el _ The next morning, I wake up to a team of men from Lopez Luxury fixing the old dock. Hammers bang against the new wooden planks, the old ones nowhere to be seen.
How did you sleep with all that noise?
Cami screams my name, but I’m too focused on my mission to give her anything more than a quick morning kiss before I run out the back door. I run through the grassy law, my lungs heaving with each ragged breath.
“Wait!” I move my hands in the air.
One of the workers looks up before pointing to the others. A few stop hammering while others start talking among themselves. “Where is the old dock?” I press a hand to my chest as I try to regulate my breathing.
“They told us to get rid of it.”
Damn, cal. “Where did he go?”
“Our guy just left with the dump truck thirty minutes ago.” My stomach sinks. “He left?”
The man nods.
Oh no.
“Come in now,” Cal orders from behind me, sending a shiver down my spine.
I go around. “You destroyed my dock.”
“I’m about to destroy a lot more if you don’t get your ass in the house.” Her voice is a deep roar that I feel in my gut.
I get goosebumps when I look at it. “What happen?”
“What isn’t?” Her gaze rakes over my body, driving her point home. I look down and check my pajamas for the first time this morning.
No wonder my chest hurt while running. It’s not like I bothered to put on a bra before running around the grass like a madwoman. “Oh shit.”
“Oh, shit is right. Let’s go.” He motions for me to lead the way. We only make it a few steps before someone whistles behind us. I look over my shoulder to see who it is. Even without contacts, I can make out Ernie Henderson, the resident redhead. the city and nosy postman, walking towards me with a box in his hands.
He stops to greet me. “You look good, Castillo! Do you want to run a little more for me?
That little…
Ernie isn’t even interested in women, but if it means getting Cal off my back, he’ll make fun of me in a heartbeat. She’s like his mother.
Damn Isabelle.
I raise my middle finger in the air, causing my shirt to rise. A cool breeze hits my now exposed rear. Cal growls as he takes off his hoodie before pushing it over my body, making a mess of my hair in the process.
Its smell surrounds me like a cloak. I surreptitiously sniff a second time, only to be met with Cal’s narrowed eyes.
“That?”
“Enter. Now.”
I can’t move fast enough for Cal because he smacks my butt, making my skin sting with his palm print.
I pause my climb up the small hill. “What the hell was that for?”
“I just felt like it.”
“Did you just feel like punching my ass?” I lift the hoodie to assess a red outline of Cal’s palm on my left buttock.
His eyes darken. “Do you want it to match the other one?”
“No!” My heart calls me to lie, beats quickening at the thought of Cal following through with his offer. We’ve never explored something like this in the past, but the idea excites me.
Would he be the type to beat my butt until I couldn’t sit straight for a week or would he be the type to take his time?
Alana Valentina Castillo!
The fantasy fades, although the lingering effects of arousal remain.
I don’t even realize Cal is dragging me inside until I’m standing in front of him, my back pressed against the door and his arms caging me. He leans closer, making my heart go crazy in my chest.
If I stood on tiptoe, our lips would touch. They separate at the idea.
His gaze falls to my mouth before returning to my eyes. “What were you thinking coming out dressed like that?”
“I needed to save the pier.”
“Save the pier? “It was falling apart.”
“But…” My shoulders slump. “There was a special board.”
His eyes become big and round as he processes what I said. “Did you come out for that?”
So, he does remember.
How could I not? It was the beginning of everything.
Cal and I were having a nice day by the lake until I ruined it by opening my big mouth about the date I have tonight with Johnny Westbrook, Wisteria High’s star running back.
Cal’s sharp jaw clenches. Since she returned to the lake for the summer before her sophomore year of college, things have been different. He ‘s different. I’m not sure what happened during his first year, but he doesn’t look like the kid I grew up with anymore. The bones in his face are more defined and his muscles are larger than before, making his shirt look too small.
This is lime. Your best friend. I repeat the same mantra as always, but today it doesn’t work the same. Maybe it has something to do with the way the lake reflects in his eyes or how he smiles every time I laugh at something he says.
“Are you really going to let me kiss you tonight?” Her question comes out accusatory.
“So what if I am? I’m almost seventeen years old. Everyone else in my grade has been kissed while I’m biding my time until I pick up a pack of cats and call it a life.
“Wasn’t he the same kid who used to stick straws up his nose and pretend to be a walrus?”
Looked at him. She was six years old. And now the memory will live in my brain forever.
Damn, cal. I bet he did it on purpose.
His hands clench at his sides. “Cancel your plans and let’s hang out.”
“No!”
“Why not? We can order pizza too. I’m even willing to get all those gross toppings you like.”
I consider it for two seconds before shaking my head. “Tempting but no.”
“Are you really that interested in going on a date with him?”
“I am now that you are so against it.” I cross my arms against my chest, which only makes my breasts stick out even more. Her gaze moves quickly over my body.
All it takes is a single look for the muscles in my stomach to clench.
He looks away when our eyes connect. “Really mature.” “If you have something to say, say it.”
He doesn’t even pause before saying, “I dare you to kiss me.” I blink twice before my lips start working. “That?”
“You hear me. I dare you to kiss me.” He pulls his Swiss army knife out of his back pocket and draws a single strike diagonally across the other four vertical lines below the letter L he carved into the board years ago. Compared to the now five strikes Below the L, your side has at least ten more, each with a fond memory of something I challenged you to do.
My hands shake against my lap. “Are you serious?” “As serious as you are about going on this date.”
“But-“
“Don’t tell me you’re scared,” he mocks with a smile.
“I’m not afraid.” I’m just… surprised. Cal has always kept things platonic between us.
It’s a kiss, not a proposal. Stop giving it so much importance.
“Good.” I close my eyes and lean forward. My mouth gently brushes against his before I pull away. The kiss ended as quickly as it began, but my lips still tingle from the pressure of his against mine.
His eyes narrow. “Is this how you plan to kiss him?”
My cheeks heat up, embarrassment quickly turning to anger. “What’s wrong with how…”
I’m interrupted by his lips crashing into mine. The air between us crackles, sparks fly as our mouths mold together.
Everything about my first kiss is amazing. The buzz builds in the lower part of my belly. The slight change in his breathing as my arms wrap around the back of his neck so I can pull him closer. His fingers dig into my hair, trapping me as he kisses me like he’s spent his entire life dreaming about it.
Cal kisses like he’s afraid it could disappear at any second, so he wants to prolong it.
My fingers brush the patch of skin between his hair and his shirt. He takes a breath, stopping our kiss to press her forehead against mine. “Wool”.
“Wool”. Cal’s voice sounds completely different.
Deeper. Rougher. Sexier. “Hello, Lana,” she says, more sharply. shit _
The memory disappears in the blink of an eye. I press a hand to my lips as I look at Cal.
“Why did you want to save the board?” Her question comes out soft. My gaze falls along with my self-esteem. “It was stupid.” “Tell me,” she pushes.
My mouth opens, the truth is on the tip of my tongue.
Because no matter what has changed between us, the memories tied to that piece of wood will always have a special place in my heart.
Sharing what the board meant to me feels like betraying myself and the anger I’ve held on to for years.
It doesn’t matter anymore. She’s gone now.
I clear my throat. “Whatever. It’s not like it matters anyway. It was just a stupid piece of wood.”
His face wrinkles. I slide under his arms, leaving him staring at the space I once occupied.
***
I type a new message for Cal, tapping my screen as if he’s personally offending me.
You have another package.
Cal’s response is instant.
That’s for you. My mouth opens.
Did you order something for me?
I owed you after scaring you last night. I’m torn between opening the package or letting the cardboard box rot in the garage. Curiosity wins over common sense, so I grab some scissors from the kitchen and open the box.
My hands shake as I pull out a new baby monitor.
Oh Lord.
My heart betrays me at that moment, beating painfully in my chest.
It’s just a baby monitor , I try to rationalize to myself. Except it has nothing to do with the baby monitor and everything to do with the fact that Cal cares enough about me to replace the one that fell in the water.
Honestly, I’m not sure he ever stopped caring.
How am I supposed to hate the man when he does thoughtful shit like this?
You can never hate him and you know it.
No, but at least the thought of hating him makes me feel like I’m in control.
However, this feeling? The one that makes my heart beat wildly in my chest and my head spin with ideas about him?
I need to close that shit fast .
