Twenty-Seven
MIA
Oliver takes a hesitant step forward, “don’t…” he warns. I crunch down on the candy left in my mouth, suddenly very aware of the fact that I only have it because of him.
I swallow the fragments as I rush to say, “I have a friend meeting us at the club, we need to get going.” I try to side step but the space between him and the counter is too narrow for me to be successful.
He reaches his hand out to rest on my hip, the heat of his skin burning through the thin material. “Don’t freak out.”
“I’m not freaking out.” I counter. Even though I am, in fact, freaking the fuck out.
He has an entire drawer dedicated to me in his house.
We’re not even dating. I don’t know what we are, but I definitely feel like that is something serious to do.
To put an entire drawer in your home dedicated to a girl that you sometimes do fun naked things with.
“You’re absolutely freaking out.” He speaks gently.
“It’s just contact paper. It can be removed easily.
It was just a funny thing. You said everyone has a messy drawer.
So I created one.” He keeps his body positioned in front of mine.
He dips his head down to bring his eyes more level to mine.
“Let’s just celebrate you, okay?” His eyes are full of pleading and I can feel my chest start to release from the pressure of the weighted thoughts running around in my mind.
“Eli shouldn’t have dropped that on you like that.
I’m sorry.” I feel the tips of his fingers dig a little deeper in my skin.
“The whole time?” I ask him, recalling what Eli told me about the candy and the cherries. He’s been letting me think it was Maxie.
His eyes drop to the floor and I lean forward a little bit.
He lifts his head back up and wets his bottom lip while nodding.
“You would have thrown them in the trash if you knew it was me. I don’t know why I did it at first. I found some and just knew you needed them.
Then you were so happy… so I started searching for them.
Then it just became routine. I found your favorite cherries, so I bought them.
I searched for the stupid rolls of cherry lifesavers.
I even kept a roll because I realized that’s what you tasted like the first night we slept together. ”
Our breathing is more erratic than it should be, but his brown eyes are full of so much tenderness.
I don’t hesitate to stretch up and capture his lips with my own.
It’s a delicate kiss. We always have so much unspoken between us.
Pretending we are okay with exactly what we are doing.
I try my best to translate my gratitude for his quiet kindness through this one kiss.
He rests his forehead against mine and I can feel his lips lift in a fragile smile. My hand is resting on the back of his neck, his soft curls tickle my skin. “Ready to go dancing?” He lets the words bring us back to a less serious place without breaking the preciousness of this moment.
“You think your dad will dance with me?” He exhales a short laugh, knowing I’m unserious.
“Come on, pretty girl. You have a birthday to finish.” He steals one quick peck before moving to the side to let me pass by him.
Melinda offers to clean up before we all head out to one of my favorite clubs. When we all meet up at the entrance, I pull Eli to the side.
“I know, that was aggressive what I did back there. I’m sorry.” He starts in but I waive him off. Because while he isn’t wrong, I’m happy to now know.
“You have a surprise inside.”
He leans back a little, his glasses falling slightly on his nose as his face scrunches in confusion.
Maxwell motions for us to follow him inside.
After we’re inside, the music vibrates through the air and the lights dance over our faces.
I seek out where I know she is sitting at the bar and smile when I find her already looking at us.
I pull Oliver and Maxie back a little while Eli keeps walking ahead of us. It takes him all of thirty seconds to find her. She moves as fast as she can in her black dress, until she’s in his arms. Eli lifts her up in the air and is wearing the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face.
“Did you know Devyn was going to be here?” Maxwell looks over at Oliver, who just shakes his head.
“I invited her.” I smile as AJ and Rory come up beside us. All heads turn to face me. “He misses her. Look how happy he is.”
“You invited Devyn just to make my brother happy?” Oliver asks.
“No, I invited her because I want a new tattoo and she’s a badass and fun.” I smile up at him, “and because it would make your brother happy.” Eli and Devyn are on their way back to where we are standing.
“Drinks?” Rory motions for all us to head to the bar.
Devyn pulls me into a tight hug. “Happy birthday!” She kisses my cheek and then hugs Oliver and Maxwell. She and AJ just do a weird nod and weak smile thing.
“So, can I crash this tattoo date?” Maxwell gives her his best pout and pleading eyes combination. It’s something that guarantees he will get his way.
“Obviously, Maxie boy. Whatever you want.” She ruffles his hair and Max gets excited, squeezing Devyn again before downing a shot placed before him and saluting us as he disappears into the crowd.
Eli brings Devyn a shot glass and they toast, tossing the shot back.
He spins her around and then pulls her into the dancing crowd.
AJ brings me a shot of tequila and I tilt my head back as she pours it down my throat.
She waves to Rory as we follow suit and enter the dance floor.
Oliver and Rory take a seat at the bar in eye sight of us.
I lose track of songs and the shots in between them.
I know that I need to get out of this jacket before I die of heatstroke though.
I strip one sleeve off at a time, the lights turning fuzzy as I open my eyes to find AJ already grabbing my jacket from me.
It really is such a beautiful jacket. I can’t believe he had it personalized for me.
I can’t believe he let Maxie take over his house with party decorations.
Oliver is such a closeted lover boy. I know he never got to know his mom, but I am certain she is where he gets it from.
I watch AJ shuffle through the swaying bodies to where Rory hasn’t stopped watching her.
But Oliver isn’t with him any longer. I casually turn around, seeking him out.
I scan the crowd and find Maxwell sandwiched between a guy and girl, living his best life.
Eli and Devyn are talking to the DJ. No Oliver in sight.
A hand snakes my stomach, pulling me against a hard chest. A heavy mixture of cinnamon and mint falls around me and I instantly feel settled. His lips come close to my ear and he whispers, “Looking for someone?”
I hum, letting my body lean into his more.
“Someone hot to dance with.” I feel his hand trail down to my thigh and his thumb massage my bare skin.
The music is slow and intoxicating with just a fast enough undertone to keep our bodies moving together seamlessly.
He moves his other hand to bring my free hand up.
His fingers draw a lazy line down the sensitive parts of the skin along my arm.
I feel the goosebumps tiptoe across my body.
His tongue burns the back of my neck as he sucks the skin there.
He hand lifts the hem of my dress a little and my body feels like it’s on fire the more he touches me.
I blame the tequila. His lips trace my shoulder, kissing and nipping.
All while still moving with my body and the beat of the music.
His adoration has my body melting in his arms. My arm barely has the strength to rest on his shoulder as his hand is still slowly moving along my body.
“Oliver?” I gasp out as he bites down on the tender flesh behind my ear.
“Hmm?” I feel his voice vibrate down my skin.
“I’m going to take my clothes off right now if you don’t take me home.” I want him touching every inch of my skin right now with no barriers. I want us to do what we do best.
I feel his chest shake with gentle laughter.
He spins me around so we are facing each other.
“You want me to take you home?” He asks, his eyes searching mine.
I nod frantically. He grips my chin and captures my lips in a bruising kiss.
“Let’s get your jacket.” His hand tangles with my own and he drags me through the people.
AJ and Rory meet us at the door. AJ hands me my coat and they take us back to Oliver’s house.
Oliver pulls me through his front door, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder.
His patience is non-existent as he walks us down the hallway and turns into his bedroom.
He places me down on the edge of his bed and is now on his knees before me.
Lifting my ankle up and placing a soft kiss there before unbuckling my heel and pulling my shoe off.
Then does the exact same with the other foot.
He stands up, unbuckles his jeans and kicks off his shoes.
Socks are torn off next before he shimmies out of his pants.
The shirt he’s wearing is the next to go as he tosses it at me with a boyish smile.
Standing before me in only his boxers, he points to me. “Don’t move.”
Normally, I would move just to push him.
But I’m content laying here on his bed and waiting for him to return.
Which doesn’t take long. He enters the room holding a bowl of cherries directly in front of his dick.
He must have taken off his boxers in the kitchen.
“Not that I’m complaining, but I’m not really in the mood for a late night snack. ”.