Page 19 of The Promises We Were Never Meant To Keep

7

I WANT

SEPTEMBER 2006 – 15 YEARS OLD

Ifeel him before I hear him. The scent of earth and boy invades the space around my locker, and I inhale him into my lungs as he says, “I’ve got practice today.”

I swallow my disappointment, forcing a smile as I shove another book into my bag. “Cool. I can tag along and watch, if you want?”

He makes a noise. Air moving between his teeth. A hiss. “Can’t.”

Closing my locker, I turn. He clocks my frown before I’ve thought to hide it. “Why not?”

“Coach says no more girlfriends in the stands during practice.”

“Oh.”

“Too much of a distraction.” He crooks his neck to brush the tip of his nose along the bridge of mine in the way I’ve really come to love. He makes another noise, but this one is low and deep and achingly hungry. Since our first kiss, there have been a lot of kisses, and somehow, I always want more.

I’m never fully satisfied.

Another low sound crawls from the deep of his throat. “You have no idea how much you distract me.”

“Well.” I’m breathless now. “I guess I better go home then.”

“Can I come see you later? After practice?”

I’m delighted by the chase his eyes give to the motion of my tongue as I glide it over my lips, wetting them. “If you want.”

His voice drops in pitch. “I want.”

“Okay.” I shift to slide the strap of my backpack over my shoulder. “I’ll see you later, then.”

“Yeah.”

I grin. “Promise?”

He crowds me until I feel the locker at my back. His hand lifts to cradle the side of my neck, his thumb sliding along the line of my jaw. With another soft stroke of his nose against mine, he breathes, “I promise, Faye.”

“Okay.”

His eyes shutter closed for a moment. “I already talked to Tate. You can catch a ride home with him, if you want.”

“Okay.”

He brushes his lips against mine. It’s a kiss, and yet not a kiss. Then he pulls back. “Come on. I have to grab my gear from the car, anyway. I’ll walk you.”

Holt links his hand with mine, tugging me from the locker in time for me to see Shyanne pass us in the hall. She rolls her bright blue eyes, flipping long blonde hair over her shoulder. She’s pretty and confident enough to make any girl feel insecure, so I don’t rag on myself too hard when I feel a flutter of less when she throws me a subtle sneer.

Since school has started, Shyanne has made no secret of her feelings for me, and they aren’t good. In her mind, I’ve stolen her boyfriend and infiltrated her tight friend group. It sucks, because she’s actually really nice, but it is what it is.

I’m not giving up Holt to make her happy. No way.

At the thought, I hold his hand tighter.

He peers down at me. “Something wrong?”

“No,” I lie.