The Keeping Score Box Set

by Tawdra Kandle

  Quinn sighed. “And yet here we are.”

  “Yeah. In spite of ourselves.” I skimmed her hair away from her face, combing my fingers through the strands. She shivered and pressed against me, grinning when my body responded.

  “And here I thought this walk was supposed to help you from getting stiff.” She ground her pelvis into mine.

  “Mia.” I groaned her name. “I hope you know what you’re starting here.”

  “Oh, like you just brought me under here to reminisce.” She rose on her tip-toes to kiss me, her mouth opened as her tongue sought mine. “This has make-out spot written all over it.”

  “Mia Quinn, you’re a vixen.” I dropped my hands to her ass, slipping my fingers under the material of her bathing suit bottoms. “As if I would think such a thing.”

  “Ha! As if you wouldn’t.” Her hands left my neck and roamed down my back, tracing the lines of muscle. “It is really private under here. I mean, I can hear people, but I don’t think anyone would notice us.”

  “I think you’re right.” I ventured one finger a little further, parting her folds, nudging her legs a little further apart. “God, babe. You feel so fucking good.”

  She hummed, letting her head drop back. “You make me feel so fucking good.”

  Since Quinn rarely dropped an F-bomb on me except when she was really revved up, I knew she was right there with me. I shifted, moving my hand to go under the front of her bathing suit for better access.

  “Turnabout is fair game, right?” She eased down the elastic of my trunks and grasped my cock.

  “Feels damn fair to me,” I muttered, my eyes dropping half-way shut with pleasure. “Are we doing this?”

  She paused. “Aren’t we? Why else would you bring me under here? To talk politics?”

  “Oh, absolutely not.” I palmed one of her boobs, brushing my thumb over her nipple through the slippery cloth. “I didn’t bring you under here to talk at all.” I covered her lips with mine and kissed her, stroking my tongue over the inside of her mouth.

  Quinn moaned, and her hand on my dick picked up speed. She had the perfect pressure, the exact right moves . . . and when she slid her fingers down to cup my balls, I was pretty sure my eyes rolled back in my head.

  Above us, footsteps suddenly sounded, and muted voices floated overhead. I hesitated, lifting my face away from Quinn’s for a minute to see if she was going to be spooked.

  But she only smiled at me. “It’s wild, isn’t it? They’re right above us, and they have no idea we’re here, with your fingers inside me and my hand on your cock.”

  “Wild.” I found her clit with my thumb and pressed, thrilling to the sound of her quick intake of breath. “You coming against my hand right now? Right this very fucking second? Even wilder.”

  Without breaking my movement, I plunged two fingers within her, picking up speed. Quinn let go of my dick, using both hands to grasp my shoulders, holding on for dear life. Her mouth fell open and her breath came in little pants. I watched her face in fascination, and the hottest, most erotic moment of my life was seeing her fall apart while my fingers drove her out of her fucking mind.

  When she began to come down from the crest, I yanked down her bathing suit bottoms, gripped my dick and slid into her in one fluid movement. Quinn cried out, riding me. I was fairly sure that her fingers were going to leave marks on my shoulders, but I didn’t care at all. Her tight channel was still contracting from her last orgasm, and standing here, feeling her grind on me, I knew I wasn’t going to last long.

  I fumbled with her top, pulling down the triangles of cloth that covered her beautiful tits until her nipples were free. Bending to capture one tempting pink peak with my mouth wasn’t easy, but God, was it worth it. I sucked hard, scraping my teeth over her.

  “Harder.” She half-growled the word through clenched teeth. “Do it harder. Take me harder.”

  I obeyed, rolling one nipple between my finger and thumb and then, when Quinn began to groan, dropped both hands to her hips and began to pump into her faster, rougher.

  Quinn began to make little cries, and I knew she was close. I let myself go, digging my fingers into her ass and roaring as I came hard, erupting deep within her.

  For the space of several beats, we stood clinging to each other, trying to breathe. In the silence, we heard the shuffle of feet on the boardwalk above us, and a woman’s voice.

  “What was that?” She sounded suspicious and faintly alarmed. “Did you hear that, Ed? It sounded like . . . like someone, uh, in pain, maybe.”

  Quinn’s eyes went huge. “She heard us!” she whispered. “What’re we going to do?”

  “Shhhh.” I put one finger to her lips, trying not to laugh. “Just wait.”

  “Ahh . . .” A man—Ed, I assumed—cleared his throat. “Ah, Frannie, I think it was just kids. Down on the beach, I mean.”

  “But it sounded like it came from right under us.” Frannie was persistent, that was for sure. “Should we check?”

  “You know how sound travels on the beach, hon. Come on, let’s set down these chairs. My back is killing me. What did you pack in this beach bag, anyway?”

  Frannie and Ed’s feet tromped over our heads, down the steps and away, and in my arms, Quinn shook in a fit of giggles.

  “Oh, my God, Leo.” She buried her face in my chest. “What if Ed had said they should look under here?”

  I shrugged. “I think Ed knew the score. I think he had our backs.” I smirked. “So to speak. He wasn’t going to let her find us.”

  “Lucky us.” Quinn rested her cheek against my chest, her warm breath fanning out over my skin.

  “Yeah, I’d say lucky us. Or at least lucky me.” I stroked her hair. “That was the most . . . damn, babe. You were fucking hot. If this is our last time together until you come see me at Carolina, we went out on top, for sure.”

  “Hey.” She stroked my cheek. “We’re not going out at all. This was one step, one small good-bye before we don’t have to say good-bye ever again. Right? That’s the plan.”

  “That’s the plan, Mia.” I brushed a kiss over her lips. “Doesn’t make it easier. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel like that path isn’t way too fucking long right now. Doesn’t mean I don’t wish it could be different, and the good-byes were over forever.”

  “They will be, baby.” Quinn framed my face with her hands, and her green eyes were serene and certain. “One day, one day soon, all the good-byes will be in our past. And then you’ll be stuck with me forever.”

  I leaned my forehead against hers. “I hope that’s a promise.”

  “It’s got to be tough.”

  I was zoning, so when Gia spoke as she dropped into the chair that Leo had just vacated, I was startled. She settled herself down, stretching her legs out in front of her.

  “I’m sorry, what’s tough?” I glanced at her sideways.

  “That. Them.” Gia nodded toward Quinn and Leo, who were walking at the edge of the ocean, holding hands and looking like an advertisement for the perfect summer. “Seeing them together. It can’t be easy for you.”

  “Why would you say that?” I let my hand trail through the warm sand next to me, drawing designs.

  “Oh, come on, Nate. I know how you feel about Quinn.”

  That stung a little. I knew Gia and Quinn were friends, and I wasn’t dumb; I realized girls talked to other girls, and there was a fairly high likelihood that they talked about boys. But I’d never really considered that Quinn would share anything with Gia about me. About us.

  As if there were an us, which of course there wasn’t. Not beyond the friends us, anyway.

  “Did she say something about me and—her? To you?”

  Gia hesitated and then shook her head. “Not in so many words.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” One thing I’d learned about Gia early on in our acquaintance: like me, she was honest to a brutal fault. She wouldn’t sugarcoat things when it came to Quinn.

  “It means that s
he didn’t so much share it with me as I asked. Not that it was much of a secret, Nate. Not to anyone who spends any amount of time with the two of you.”

  I frowned. “Why did you ask?”

  Gia was silent for a minute. “If I tell you, do you promise not to laugh?”

  Now I was curious. “Yeah. As much as I can, anyway.” Honesty was a trait I could appreciate in others mostly because it had always been a part of me, too. I’d try not to laugh, but I couldn’t swear it wouldn’t happen.

  “Okay, that’s all I can ask of you.” Gia stared straight out into the waves, and the tip of her tongue darted out to lick her bottom lip. I realized she was nervous about whatever she was about to say. “Last fall, I kind of had . . . a crush on you. And I asked Quinn if there was something between you two. She got uncomfortable, said that there wasn’t anything on her side, but . . . like I said, not so many words, but I got the picture.” Gia finally glanced my way and glared at me. “You said you wouldn’t laugh.”

  “I said I’d try not to. And I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing at the idea of you having a crush on me.”

  Now temper flared in her eyes. “Why? You don’t think someone like me could have those kind of feelings?”

  “What? No.” I scowled. “I don’t even know what you mean by that. I don’t think someone like you would be interested in a guy like me.”

  “Oh, really? You’re crazy then.”

  I snorted. “What would make you—you know. I mean, God. Look at me.” I pointed to my legs, covered in the lightest-weight sweatpants my mom could find. No way was I wearing a bathing suit and exposing my legs in public, but I couldn’t handle jeans in the heat. This was the best compromise, but damn, I hated it. Hated that I had to compromise in the first place. Hated that I couldn’t run down the beach like all the other guys who took for granted what they could do. And now Gia was claiming that she was interested in me? Yeah, I found it a little hard to believe.

  “Why was I interested in you? God, Nate. First of all, the hotness of you.” She pointed at me. “You must not look in the mirror very often. You’re a hottie, dude.”

  I felt my face getting warm, and this time it had nothing to do with the sun. “You’re crazy.”

  “I’m not, but if I am, I’m not alone. Didn’t you know how many girls were hung up on you in school?”

  “Oh, yeah, the school gimp, the one all the other guys tease and harass. Yeah, I’m a real prize.” Sarcasm dripped from my words.

  “Okay, Nate, I get it. You’re talking about one part of you. I’m saying, some people see more than that. Some people see your gorgeous eyes, your hair, the way you’re built . . .” She paused. “And it’s not just your looks, bud. When I got to know you, I liked you even more. You’re a genuinely decent guy, and let me tell you, that’s rare. You’re not a douchebag. So yeah, I got a little moony-eyed over you. But I saw how it was. And I wasn’t going to get between you and Quinn.”

  I wasn’t sure how to respond to all of this. Gia had become a good friend, someone who I felt comfortable with—not quite the same as Quinn and Leo, but close. Still, I wasn’t interested in her as a girlfriend. There was only one girl in the world for me, and she’d just strolled off down the beach with my other best friend.

  “Which brings us back to my main point.” Gia dug her heels into the sand, making twin trenches. “Quinn and Leo. That can’t be easy for you.”

  I lifted one shoulder. “It wasn’t before. Now . . . after everything Quinn’s gone through, I’m just glad to see her happy, you know? Or at least as happy as she can be right now. If Leo brings her comfort, or a little peace, I’m fine with that.” I took a deep breath, wincing a little at the twinge of discomfort. “It wasn’t like she’s ever going to see me like that, anyway. It’s always been Leo for Quinn.”

  “And it’s always been Quinn for you.” Gia nodded. “I’m sorry, Nate. If you ever need someone to vent to, or a shoulder—I’m here for you.” She grinned and winked at me. “And don’t worry, I’m not going to try to jump your bones. I got over you last year. Now I’m okay with being your friend.”

  “Thanks, Gia.” In a rare—for me—gesture of affection, I reached over and laid my hand on her arm. “I’m glad we’re friends. I don’t get to know people easily, but you’re worth the effort.”

  “Nate Wellman, that may be the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.” She covered my hand with hers and gave it a little squeeze. “Can I admit without it sounding creepy that if I’d known how awesome your mom is, I might’ve tried harder to get your attention? You seem like you have a very cool family. You’re lucky.”

  I nodded. “I guess. But I’m an only child. I always thought maybe sisters or brothers might be cool.”

  “I guess the grass is always greener, but siblings can be overrated. Believe me, being the youngest of six has definite drawbacks.” She grimaced, and I remembered that Quinn had mentioned Gia’s parents had been divorced for a long time and still battled over the last kid left at home—that would be Gia.

  “You’re not close to your sisters and brother?”

  Gia sighed. “Not very. They all fled the family home as soon as they could, and that left me to deal with the parentals. I thought it would get better once my mom and dad finally called it quits, but then they decided I was the monkey in the middle. The only time my mom noticed me was when my dad wanted me, and then she pitched a fit.” She reached down and scooped up a handful of sand. “She’s close to my older sisters. And she likes my brother’s wife.”

  “I’m sorry.” Gia was always so bright and brash, I’d never stopped to wonder what she was like, deep down.

  “Oh, you know. It is what it is. I’m glad to be going to college and getting away from all of them.”

  “All the way at Birch?” I teased. The college Quinn, Gia and I were going to attend was only about ten miles from our town.

  “My father lives in New York. My mother’s selling our house in the fall and moving up to Trenton to be closer to my oldest sister and her kids. So yeah, Birch is going to be perfect.”

  “I can’t wait.” It was true. I’d fought long and hard to get my parents to agree that I could live on campus. My favorite long-time doctor had had my back on the issue, and I’d had to make a number of concessions: I’d be living in a handicap-accessible room, so that I didn’t wear myself out climbing steps. I’d take the campus car service, designed specifically for students like me, to get to classes more than a few steps from my dorm. And I’d keep up with my regular doctors’ appointments, check in with my parents frequently, and avoid tiring myself.

  Even so, I was starving for any taste of freedom. Move-in day was circled on my mental calendar, and I was counting the days.

  “Yeah, I feel the same. I don’t know how psyched Quinn is, though. Leaving her mom could be rough.” Gia stretched and yawned. “Not to mention Leo being down at Carolina. We’re going to have to pay attention to her, you know? Make sure she doesn’t get too down. Keep her busy.” She leaned up, slid her dark sunglasses down her nose a little and regarded me over the top of them. “You with me?”

  I smiled. “Sure. Operation Distract Quinn is a go.”

  “Awesome.” She pushed her glasses up again and sat back in her chair. “And I’ll do my best to keep my dirty thoughts about your hot bod to myself, ‘kay?”

  I made some sort of sound in my throat, a noise between choking and groaning. Gia laughed and kicked up her feet.

  “Oh, this is going to be fun.”

  Leo left early on Sunday morning. He’d packed up all his stuff for college before we’d come down to the shore, and his dad brought it down on Friday night, so Leo could stay with us until the last minute. And by us, of course, I meant Quinn. The closer we got to Leo’s departure time, the more they clung to each other and the more desperate Quinn’s smiles became.

  On that last morning, we all stood outside in the muggy, hazy air, everyone making uncomfortable small talk and stupid jokes as
the clock ticked on.

  Finally, Joe clapped a hand on his son’s shoulder. “You better get on the road, bud. Long drive ahead of you. And what time are you supposed to meet Tate?” Leo was sharing the drive with another Carolina freshman football player, this one from Gatbury, the next town over from us. He’d met Tate Durham over the summer, through Leo’s friend Matt Lampert, and they’d hit it off. Tate was one of the few decent football guys I’d met, and I noticed he seemed to have a good influence on Leo.

  “We’re meeting at exit two at nine o’clock.” Leo blew out a long breath. “Yeah, I need to get going.” He hugged my mom and Carrie, and then he and my dad thumped each other on the backs, joking about man-hugs.

  When he got to me, he paused a minute and then wrapped one arm around my shoulder, drawing me close.

  “Watch out for our girl, okay? Don’t let her get too sad. Make her laugh.” His voice was low and thick with emotion.

  “I got this, Leo. Don’t worry.” I pulled back a little and looked him in the eye.

  “Yeah, you got it. I know.” He managed a smile. “Thanks, Nate.”

  We all stepped back a little as he and his mom said good-bye. Lisa held her son’s face in her hands, speaking some kind of wisdom meant only for his ears. Leo enveloped his mother in a tight embrace, and even I got a little choked up.

  That left only Quinn. My mother cleared her throat and began to shepherd all of us back into the house.

  “Okay, people, let’s give them some privacy. Let’s get breakfast started. Who’s going to be my sous chef today?”