"Then you need to be more careful how you kiss me," I said, touching his mouth.
Skyler leaned closer, kissing my fingertips. "I'll be careful with you, but I won't be careful with how I kiss you."
Possession
Skyler and I spent most of Sunday at the beach, fooling around on the blanket and talking about everything from places we'd traveled to the books we were reading. I didn't want to let him go when it started getting dark, but it was Rocco's last night and the Nolans had a family dinner planned.
“Wanna come?” he said, shaking sand from his pillowcases. “My dad can probably add you to the reservation.”
“No, it's okay. You should spend tonight with your family.” The Nolans had grown close again, and I really valued that for Skyler.
“I am spending it with my family.” He handed me my shoes, which had tumbled from the blanket he was folding. “You being there doesn't change that.”
“Focus on Rocco, then. We can talk later.”
And we did, talking on the phone until four in the morning. I sent him the best Youtube videos I'd seen all week; he sent me his favorite new songs. Pieces kept falling into place, tiny incidentals that made us who we were. I liked that he wanted to know the minutiae of me as much as I wanted to know it of him.
The mystery of Skyler Nolan was being swiftly stripped away. While that was one of the things that had snared me when we were younger, it was satisfying to watch it dissolve.
He was real now.
"You're so spun!” Teigan smacked my butt with her textbook as we left Spanish.
“Spun?” Talk about brain fog. Returning to school after a break was always a chore.
"Yah, girl. You've been in la-la land all day. Skyler land.” She tucked the book into her backpack. "I haven't seen you like this in a while."
She was right, of course. Skyler was on my mind constantly these days. “I know. It's gross.”
“It is.”
"You heading home now?" I asked her. Teigan had been staying after school lately, making use of the art studio.
"I think so, yeah. I'm not really in the mood to stay. You working?"
We walked out through the main doors. "Yes, ma'am. Back to the grind."
"I thought you drove?"
I stopped, pecking out a text to my mom. “I did.”
"So is he just meeting you here, or...?"
Skyler was parked beneath his tree at the edge of the lot. I half expected Kai to jump out from the passenger side, or a gaggle of freshman girls to simper on over.
"Oh!" My smile grew. "I didn't know.”"
"Well, I see the two of you have picked up right where you left off," said Teigan, shoving me in Skyler's direction. "Call me later."
"'Kay," I murmured.
He was leaning against the door of the Camaro, hands jammed into the pockets of his work Dickies. Maybe it was some primal, biological thing, but I really liked him this way, all sweaty and gross and hard-working.
"Hi," I said, stopping an inch away. "What're you doing here?"
"It was my turn to pick up lunch for the guys.” He jerked his chin toward the back seat, where there were several bags from a local rotisserie place.
I stepped forward again, so that we were touching.
"I'm dirty," he warned, not making any moves.
“You like being dirty.” Securing my backpack, I leaned against him until his arms slid around my waist. Our lips touched, three times in succession. "And I like you being dirty.”
His eyes went to my mouth. "I'd like you being dirty, too."
I slid my hands in to his hair and kissed him properly, not caring that we were in a crowded high school parking lot. He smelled like sawdust and something metallic; I liked it.
Nudging my face to the side, he kissed my ear lightly. "What are you doing later?"
"I have to work until eight. Why?"
He eyed me, smiling lazily. "Why do you think?"
"It could be anything with you."
"Want me to come over?"
My heart flip-flopped. "Like sneaking in?"
“Or something.” He pressed a kiss to my neck.
"That would be a trip down memory lane," I mused, shivering as a brisk breeze blew by. The tree above us shuddered, releasing a few leaves.
Of course I wanted Skyler in my bedroom. But if his reasons for visiting were the same as they used to be, I wasn't ready to take the plunge just yet. It was going to be hard to stop at kissing now that neither of us were virgins.
"I don't think you should sneak in," I said, pushing my hips against his before pulling away altogether. "Sounds like trouble."
He yanked me close again. "You don't want me to?"
"That's not what I said."
"Mixed signals."
"I learned from the best," I said, jabbing him in the chest.
He grabbed my hand, eyes shining with mischief. “What nights do you have off this week?"
"Wednesday and Friday."
"Come over Wednesday, then. For dinner. And don't say it's a school night.”
"I'd love to," I said. "Just make sure your mom knows I'm coming."
"Done."
"Now go, before your food gets cold," I said, giving him one more kiss.
I was finishing an assignment on Tuesday night when there was a tap at the window. Startled, I dropped my pen. Grabbing my phone, I messaged Skyler.
Pls tell me that's you outside & not a psycho
A beat passed, and then I heard the muted beep of his phone receiving my text. Yanking up the blinds, I opened the window. Skyler smiled up at me. "Why can't I be both?” He climbed in, looking rather pleased with himself.
"I can't believe you're seriously back to this silliness.”
He shrugged out of his jacket, letting it fall to the ground. "You love this silliness," he said, tackling me onto the bed.
I bit back a smile. "Maybe."
"You smell like beer," I said eventually, hiking my leg over his hip. "And cigarettes."
"Was playing pool at Kai's," he mumbled.
“Is he smoking again? Ew.”
“Mm.”
I closed my eyes and pressed closer. His hair was soft, still cold from having been outside. "Tired?"
"A little."
"I wish you could stay here.” Spending an entire night with him, and waking up beside him in the morning, sounded like a dream.
"Don't your parents ever go out of town?" he asked, kissing me before I could answer.
I kissed him back, pulling away before it got too deep. "Not as much as yours do.”
"I really was on my way home this time," he said, almost whispering.
That was probably true; Kai lived a lot closer to me than Skyler did.
I touched my fingers to his almost-beard. "I'm glad you stopped by."
"Even though you told me not to?" He kissed me deeply, and I let him, wanting the same things he did. I knew how good he could make me feel. But, like I'd told Niki the week before, it was so much more than that these days.
“I better go.” He shifted against me, letting me feel how hard he'd become. "Gotta get up early tomorrow."
“Me too.” I sat up, pulling him along.
"I really don't want to go," he added, standing. "But I'll be good."
He paused at the window, zipping his jacket. "Remember the last time I was here?"
How could I forget? My chest hurt just thinking about it. "You left your hat."
He nodded, glancing past me to the bed.
"Did you leave it on purpose?" I asked.
"Do you still have it?"
"Of course I do. I had it hanging off the bedpost for like, a year.”
"That was a pretty intense night," he said, finally jumping out onto the grass below. "You really messed me up."
"I messed you up?" I laughed incredulously. "Well, ditto."
His eyes softened, and he gestured me closer. I leaned down so he could kiss me.
"Night."
"
Night," I said.
It wasn't so hard watching him walk away this time.
"Dinner with his parents, huh?" Mom smiled, looking up from her paperwork. "I'm impressed."
"Why?" I asked, though I already knew. “I've hung out with them before.”
"Skyler just seems a lot more serious this time, a lot faster."
"We lost a lot of time. Still feels like we're making up for it sometimes."
She pressed a sheaf of papers into a binder and started in on another. "Just give yourself time. You went through a lot with Tristan."
"I know," I said. "Anyway, I don't know when I'll be home, but it won't be late. Promise."
"Have fun, honey."
"I will."
"And see if you can get that potato recipe from Olivia."
Skyler and I stopped at the grocery store to get ice cream for dessert. Shopping with him felt domestic, very couple-y. It was fun, even when Skyler's smile made the cute little cashier blush.
"My mom loves your mom's potatoes, by the way," I said once we were back in the car. “She wants the recipe.”
"Yeah?" He pulled out of Publix and gunned it down US 1, passing every other car on the road.
"I knew it was just a matter of time before you got obnoxious with this car.”
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to go slow?" he asked, switching gears as we slowed for an inevitable red light.
My mind drifted toward the gutter. "I have an idea."
"Half the time I'm not even in a rush,” he continued. “I just like the way she feels when I push her."
“I bet.”
"And I really, really like the way she sounds." He grinned devilishly, squeezing my thigh until I squeaked and squeezed his back.
A couple of minutes later we turned down his street.
“So you're sure they know I'm coming, right?” I asked.
“Yeah, they know. My mom's been asking.”
Gladness swelled through me. Olivia could be as intimidating as she could be accommodating, and it meant a lot that she approved of me.
Skyler grabbed the ice cream from the back seat, and we went inside. The house was just as I remembered. Amazing cooking smells wafted from the kitchen, where Olivia Nolan was bending over the oven, an apron on over her business suit.
"Mother,” said Skyler, in an affected accent.
Olivia straightened up, peeling the oven mitts from her hands. "Hi, guys!" She walked right over, giving me a hug. "I am so glad you could finally make it, Rory."
"Thanks! I've wanted to come; it's just been a little crazy."
"Don't listen to her, Mom," said Skyler. "She just likes hearing me beg."
"I do not.”
Olivia laughed, rubbing my arm before going back to the oven.
"Yeah, you do." He smiled, nodding. "I probably deserve it."
"Dinner'll be ready in about ten minutes," Olivia called over her shoulder.
"We'll set the table," Skyler offered, grabbing the utensils from a drawer.
"Wow," I said, following him to the dining room. "Military school did you good."
"Actually, I did this before military school."
"If you say so." I followed him around the table, placing napkins on the place mats.
Phoebe appeared in the doorway, a book in her hand.
"Hi, Phoebe," I said, almost shyly. I knew Skyler and Rocco were crazy about her.
"Hi, Rory.” So she definitely remembered me. "What's up?"
"Nothing. What're you reading?"
Phoebe held up her book. "The Hallowed Space."
"I loved those books," I gushed. "And listen, they get better and better."
"Oh, I know—this is my second read through!" She grinned. "Julian is just..."
"Hot."
"So hot."
"Aaand that's my cue," said Skyler, pulling Phoebe's hair on his way back to the kitchen.
She brushed him off. "You know they're making movies, right?"
I nodded. "I saw that."
By the time we sat down to eat, we'd already dream-casted the movies and added each other on Snapchat.
"You sitting next to me or your fellow Julian lover?" Skyler teased, pulling out a chair for me.
"I guess you,” I said, smiling as Phoebe rolled her eyes and sat across the table. "They're great books, though.”
“I'll pass.”
Ian breezed in to the room, just as handsome as I recalled.
"Rory," he said warmly. "How've you been?"
"I'm great, thanks. How are you?"
"Ah, been better. I've been on the phone for the past hour, dealing with hospital politics. It never ends," he said, sighing. "Anyway, you're a senior now, right?"
"Yep! Just a few more months to go, thank God."
"What schools have you applied to?" Ian asked.
I listed my top five. "They're mostly around the Tampa area."
Olivia glanced at Ian, and they shared a knowing look. "Funny, most of Skyler's schools are in the Tampa area as well," she said.
"We tried to get him to consider a couple of schools down south, but he wasn't interested," Ian added.
“There's nothing I want down south," Skyler said. "For the tenth time."
“Rocco's down south,” Olivia said, tempering a smile.
Skyler nodded once. "Yup."
Ian chuckled, shaking his head. "Well. That's that."
Despite their gentle ribbing, Skyler's parents seemed relaxed about his choices. Without looking up, I placed my hand on Skyler's thigh. He curled his fingers around mine, keeping it there for the rest of the meal.
After thanking the Nolans for dinner, I waved good bye to Phoebe and left with Skyler. We didn't go far, just to his apartment. Nervousness fluttered through me. We'd been dancing around getting too physical, but we both wanted it.
"Do you want something to drink?" he asked, shutting the door behind us.
"Not yet." I patted my belly. "Too full."
He dropped his keys on the counter. "You want the tour?"
"Of the apartment?" I asked, amused. "I'm pretty sure I've seen it."
"Come on," he said, ignoring my comment. "This is the living room."
It was all one room. "And the kitchen."
"And the dining room." He led me down the tiny hall.
"The bathroom's neat, for a guy."
"That you can attribute to military school.” He pushed the last door open. “My room.”
It was different than his old room; neat, sparse. Cool blacks and soothing grays. I wondered if he'd cleaned it up for me. Drawn to the bookcase lining one wall, I wandered inside. "Are these actual photo albums?" I asked, running my finger along the spine of one rather large book.
"Yeah. You want to look at them?"
"Do you have any of military school?"
"A few.” He sat on his bed, and I joined him, letting my shoes slide off so I could tuck my legs up. “Most of them are online, obviously, but I printed my favorites."
For the next hour he showed me the part of his life I'd missed. I saw a couple pictures of Margaux, but always within a bigger group; most were shots of him and his boys. The same faces popped up over and over, and he stopped often to share anecdotes of their shenanigans.
"You were almost as bad there as you were here." I giggled.
"Not almost," he said, closing the album. "I was. I got it together, though. I wanted that car."
"Of course."
"Of course," he mimicked, putting the book aside.
"How come there aren't more of your ex?"
Skyler lay back, hands under his head. "Is that why you wanted to look at pictures?"
Actually, I was glad there hadn't been more. "Not really."
"We broke up; why would I need pictures of her?"
"She had pictures of you on her Instagram."
He scrubbed his hand over his face, laughing wryly. "And you have pictures of what's-his-name."
"Ha! You did look at my pictures," I cried triumphantly, p
oking his stomach.
He yanked me down by my hands and pinned me flat on the bed. "Of course I looked. Just because I barely update mine doesn't mean I don't use it to keep track of other people."
"Stalker."
"Only yours." He leered suggestively.
"Ew," I said, but I brought him closer, slipping my hands under his shirt so I could really feel him.
He rolled us over so that I was on top, and I curved to kiss him, fitting my mouth to his. The first kisses were exploratory, and then they got a little sexy. Skyler's hands drifted down my back, settling on my butt. He squeezed, bringing our bodies closer, and I moaned, feeling the contact in a new way. "You feel so good," I whispered, dragging my lips to his neck.
"Shit," he groaned, practically writhing beneath me. "What are you doing?"
"Payback," I whispered, sucking the skin a little harder.
"You're gonna leave a mark."
"I already did," I said smugly, thumbing the faint bruise. "You used to do this to me all the time.”
But he'd already moved on, pulling me back down. We kissed and kissed, one of his hands tangled in my hair and the other creeping up my shirt, grazing my stomach and cupping my breast. "Tell me to stop," he said, massaging his thumb against my nipple.
"Stop," I whispered, glad he'd asked. Because I didn't want to stop, but making out like this was a slippery slope.
He returned his hands to the safe zone of my shirt and sat up.
"I want to," I said, leaning in to kiss his chin. "But I want to go slow.”
“Slow's good.”
“We just got back together, you know?"
"So we're together?" he asked, playing with the ends of my hair.
"You tell me," I said, cocking my head. I wanted to hear him say it.
"Yeah."
"Yeah, what?"
Rolling his eyes, he grabbed my butt with both hands and brought me even closer. "We're together. I want you to be my girl."
“Yeah? Why?” I teased, but inside I soared.
"Because...I love you."
My smile faded. I tipped forward, resting my head on his shoulder. I mean, holy crap. I never thought I'd live to see the day.
"You know that, right?"
I closed my eyes. "Remember when you first told me you were being sent away? And I came over? I remember talking on your bed, and being so sad. Like I'd never been that sad. And I loved you, but I didn't want to tell you."
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