Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 73794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“That’s fine.” Sean gestured at the engine parked nearby. “And a good idea. Anyone else want to grab a pair?”
Of course I was first in line to grab a pair of the noise-canceling defenders and shot Caleb a grateful look. He didn’t have to do that, especially after our tense discussion about the kiss.
Somewhere between the night sky lighting up with the town firework show and the end of our double shift, a restless, needy thrum built up in me. My body hummed with untapped energy, more potent than simple adrenaline. I knew exactly what would cure it too.
And I equally knew better than to go after it. It was late, well after midnight, and nearly all of Mount Hope’s limited bar scene would be closing up shop. Excuses. Things I told myself to justify hanging around the parking lot, waiting for Caleb to emerge.
I knew better, yet I still called out, “Caleb. Wait up. I wanted to thank you for earlier. The defenders helped.”
“You’re welcome.” His expression was unreadable as he flexed his hands against his side. Like me, he seemed far too awake for what was essentially the middle of the night.
“You heading home?” I asked in a husky whisper.
“Why?” Caleb met my gaze, eyes sharp and unwavering. “Ask what you really want to ask, Tony.”
“Wanna go somewhere?”
Chapter Eight
Caleb
I met Tony’s shifty gaze, not letting him escape. I knew precisely what he was after, and much as I wanted it, I wasn’t about to let him play pretend.
“What sort of somewhere?” I asked. The parking lot was downright chilly for early July, an almost eerie stillness after the long night of fireworks. “It’s past closing time everywhere other than the all-night diner, and even if there was a bar open, I’m technically still on call for the whole holiday weekend, so I can’t drink.”
“We don’t have to drink.” Tony’s voice was husky. Seductive. Yeah, he knew. “Or go anywhere in particular.”
“Well, that’s good because you live in a house full of people.” I kept my tone pragmatic. I wasn’t about to make this easy on him. And also, logistics seriously were a thing. “Nosy people. And I’ve got a brother who is mercifully home asleep, thanks in part to your brother-in-law chasing all the boys home around midnight.”
“Noted.” He nodded curtly and glanced over at my truck, which was ironically parked near the older compact he drove. “I was thinking…a drive?”
I had to laugh because no way did he actually want a drive. “Well, as long as you’re thinking like a teen on the make, how about you take me to one of your old make-out spots.” Might as well go ahead and get to the point. “I didn’t go to high school around here, so I don’t know the good places to park.”
“I didn’t mean…”
“Yeah, you did, Tony.” Trying to call his bluff, I resumed walking toward my truck, clicking the unlock button on my keys. “And it’s been a long-ass day in a long-ass week, and I’m more than happy to go there with you, stupid idea and all, but I need you to own up to wanting it.”
As I’d hoped, he followed fast on my heels, approaching the passenger side.
“There’s a place I could show you.” His tone was cagey as he glanced around, likely to make sure we didn’t have an audience to notice us leaving together. Apparently satisfied, he nodded and hopped into the passenger seat. “Take a left at the hospital, heading east out of town.”
Despite his instructions, I didn’t put the truck in Drive, instead turning toward him. “Words matter. You wanna regret this later, that’s on you. But you don’t get to pretend like I made you or like oops, we ran out of gas and our lips collided, oh no.”
“Well played.” Tony chuckled, a warm, rich sound that filled the truck cab. “Yeah. I want this. And much as you hate the word, I’m curious. Like I said, I know I can be turned on by guys. But I’ve never…and I just want to know for sure.”
“That kiss wasn’t convincing enough?” I shook my head but drove out of the parking lot, turning toward the hospital.
“I might need a few more repeats to be certain.”
“Fair enough.” I shrugged. Tony might be curious about same-sex action, but my own curiosity was more about the novelty of making out in a car, finding a remote make-out spot. I’d missed out on a lot of backseat fumbling in my awkward teen phase, and my body thrummed with anticipation. This was a terrible idea, but most of my body couldn’t care less.
We drove in weighty silence for a few miles until Tony gestured at an upcoming unmarked turnoff.
“Right here.” Tony gestured, the moon and my headlights the only illumination of the country road. The turnoff led farther into a dark, forested area along a bumpy path. “This road dead-ends at an old quarry. Not particularly scenic, but generations of Mount Hope teens have found their way up here.”