by Abbi Glines
“Good morning, sunshine,” Sawyer said as I stumbled out the door. We had overslept, and there had been no time to make coffee.
My eyes focused on the Styrofoam cup in his hand as he extended it to me. “You drink it black, right?”
“Come here,” I said, grabbing a handful of the black T-shirt he was wearing until he was close enough for me to kiss. I laid a very loud smack on his mouth before taking the cup from his hands. “You’re my hero.”
“If I’m going to get that kind of greeting, I may just start showing up every morning with a cup of coffee in hand,” Sawyer drawled in a sexy voice as he slipped his hand around my waist.
“We need to load up. Back away from the girl, lover boy, and help out,” Jake grumbled as he took my backpack and sleeping bag from the front porch and headed to the Suburban.
Sawyer chuckled and picked up the extra duffel bag that Ash and I had packed with a few things we couldn’t fit in our backpacks. He looked at me and raised his eyebrows in question.
“The backpacks didn’t have enough room in them. Besides, that isn’t all mine. Ashton and I both needed a few more things,” I explained.
“You’re breaking a camping rule, but because you look so amazingly hot in those little hiking shorts, I’ll overlook it.”
I put the steaming cup of coffee to my lips to hide the silly grin on my face. Who would have known Sawyer Vincent could be so good at flirting?
“What’s with the duffel?” Toby demanded as Sawyer threw it up to him so he could strap it on top of the vehicle.
“Ash and Lana had a few things that wouldn’t fit in their backpacks. Shut up and strap it down,” Sawyer replied, and turned back to look at me with a cocky grin.
“Kayla tried this, and I made her take it back inside,” Toby complained.
“Ain’t our fault you’re a sucky boyfriend, Toby. Now strap the duffel down,” Beau said in an annoyed tone as he walked around from the backside of the Suburban.
I made my way over to the SUV to get in but stopped because I wasn’t sure if I should assume I was riding in the front with Sawyer. I searched the yard for Ashton, but it was still dark out and the front porch light only lit up part of the yard.
“So, you’re Sawyer’s new girl?” an unfamiliar voice asked from behind me. I spun around to see a petite girl with a headful of pale blond hair that stuck out in wild ringlets everywhere. Her eyes were a bright blue, so startling that she had to be wearing contacts. She had a golden tan that didn’t at all match up with the pale color of her hair. But she was really pretty.
“Um, yes. Well, no. We’re just friends,” I replied.
She rolled her eyes. “You aren’t just friends. Sawyer doesn’t kiss his friends. If he did, I’d be lined up waiting for my turn. I’ve been his friend since kindergarten and not once has he kissed me.”
“Oh” was the only response I had for her. It was too early, and I hadn’t finished my coffee yet. My verbal skills were lacking.
“I’m Heidi. Kayla is one of my best friends. We cheered together all four years of high school. Jake and I have an on-again-off-again thing going. Right now it’s on.” She winked at me and took a sip from her Thermos.
“You getting in? I think Jake and I are going to take the back”—she paused and looked around—“unless Beau and Ash are taking it. Don’t think I’m up for the Beau Vincent love marathon the whole way.”
“Are four people sitting in the back? Won’t that be crowded?”
Heidi frowned as if that had just dawned on her. “Oh, I guess we can’t all sit in pairs.”
I still really wasn’t sure where I should sit. Sawyer came up beside me and opened the passenger side door. “You’re sitting up here with me. If I have to drive the whole way, I at least deserve to have you to entertain me.”
That answered my question.
Heidi tilted her head back to look at Toby and Jake strapping luggage down on top of the Suburban. “So how are we sitting? I’m ready to get in, and I don’t know where to go.”
“Ash and I are in the back. Someone will have to ride back there with us if we’re all going to fit,” Beau informed her as he opened the door and helped Ash inside.
“Jake, you’re in the back beside Beau. Heidi can sit with Kayla and me in the middle,” Toby piped up.
“Why do I have to get stuck in the back by Beau? Why can’t you?” Jake snapped.
“Because Kayla is my girlfriend. Heidi is your fuck-buddy,” Toby replied, jumping down and checking the straps one more time with a hard tug.
“Hey! Don’t call me that!” Heidi yelled.
Toby shrugged. “Sorry, Heidi, I call ’em like I see ’em. If the two of you ever make it exclusive, I’ll be sure to change my opinion.”
“What I can’t believe is you just said fuck in the pastor’s yard.” Jake smirked as he walked around the corner of the vehicle toward us.
Sawyer leaned down and whispered in my ear. “They’re going to argue about this for a few more minutes. Go ahead and get in.”
He held my hand and helped me up. I loved how he made me feel special when he did little things like that. “I’ll stop by a Starbucks and get you some more coffee as soon as we get out of Grove,” he promised before closing the door.
SAWYER
Lana was holding her fresh cup of coffee close to her nose, smelling it at her leisure. I’d decided to drive through Mobile just so we could find a Starbucks. She was much more awake and alert than when she’d staggered out of the house earlier in a sleepy haze. I’d wanted to cuddle her up and take her back to bed, but that wasn’t something I could act on. She’d drawn a line with us physically, and I was trying to stay behind that line. But the more time we spent together made it harder and harder.
“Why is it that Starbucks coffee just smells better than anything you can make at home?” she asked, cutting her eyes over in my direction with a flirty bat of her lashes. If it weren’t for the fact that I already knew the girl had no clue how to flirt, I’d think it was on purpose. The more I got to know her, the more I realized that she really had no idea how tempting she was.
“It’s a head game. They do an excellent job of marketing,” I replied, reaching for my cup and taking a long swig before setting it back in the cupholder.
“Hmm . . . I don’t know. I’ve tried buying the Starbucks brand at the grocery store and making it at home, but it doesn’t smell the same.”
I started to reply, but Jake yelled out. “There’s not enough room in this backseat for me and Beau! We’re cramped up. Heidi and I need to switch spots.”
“Just stick Ash in your lap, Beau, and scoot over,” I replied, glancing over at Lana, who was staring at me with a surprised look in her eyes. Winking, I reached for her hand.
“What is it?” I asked.
She just shook her head and smiled at me.
“Ah! God, that is so much better,” Jake said, groaning loudly. “Throw me my pillow, Heidi. I’m going to need to go to sleep. Ash in Beau’s lap is going to get out of hand soon enough, and I’d rather not watch.”
My stomach tightened at his words but only for a second. It hadn’t bothered me to suggest Ash sit in Beau’s lap, but the idea of him touching her still got to me. Threading my fingers through Lana’s, I focused on the road and the fact Lana would be cuddled up to me in my tent for the next three nights.
* * *
The tents were all set up, and the fire was blazing brightly by the time the sun set over the Cheaha Mountains. The girls had all hiked to the bathrooms to take showers. We’d had to move camp closer to the public bathhouse than I preferred, but Ashton had pouted when I suggested we move out another mile. Beau had dropped everything in his hands, and without looking to me or anyone else for agreement, he began setting up camp. Ash had never pouted to me when she wanted her way. It was strange to see her voice an opinion. It was even weirder to watch Beau give in to someone so easily. She really was different with him. She didn’t bend to his will and ask him wha
t he wanted first. The free-spirited little girl who would rather throw water balloons at cars, roll yards with toilet paper, and sneak out of her bedroom window to go comfort the trashy barmaid’s son was back. She’d just needed Beau to help her find herself again. A lump formed in my throat at the realization that it was my fault she’d lost herself. I walked out of the firelight and into the darkness to stare out at the shadowed nature around us. Pressing a hand against my chest, I rubbed hard, forcing the emotion tightening my chest to go away.
Just when I thought things were getting better with how I felt about Ashton, something always happened to send me spiraling back into the pain. Granted, it was getting easier, and it wasn’t anything near what it was in the beginning—but it wasn’t completely gone. I feared it never would be. Ashton would always be my biggest mistake. Not because I loved her but because I had lost her.
“You good?” Beau’s voice broke into the silence around me. Dropping my hand from my chest, I stuck it into my pocket and nodded without turning to look back at him.
“What’re you doing out here? Getting away from Jake’s bitching?”
“Just looking around,” I replied.
Beau stopped beside me. From my peripheral vision, I could see him staring out in the same direction as me.
“You seem happy with Lana. Ash said Lana really likes you.”
I could hear the silent warning in his voice. If I hurt Lana, I hurt Ashton, and Beau wouldn’t be okay with that.
“Lana is great. She knows where I stand. August will be here soon, and I’ll be going to Florida and she’ll be going . . . wherever it is she’s going.”
Beau turned his head to look at me. “You don’t even know where she’s going to college?”
“No. It’s never come up.”
Beau shook his head. “Once, not too long ago, you were the good brother. You were careful with everyone’s feelings. It was fucking ridiculous how polite and thoughtful you were. You’ve changed, man. Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I miss that guy. He was someone I always admired. I couldn’t be proud of my choices, but I was always so damn proud of yours.”
The anger that had surfaced instantly was gone with that last sentence. Beau turned and walked back to the campsite, leaving me there to think about what he’d said. Knowing he’d been proud of me made my eyes burn. That wasn’t something I ever imagined my tough-ass brother admitting.
Chapter 14
LANA
I sat on my sleeping bag, checking my text messages that had magically appeared when we’d made it to the bathhouse. Reception out there in the wilderness wasn’t so good. But there was wi-fi at the bathhouse, which was both surprising and kind of funny. Sawyer, Beau, and Toby were still putting out the fire and making sure all our supplies were packed up safely for the night. We’d sat around the fire and roasted weenies and marshmallows. Sawyer had packed a few cold things in a cooler that we had to use that night because by the next night the ice would have melted and everything would’ve been ruined. I didn’t even want to think about what we’d have to eat tomorrow night.
Dad: I need you to call me.
Dad: Please, call me, honey. I can’t seem to get through to your phone.
Dad: I called the house. Sarah told me you were camping. Be safe and call me as soon as possible.
I wasn’t ready to talk to him just yet. I’d have to call him once I got back to Ashton’s. But right then I needed more time.
Mom: You do not have to go to New York City.
Mom: Why didn’t you tell me the slut was pregnant?
Mom: I do NOT want you going up there. Your father is completely screwing up your life. Just ignore him. He can rot in hell for all I care.
Mom: Don’t you call him! Sarah said he called asking where you were. And you didn’t tell me you were dating SAWYER VINCENT! I’m so excited for you.
I’d finally managed to have something that had been Ashton’s. My mother adored Ashton, and most of my life I’d had to hear how perfect Ashton was and how I should try to be more like her. It’s no wonder I was so mean to her when we were kids. Shaking my head, I deleted the rest of her texts without reading them.
Jewel: You decide on what to do about college yet and have you even spoken to your dad about the money?
Jewel: You can ignore me, but when you’re stuck in Alpharetta, commuting to the junior college while everyone else is off living a real college experience . . . you’ll wish you’d done something!
She was right. I needed to talk to Dad about the money I needed. I’d gotten a small scholarship, but if I was going to go to an out-of-state college, I needed help financially. I’d been accepted and my registration was paid. The trouble was that, due to my dad’s income, I couldn’t get any extra money. I hadn’t applied for loans in time, and I needed help.
The tent flap opened, and Sawyer ducked inside, grinning. “Waiting up for me?”
My heart fluttered, and all worries of school were pushed aside. “Yes.”
“I had to slay all those hungry black bears circling the tent first,” he teased.
I started to reply when he yanked his shirt over his head and his very well-defined bare chest was inches from my face. Swallowing hard, I focused on breathing properly. His abs were so perfect that they looked unreal. I mean, I’d seen him shirtless before but never this close up. His cargo shorts hung on his hips. Even his hips were defined. The small patch of dark hair that trailed from below his belly button to beneath the waist of his shorts made me gulp. Suddenly it was very, very hot in the tent, and I needed someone to throw cold water on me or fan me.
“Lana.” Sawyer’s voice broke into my thoughts, and I lifted my eyes from his tantalizing flat stomach to his meet his gaze. Oh my. Licking my lips nervously, I tried to think of a response, but Sawyer was laying me back and covering my mouth and body within seconds. His lips were gentler than the look in his eyes had been. I gasped as his bare chest brushed the thin material of my tank top and his tongue was in my mouth, teasing, tasting, and driving me crazy.
I needed to feel him. Sliding my hands up his arms, I felt him flex. Loving the powerful feeling that came with the knowledge I could affect him with just a touch, I continued my exploration of his muscular back. I grazed his mouthwatering abs with my nails, eliciting a groan from him. His mouth left mine, and he began kissing a trail from my jawline down to my neck. The closer he got to my chest, the heavier my breathing became. Holding himself over me with one arm, he took his other hand and traced the neckline of my tank top with his finger as he watched me closely. I knew he was waiting on permission to go farther, and although I knew letting him go any farther wasn’t a very good idea, I couldn’t tell him no. The needy gleam in his eyes was impossible to deny. For fear my voice wouldn’t work, I leaned up and into his touch in response. His eyes widened in surprise, then a glazed look came over them as he lowered his head. He kept his eyes on mine until his mouth pressed onto the top of my cleavage, which was showing just above the neckline.
His green eyes held my attention as his tongue darted out and took a small lap at the swell of my breast then trailed along the top until it met the crease between the two of them. One big hand slid underneath the bottom of my top and left a sizzling hot trail up my stomach until it stopped at the underside of my bra. Something close to a whimper escaped me, and that was all the encouragement Sawyer needed. His hand slid over the lace of my bra, where he found the front clasp and quickly unsnapped it. I closed my eyes tightly as I felt both my breasts spring free. No one had ever touched me like this.
When his calloused hand covered my right breast, I almost shot straight up. The jolt that went directly to the small ache between my legs shocked me. He eased my tank top slowly up my body. If I were going to stop him, then that moment would have been the time. I opened my eyes and started to say something, but his dilated pupils and awed expression stopped me. Instead I leaned up and lifted my arms as he took the tank top and bra off me. This was it: my first time topl
ess in front of a boy. And it wasn’t just any boy; it was the only one I’d ever imagined doing this with. Every fantasy I’d ever conjured up about Sawyer Vincent touching me held nothing to the reality of it.
“Lana,” he whispered, staring down at me. I shifted, opening my legs so that he rested between them and his arousal pressed directly on the ache between my legs.
“Oh my god,” I said, moaning loudly, and Sawyer’s mouth was on mine. His slow, sweet kisses were gone and he consumed me with a wild urgency. My body bucked against his as if it had a mind of its own, and this time, Sawyer groaned. Both of his hands covered my bare breasts. He rolled each nipple between his thumb and forefinger, sending my world spiraling out of control. His mouth smothered my response to him, but at the moment I didn’t care. It was as if someone had shot fireworks off in my body. I clung to him, afraid I might be falling somewhere I couldn’t come back from. The pain had ricocheted into a pleasure I didn’t know existed.
As I slowly came back to Earth, I realized two things. Sawyer was no longer touching my chest. His hands were on either side of my head, handfuls of the sleeping bag underneath me tightly in his fists. His head was buried in the curve of my neck and shoulder, and he was breathing deep and hard. His body was held rigid over mine, and I carefully unwrapped my legs from around him where I’d been holding him in a viselike lock. Sawyer didn’t move or relax. Worry and embarrassment at my reaction to what we’d been doing started settling in. Was he okay? Had I just had an orgasm?
His warm mouth pressed a kiss to my neck, and I shivered underneath him. “Don’t,” he demanded in a hard whisper. I stilled, instantly worried I’d done something else wrong.
We lay there for a few more minutes in silence, and my concern began to grow.
Finally he slowly lifted his head to let go of his death grip on the sleeping bag and push himself up off me, careful not to put any pressure between my legs. Humiliation washed over me when I saw him reach for my tank top. Without saying anything, I let him put it on me. He pulled it down over my bare chest and stomach then quickly let go of it and sat back on his sleeping bag. I’d done something wrong. My stomach felt sick.