thought so much alike.
Smiling shyly, she told him, “Me either.” Jayce opened the door to his cabin and when she stepped inside, she was suddenly a bundle of nerves. “So, um…this looks a little more updated than mine.”
He nodded and glanced around. “And more than the one my parents are staying in too, although…not by much. If I had to guess, I’d say that it sustained some damage, and they didn’t have a choice.”
“Still, you lucked out. And this floor plan looks different from the others too. I didn’t realize there were so many options. Mine has the one bedroom and then a loft, and I know the one your family is in has two bedrooms, but this…”
“Kelsey?”
“Hmm?”
“Do you really want to talk about the different models of cabins?” His voice was low and gruff and so damn appealing.
She shook her head. “No. No, that’s not what I want.” The slight tremble in her voice surprised her, but it also didn’t stop her from slowly walking over to him and stopping when they were toe to toe.
Jayce’s hand reached up and caressed her cheek. “What do you want, “Kelse?”
“I don’t want to be alone tonight.” Even as she said the words, her heart was hammering so loudly, she wondered if he could hear it.
His expression softened before he rested his forehead against hers. “You don’t have to be. You can stay here and we can stay up all night talking.”
Wait, was he…did he not understand what she was saying?
Pulling back slightly, she gave him a quizzical look. “Um…I was thinking maybe we…you know…could spend the night um… not talking?”
Without a word, Jayce led her over to the cozy sofa and gently tugged her to sit beside him. “As much as I would love to spend the night like that with you, I don’t think that’s what you need.”
“But…”
“It wouldn’t be right,” he softly interrupted, lazily rubbing his thumb along the palm of her hand. “I know we’re not strangers, but we also haven’t seen or spoken to each other in over a decade. I don’t think sex is exactly what you need right now.”
The small snort was her first response before she decided to use her words.
“If you were a stranger, I wouldn’t have even suggested it.
I feel safe with you, Jayce. I always have.
Life has been so…depressing and lonely for the last few months.
That’s why I started seeing a therapist. I wasn’t handling my grief well and I knew if I didn’t get proactive about my mental health that it would be a downward spiral.
Spending time with you today is the first time I’ve felt like myself in a long time.
” She edged closer to him. “Didn’t you just ever need to feel close to someone? ”
“I have, and I’m still right here for you to be close to. But I swear I’m trying to be the good guy here and not do something you might regret.”
Kelsey was already shaking her head. “I could never regret sleeping with you. I’ve thought about it for too many damn years.” The nervous laugh spoke volumes. “I guess I didn’t think I’d have to beg or even try to convince you to do it.”
Suddenly, the urge to be alone was almost overwhelming. She was mortified that she’d let herself make such a bold declaration and had misread the entire situation. But when she went to stand up, Jayce’s hand held firm.
“Jayce…”
“Hear me out,” he carefully began. “Stay here with me tonight. Talk to me about anything and everything. We’ll curl up in the bed and hold each other while we get caught up on our lives.
At some point, we’ll inevitably fall asleep.
And then tomorrow night, we’ll come right back here and sit on this couch and decide if we’re going to take things into a sexier territory. What do you say?”
Honestly? She wished he were stripping her bare because he couldn’t wait to make love to her. At least, that’s what the rejected and embarrassed part of her was thinking. The logical part knew he was right. She’d been overly emotional lately and he was the first person she really wanted to be with.
Sighing, she nodded. “Maybe you’re right, but now I feel a bit foolish. After all, I just…”
He silenced her with a kiss—it was a little on the chaste side, but still enough to make her melt against him.
When he lifted his head, he stood and brought her back to her feet.
“Come on. Let’s get comfortable inside. Then I want to hear all about your life, and we’ll talk about whatever you’d like. ”
“I’d like to talk about what’s on the TV, but there aren’t any here, so…”
They both laughed softly as they walked into the bedroom. Jayce kicked off his shoes and sat down on the bed. Kelsey did the same and joined him. Then he wrapped her in his arms, placed a kiss on her forehead, and whispered, “Tell me about where you went to college.”
It was a weird way to start the conversation, but it was perfect. For hours they shared stories about their different life experiences, and at some point, Kelsey fell asleep.
And it was the best sleep she’d had in months.