Between the Sheets by Julie Prestsater

for him were
real, and I knew he had feelings for me too.
    That night at prom, when our dates
ditched us, I discovered just how much he felt for me when we made
love for the very first time on a soft plaid blanket under the
stars at the top of a deserted street most of us called Hookup
Hill. Silly me, I talked myself into thinking it was just a pity
lay on his part. He couldn’t possibly share the same feelings I
had, could he?
    But years later when I looked into his
eyes after I introduced him to Nick, I knew I was wrong. He did
have feelings for me. Real feelings. A lot of feelings. And it was
too late.
    Ty had come home for a quick visit for
the Fourth of July holiday. Shel and I were home for the summer.
Nick and I had been dating for months but he had never met my
family. So I invited him to join us. But, I didn’t know of Ty’s
plan to make an appearance. I can still remember the punch in my
gut when I saw him and his long stare as he took in Nick’s arm
around my waist holding me tightly against him.
    What sucked ass about that
bittersweet day was that I had just realized Tyler Gelson, the
great love of my life, really did love me and there wasn’t a damn thing I could
do about it. I had moved on. I loved Nick. Not the way I loved Ty,
but it was something. That had to be the hardest goodbye of all. It
was like I was saying goodbye forever.
    Thankfully, I got a second
chance. And this time, I’m going to do everything I can so I never
have to say goodbye to Tyler again. From now on, it’s going to be
a till next time kind of thing.
    Ty lets out a breathy sigh, and my
gaze focuses on his chest rising up and down.
    This gorgeous man is mine. And I’m not
going anywhere. Geographically, yes. But my heart will always be
with him, no matter how many miles are between us.
    I’ve finally got him back, and I’m not
ever letting go.

Chapter 10
    Melissa
     
     
     
     
    It’s summer, yet I wake up shivering.
I’m home now, and I’m alone in my bed without the warmth of Ty’s
lean, hard body lying next to me. Not exactly what I want to dwell
on as soon as I wake up this morning. I’d rather think about our
two weeks of record-breaking heat together. And I’m not talking
about the temperature in the Bay Area either. Every minute with him
was amazing, falling into a routine, enjoying each other’s company,
both inside the bedroom and out.
    My phone rings, the sound of the
Friday Night Lights theme song filling my room. I reach across my
fluffy comforter and pillows to snatch my phone from the charging
station on my bedside table.
    “ Hello.”
    “ Hey, Melly Belly,” Ty
says, his voice cheerful so early in the morning. “How are you
still in bed? I woke up hours ago. I can’t sleep without you next
to me.”
    My heart squeezes. “I can’t
either.”
    “ You should have just
stayed.”
    I run my hand through my hair. “Yeah,
I should have. I don’t have anything going on except for taking
care of my pooches. I miss them and I’m sure my mom can use the
break.”
    “ When do you get to pick
them up?”
    “ My mom’s finally back from
her vacation so I’m going to pick them up today. They’ll keep me
busy, at least. I’m probably gonna go insane watching the clock
tick till I see you again.” There’s an awkward silence as I
consider what to say next. “And when exactly is that
again?”
    He clears his throat. “Not for at
least three weeks. I volunteer at the local teen center. We need to
get the classes up and running before I can get away. I’m kicking
myself for taking this gig. I wanna jump on a plane and be there
with you.”
    “ Soon, babe. You know
you’re going to have a great time with those kids. I’m glad you’re
doing it again.”
    “ We both have a soft spot
for struggling adolescents, don’t we?” I can sense the smile in his
eyes. “There’s just something about the ones who are a little rough
around the edges.”
    “ Project?” I
tease.
    “ No. That’s not it. I