toothbrush.” Emily smiles. “You’re the
best friend ever.”
I give her a
hug. “Be safe.”
“I will.”
“And have fun.
But not too much.”
Emily goes to
the bar and whispers something to Alex who quickly distributes
drinks and then yanks her out the door as if he’s been waiting for
the invitation for hours. At last, Nicholas, Joel and I are alone…
in a crowd of, oh, two hundred or so. The only impediment to my
night has been removed. There are no more excuses.
I turn back to
find the boys standing there looking at me. And the look I’m
getting is telling me they’re thinking the same thing I am.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The trip from
the bar to my place takes no longer than six minutes but it feels
like the longest walk of my life. The boys have made small talk the
whole way but it’s not helping. Even being insanely smashed is not
helping. The butterflies are back and this time they have teeth.
They’re gnawing at my insides inflating the indecision I thought
I’d so cleverly squashed. I’m soooo nervous.
Okay. That’s
an understatement. I’m freaking out, packing it.
As we walk,
Nicholas takes hold of my hand. His skin is warm and his palm soft.
He looks down into my eyes; his own filled with a mix of desire and
understanding. I feel calmer. Well, not as likely to throw up. The
nerves are still there, I mean, I’ve never done anything like this
before so I suppose it’s understandable. But, somehow, just from
the way he’s looking at me I know it’s okay and I definitely know I want to do it. It’s the getting started part that’s the most
difficult.
“It’s okay,
Sadie,” Nicholas says, softly. “We don’t have to do it if you don’t
want to.”
I squeeze his
hand. I can’t speak. I’m overwhelmed by the fact that even though
he knows I’m a sure thing he’s letting my feelings be the guide for
this. He’s not pressuring me into anything.
On the other
side of me, Joel is quiet, too. He’s walking very close, I feel his
arm graze mine every now and again and I wonder what’s going on
inside his head. Is he jealous that Nicholas is holding my hand? Is
that why he’s so quiet when he’d usually be making some silly joke?
I don’t want him to feel that way. I want us to be okay. I slide my
free hand into the back pocket of his jeans. I can feel the firm
muscles of his butt moving as we walk. He clenches them on purpose
under my fingers and I catch a glimpse of his cheeky grin. There’s
nothing wrong. He’s simply going with the flow, letting this thing
we’re starting run its course.
We reach the
beach gate and I remove my hand from Joel’s pocket to unlatch it.
As I do, I stumble on the step, partly because it’s dark and partly
because I may be a little drunker than even I realised.
Instantly, there are two sets of hands on my body, steadying me,
and as I right myself Joel moves in front of me leaving Nicholas to
take up the rear.
“Did you hurt
yourself?” Joel asks.
I do a quick
mental check. My knee is stinging but I muster a smile. “I’m fine.
Tripped on the stupid maxi dress.”
Joel’s eyes
skim my body. I feel them travelling along my bare arms, over my
collarbone and down my cleavage towards my ribs. I’m wearing no
bra; the thin straps of the dress don’t allow it. His eyes come to
rest on my breasts and instantly my nipples harden like he’s just
kissed them. I don’t move. I simply swallow and wait to see what
he’s going to do.
“I think the
dress is hot,” he says. “But you look so much better without
it.”
He yanks my
waist towards him. My body is against his. The gentle thumping of
his heart is in sync with mine. Behind me, Nicholas has moved
closer too. He’s flipped my hair over my shoulder to expose the
skin at my neck. My back is nestled against his chest and he’s
squeezing my hand tightly as his lips dip into the space where my
shoulder meets the top of my spine.
Then Joel’s
lips are on mine. They’re hot
best friend ever.”
I give her a
hug. “Be safe.”
“I will.”
“And have fun.
But not too much.”
Emily goes to
the bar and whispers something to Alex who quickly distributes
drinks and then yanks her out the door as if he’s been waiting for
the invitation for hours. At last, Nicholas, Joel and I are alone…
in a crowd of, oh, two hundred or so. The only impediment to my
night has been removed. There are no more excuses.
I turn back to
find the boys standing there looking at me. And the look I’m
getting is telling me they’re thinking the same thing I am.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The trip from
the bar to my place takes no longer than six minutes but it feels
like the longest walk of my life. The boys have made small talk the
whole way but it’s not helping. Even being insanely smashed is not
helping. The butterflies are back and this time they have teeth.
They’re gnawing at my insides inflating the indecision I thought
I’d so cleverly squashed. I’m soooo nervous.
Okay. That’s
an understatement. I’m freaking out, packing it.
As we walk,
Nicholas takes hold of my hand. His skin is warm and his palm soft.
He looks down into my eyes; his own filled with a mix of desire and
understanding. I feel calmer. Well, not as likely to throw up. The
nerves are still there, I mean, I’ve never done anything like this
before so I suppose it’s understandable. But, somehow, just from
the way he’s looking at me I know it’s okay and I definitely know I want to do it. It’s the getting started part that’s the most
difficult.
“It’s okay,
Sadie,” Nicholas says, softly. “We don’t have to do it if you don’t
want to.”
I squeeze his
hand. I can’t speak. I’m overwhelmed by the fact that even though
he knows I’m a sure thing he’s letting my feelings be the guide for
this. He’s not pressuring me into anything.
On the other
side of me, Joel is quiet, too. He’s walking very close, I feel his
arm graze mine every now and again and I wonder what’s going on
inside his head. Is he jealous that Nicholas is holding my hand? Is
that why he’s so quiet when he’d usually be making some silly joke?
I don’t want him to feel that way. I want us to be okay. I slide my
free hand into the back pocket of his jeans. I can feel the firm
muscles of his butt moving as we walk. He clenches them on purpose
under my fingers and I catch a glimpse of his cheeky grin. There’s
nothing wrong. He’s simply going with the flow, letting this thing
we’re starting run its course.
We reach the
beach gate and I remove my hand from Joel’s pocket to unlatch it.
As I do, I stumble on the step, partly because it’s dark and partly
because I may be a little drunker than even I realised.
Instantly, there are two sets of hands on my body, steadying me,
and as I right myself Joel moves in front of me leaving Nicholas to
take up the rear.
“Did you hurt
yourself?” Joel asks.
I do a quick
mental check. My knee is stinging but I muster a smile. “I’m fine.
Tripped on the stupid maxi dress.”
Joel’s eyes
skim my body. I feel them travelling along my bare arms, over my
collarbone and down my cleavage towards my ribs. I’m wearing no
bra; the thin straps of the dress don’t allow it. His eyes come to
rest on my breasts and instantly my nipples harden like he’s just
kissed them. I don’t move. I simply swallow and wait to see what
he’s going to do.
“I think the
dress is hot,” he says. “But you look so much better without
it.”
He yanks my
waist towards him. My body is against his. The gentle thumping of
his heart is in sync with mine. Behind me, Nicholas has moved
closer too. He’s flipped my hair over my shoulder to expose the
skin at my neck. My back is nestled against his chest and he’s
squeezing my hand tightly as his lips dip into the space where my
shoulder meets the top of my spine.
Then Joel’s
lips are on mine. They’re hot
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