Senior Week Kiss

by Maggie Dallen

  I gave myself a stern glare in the mirror. But it would not happen again.

  I swear to God, I caught a mischievous twinkle in my eyes as my lips started to twitch upward—not unless I made it happen. In that moment I knew exactly how Dr. Jekyll must have felt when he met Mr. Hyde.

  Disturbing didn’t even begin to cover it.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” I said, already reaching over to end the call.

  “Tell the hottie I’ve got his address and I’ll be there in a heartbeat if I don’t hear from you,” Beth was shouting as I hung up the phone.

  I let out a long exhale as I threw some cutoffs and a tank top over my bathing suit. I tried to drown out the nagging guilt that was yelling at me. What are you doing? You’re supposed to be here working, getting things ready.

  But surely one little dip in the ocean wouldn’t hurt anything. Besides, I had an insider who was helping me, and I had all tomorrow morning too.

  The litany of thoughts kept up as I opened the bathroom door and came back to the living room to find Jax, Bob, and Willie waiting for me on the couch.

  All three wore amused smirks that made me wary.

  “Tell your friend the hottie says she’s welcome at our apartment anytime,” Jax said. Smug was an understatement. He was so satisfied with himself I didn’t know whether to smack him or kiss him again.

  Okay, I totally knew which one I wanted to do. But I was too busy putting the pieces together to do either.

  Willie leaned forward with a grin. “Tell me, Catherine, did you find the perfect kissing spot?”

  I groaned and let my head fall backwards to avoid their mockery. “You guys heard everything, didn’t you?”

  Bob was the one who answered. “Sorry, Catherine. We should have told you that the walls in this place are made out of paper.”

  All three of them were laughing and when I looked in their direction. At least I hadn’t gushed about that kiss, right? It could have been worse.

  They were waiting for me to respond so I grabbed one of the beach towels Jax had sitting by the door and turned to him with an expectant look. “Come on, hottie. Are we swimming or not?” I headed for the door. “I’ve got other plans to get to, you know.”

  Chapter Four

  “Tell me again about those other plans?” Jax said.

  At least I thought that was what he said. It was hard to hear when water kept lapping at my ear. After spending ages playing in the surf, we’d moved beyond the breakers to the gently bobbing sea and I had just discovered the miraculous joy that was floating in salt water.

  I was weightless, my face lifted up to the sun. This might be heaven. “It’s so relaxing here,” I murmured.

  He was close to my side. While he could stand, I’d been treading water and I’d discovered it was just so much easier to float.

  There was probably a life lesson there.

  He moved beside me, a warm comforting presence in the water. I was grateful for the rippling waves his movements created because his nearness was the one thing keeping me from worrying that I was going to drift out to sea.

  I let myself imagine for one moment that I was alone in these vast depths. The water lapping at my ears drowned out the noise of the kids on the shore and for a second I could feel it—what it would be to be lost at sea, just me and the fish and the whales and the sharks…

  I jerked myself upright so quickly I sputtered on some saltwater that splashed into my mouth as I’d gasped.

  Jax gripped my waist, holding my head above the water as I caught my breath.

  “You all right?” His concerned gaze met mine and I couldn’t breathe all over again. We weren’t alone…but we might as well have been. No one around us was close enough to pop this bubble of isolation and even if they were, I wouldn’t have noticed them.

  I couldn’t look away from those eyes, not for anything in the world.

  His hands on my waist were strong, the heat from his body overwhelming as he drew me closer—not so close that we were pressed together but close enough that I wanted to be.

  Badly.

  I couldn’t quite seem to get enough air in my lungs and my breathing grew shallow and frantic as I clutched at his shoulders. Soon all I could hear was my own short breaths and his labored exhales, as though he too were struggling for control, if not over his lungs than over his body which seemed to tense and flex beneath my hands. It might sound cheesy but it made me feel like I was tempting my luck with a newly domesticated animal. He was under control…for now, but if I gave him the slightest sign of wavering, he would pounce.

  The thought of exactly how he would pounce had me licking my lips.

  His gaze followed and he let out a quiet groan. “You are killing me here, Cat.”

  I stared at him, thrown off-kilter by the gruff intensity in his voice that was so at odds with the laid-back demeanor I’d come to know.

  I finally managed to tear my eyes away from his dangerously hypnotic gaze but the traitorous things fell to his lips instead.

  Not better, really. In fact, staring at his lips only intensified this rush of heat that had me aching for his touch. I wanted to close the distance so badly between us that my body acted on its own.

  It was so easy in the buoyant water to just let myself float toward him. To let that ever-present force field between us have its way.

  I didn’t think it through before I gave in. My bare thighs brushed against his, my breasts pressed against his hard chest. His groan was joined by my startled gasp as a shock rippled through me at the contact.

  Our breath tangled as we brought our heads even closer together so we were so close it was impossible to resist.

  And yet, he held himself still. Beneath my hands I felt his shoulders hard as a rock and his long, lean body rigid with tension.

  He wouldn’t kiss me. He’d said so and he’d meant it.

  I licked my lips again. Which meant that if I wanted this I had to make the first move.

  If I wanted this. The thought was almost laughable. I’d never wanted anything more, but this new and unfamiliar wanting—this needing ache that seemed to fill my body and render my mind useless—it was terrifying in its power.

  That fear was the only thing I could hold on to because reason sure as heck wasn’t coming to my aid.

  “I want to kiss you,” I said. The words just came out of me and I felt a flush all over that was only partly due to this inferno raging inside of me.

  “But?” Jax said, his voice hoarse with need.

  “But…I’m scared and I shouldn’t and I can’t think straight and I don’t know what I’m doing and—”

  “Shh.” Jax tilted his head forward until his forehead rested against mine.

  I was an idiot. I was also a neurotic, type-A weirdo who’d just ruined the sexiest, most intimate moment of her life by opening her stupid mouth and letting out all the crazy.

  But then Jax’s arms wrapped around my waist and I was caught up in a hug that nearly knocked the wind out of me with its ferocity. I let my head drop onto his shoulder and wrapped my arms around his neck and then we stayed like that, in an embrace that was terrifyingly intimate since we were barely clothed and pressed together from head to toe, but also wonderfully and sweetly comforting.

  Barely clothed or not, it was a hug, and Jax kept his hands on my back and his lips safely away from mine.

  The feelings that coursed through me were mixed at best. I was relieved but disappointed, satiated but aching for more.

  When Jax eased his arms from around my waist and set me on my feet in a slightly shallower section, I was relieved.

  I also wanted to cry.

  I’d missed a moment—something life-changing and inalterable. But then again, maybe I’d avoided a mistake.

  Because it would have been a mistake, wouldn’t it? This guy was hot, yes. And maybe he was nice and funny, and yeah we had a lot of fun together but…

  Wait, where was I going with this?

  Right
, he was fun, but he was also temporary. I was on vacation, for heaven’s sake. Everyone knew summer flings didn’t last. And I knew that I wasn’t the type who could do anything less than a relationship.

  So yes, Jax was tempting. He made me feel beautiful and fun and…and…and loveable. He didn’t seem to get annoyed by the things I did that had always driven Ted nuts, like obsess and overanalyze and make too many plans for the future.

  But maybe that’s because this was only temporary. Maybe he could afford to find my craziness entertaining and cute because he knew he’d never see me again after this week.

  I stared down at a piece of seaweed that floated past and tried not to get too bummed by that thought.

  See? That was how fun I was not. I could take a perfectly lovely fling with a perfectly hot stranger and turn it into a depressing thought. Way to go, Catherine.

  “We’d better get you back to those other plans,” Jax said, taking me by the hand and leading me to shore.

  He wasn’t mean about it, just resigned. And I felt equally resigned as we got back to shore and dried off, tugging on some clothes so I could get back on task.

  I’d strayed off course but it wasn’t too late to get back.

  “What do you think your friends would say to skydiving?” Jax asked suddenly as he led the way toward the boardwalk.

  I stopped short, horrified by the suggestion but relaxing immeasurably at the turn toward safer topics…like my plans for my friends and classmates. “You’re kidding.”

  He arched his brows. “I wasn’t, actually, but I’ll take that as a no.”

  I shook my head. “No way.”

  He grinned. “Fair enough. How about water skiing?”

  I relaxed some more. “Yes, that sounds way more to their speed.”

  He threw out a few more options and by the time we reached the boardwalk I had a game plan for my friends that involved a party boat—but not the cheesy music and food kind that we’d crashed. Instead he told me about one that took you out and gave lots of options like snorkeling and banana boat rides and water skiing. Basically, something for everyone.

  I was in the middle of filling out the paperwork to reserve our spot on the boat when Jax surprised me. “What about a late-night cruise?”

  I blinked up at him. “You mean in addition to the party boat?” I frowned at the form in my hand as I calculated costs. “I don’t think I’d have enough money in the budget for the whole class, but I suppose some of my friends might be into the idea and—”

  “I meant for you and your ex,” he said.

  I stopped writing and looked up at him.

  He was serious, his expression bored and impassive. Then he added, “Sorry, I meant your boyfriend.”

  Guilt had my stomach twisting into knots. If he was my boyfriend than I’d cheated on him with that kiss, and in my thoughts. Oh how I’d cheated on him with my thoughts. “He’s my ex,” I said forcefully. Then, when I realized how that sounded, I quickly added, “For now, at least.”

  One of his eyebrows twitched slightly but that was it. That was all the reaction I got.

  “So,” he said, leaning against the counter casually, like quizzing girls he’d kissed about their plans to win back their boyfriends was a daily occurrence. “What do you think? A romantic cruise could be the perfect place for a perfect kiss that reminds him what he’s missing.”

  I blinked down at the form and hurriedly jotted down the remaining contact info and handed it over. When I turned back to Jax, I gave a little shrug. “Yeah, maybe.”

  “You’re not sure?” He was looking at me but I refused to meet his gaze. “Because I thought it was a pretty romantic place to kiss, didn’t you?”

  I stared at my flip-flops as my face burned. “Are you trying to make me feel bad about that?”

  “No.” He said it so quickly I believed him. “Hey, look at me.”

  I glanced up at him and his eyes bore into mine. “I would never make you feel bad about that kiss because it was the best thing to happen to me in a very long time.”

  My whole body went into chaos at the sincerity I saw there. My heart raced and my mouth went dry, my legs shook as though they were suddenly too weak to support me any longer, and my arms? I’m not sure I could feel them.

  Shock and happiness and a million other emotions had rendered me numb.

  “Seriously,” he said as he brushed back a lock of hair that had fallen into my face. “I didn’t mean to be a dick about that. I just…” He cleared his throat. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt a connection like this.” He gestured between the two of us. “And that kiss thoroughly rocked my world.”

  I stared at him wide-eyed, my mind a blank as I tried to process what he was saying. After a heartbeat, he gave me a rueful smile. “So yeah, I guess I was acting like a prick because my pride can’t accept the fact that I’m the only one who feels it.”

  “You’re not.” The words just sort of slipped out and when his gaze shot to mine and he arched his brows in question, I cleared my throat like he had done. “You’re not the only one who feels it.”

  His lips curved up ever so slightly but it was enough to make my stomach do a backflip with glee.

  Man, he truly did have a spectacular mouth.

  “But…” I started. But, but…but what? I knew I had a point to make but those ridiculously hot lips just wouldn’t stop being sexy. They seemed to tease me even though he hadn’t uttered a word.

  But what? They said. But nothing.

  “But this isn’t real life,” I finally blurted out. Oh hell, that didn’t come out right.

  Sure enough, he drew his brows together in amused confusion. “It’s not?” He looked around him as though seeing this boardwalk and the passersby for the first time. “What is it then?” He leaned in toward me and gave me a super serious look. “Are we in some sort of virtual reality game?” He narrowed his eyes. “Is this the Matrix?”

  I pursed my lips. I would not laugh. I would not laugh. I would not laugh.

  I burst out in a laugh that made his smile widen to its full extent. It was the full-fledged, honest-to-God grin that made me think that this man had been created solely to make me happy.

  “Shut up, you know what I mean,” I said.

  He gave a little shrug that didn’t agree or disagree. Then he nudged my shoulder as he started to walk past me. “Come on, let’s go check out those perfect kissing spots.”

  His tone was flat but there was something so ludicrous about it when he said it. It was almost impossible not to laugh even though I knew very well he was making fun of me and my plan to win back Ted.

  I hurried after him, watching as the Ferris wheel came into view. That still seemed like the perfect spot.

  Funny how when I tried to imagine kissing Ted up there, I came up empty. There was no giddiness, no excitement. Just a plan.

  “You all right?” Jax asked. “You look a little ill.”

  I nodded. “Fine. I’m fine.”

  Just rethinking everything, that’s all. Just doubting all my life choices and every path I’ve chosen and where I’m headed. Nothing to see here.

  Oh God, that panicky feeling was back with a vengeance.

  “You hungry?”

  I looked up to find Jax watching me closely. Apparently my panic looked similar to hunger.

  “Um, yeah, I could eat.”

  He led the way toward the boardwalk exit, heading back toward town. “Good, because we can eat and knock off one of those items on your to-do list.”

  I grinned up at him. “Perfect. I love an efficient dinner.”

  “See?” he said, nudging my elbow. “I know this about you.” His smile was adorable.

  A-freakin’-dorable.

  I don’t know how else to describe it.

  He was teasing, but his words hit me straight in the chest. It was insane but this guy, who I’d only just met seemed to know me better than my closest friends.

  And Ted? A voice asked.

&n
bsp; I ignored it. I was having fun. For the first time in a long time, I was having fun. I’d had quite possibly the best day I’ve had all year, and the only time I was in danger of caving to that panic which had been plaguing me for months was when I thought about Ted, and our upcoming reunion, and the perfect kiss, and—

  “We’re here,” Jax said. He gave a dramatic wave of his arm and I looked up to see a subtle, nondescript sign above a door. Chez Jacques. This was the nice restaurant I had planned for date night. Not that Ted knew it would be date night, but still.

  I looked down at the cutoffs and tank top I’d thrown over my swimsuit. “Um, I’m not really dressed appropriately, am I?”

  He grinned. “You’ll do just fine for what I have in mind.” He held the door open and ushered me into the bar area, where he quickly introduced me to a cute redheaded bartender who promised to take good care of me while I waited.

  Waited for what? I wasn’t sure. Jax disappeared and I kept myself busy by watching the slow but steady stream of people filing past the bar area. I had the perfect people watching spot and I took turns catching up on social media on my phone and watching as dates, young and old, came in and gave their names.

  The bartender gave me a soda and I fell into a weird people watching trance. Maybe it was the ocean water or maybe the sun, but I had a lovely sleepy lull going on.

  Until he came in.

  Ted. At first I thought I was seeing things. I mean, lots of guys have that short, dirty-blond hair. And lots of guys have a burly football player build.

  But not lots of guys knew Amber Plately, the head cheerleader from my school.

  And that was definitely Amber at his side. He half turned toward me and I froze. Literally froze, with a straw stuck in my mouth and what I’m sure was a deer-in-headlights look on my face.

  He was smiling that smile I knew so well. It was one I hadn’t seen in a while. Not since…well, not since we broke up, and even then it had been a while. He was gazing down at Amber like she was the prettiest girl in the world.

  Like she was the only girl in the world.

  To be fair, she probably was the prettiest girl in this restaurant. No one had ever accused Amber of being ugly. And oddly enough that’s what I was thinking about as I watched the two of them giggling and talking to one another all close together like they were sharing secrets.