I don’t want that, though. I never did. Everything is important.
But it’s time to get over it. Sex is sex. I don’t have to be in love to like how her hands feel and get pleasure from it. And there are enormous health benefits to having sex that I’m missing out on. It lowers your blood pressure, improves sleep, eases stress, and it definitely counts as exercise. It’s bad for my body not to have sex. I’m actually hurting myself by holding off.
I sneak into the High Street garage, pull up my hood, and duck out the back door, jogging all the way to Madoc’s car that I left parked in the alley. I jump in, start the engine, and hit the gas, cranking up the AC full blast as I head out.
The lake is most busy in the summer, of course, and usually busiest this time of year. The weather will be cooling down soon, so it’s the last chance before school starts to soak up the sun.
My parents reopened the old summer camp there about ten years ago, but the cabins will be empty now, the summer sessions all completed and the kids gone home.
It’s a beautiful spot, the falls visible from the south shore, and we’re all usually up there at least twice a week in the summer.
When we’re not working for free at the camp, that is.
The rest of the year, my mom writes, and my dad helps run JT Racing and his own security company. They like to keep busy.
I know my parents are hoping one of us kids takes over the camp someday, though. She loves writing, and he loves working with Jared. Once James and A.J. are grown, they won’t feel as connected to the camp or feel such a need to be there anymore.
They want it to survive, though. They want kids to have what they didn’t.
I head out onto the highway and speed around the curves that give way to cliffs, and under canopies of trees filtering the sunlight. The lake comes into view, and I pull onto a side road, running parallel to the water.
Parking off to the side of the road, I climb out of the car and run across the path and into the wooded area next to the lake.
“This is creepy,” I mumble to myself.
Aro is right. I’m weird.
I’m also pissed, Schuyler’s leaving for college soon, and my pride wants to make her come before she goes.
“No, wait!” someone yells.
Girls laugh, and I step behind a tree, feeling fucking stupid now. This isn’t worth getting caught for.
Schuyler appears, a flash of red as she runs to her car in the lot. “I’m coming!” she shouts as Holly Blake and Millie Bukoski race to the bathrooms.
Schuyler digs something out of her car, the same shade of red as her swimsuit, which I’m sure was entirely planned, and slams the door, locking it.
She reaches behind her and tightens the strap tied at the back of her neck. I pull out my phone.
I see you.
I hear the notification go off and watch her check it. Her head pops up and she starts to look.
Don’t turn around, I text.
She goes still. But she doesn’t leave.
I lean against the tree, watching her.
“I’m here with someone,” she calls out.
I type. No, you’re not.
She could be, but I’m calling her bluff.
“What are you going to do?” she asks. “Maybe I should turn you in.”
I grin, tapping away on my phone. Well, then, shouldn’t you give me a proper goodbye before they lock me up?
She turns her head to the side just enough that I can see her smile. Reaching up, she pulls the clip out of her hair, every blonde lock spilling down her back, and I can feel how warm the tan skin is from here. I can imagine what it feels like.
She pulls the strings of her top, dropping it to the ground right there in the lot, and I draw in a sharp breath. She swipes her hair over her shoulder and off her back, letting me look at her naked skin, and I know she’s trying to push me. To get me to come and get her.
I know how much you like to watch me, her text reads.
I breathe hard, forcing my legs to move. I walk toward her, seeing her turn her head at the sound of my steps on the gravel, and I slide my hand up the back of her scalp.
I squeeze her hair. She moans. “Not just watch,” I whisper.
I want this. A light sweat covers my body, I’m swelling, and she wouldn’t stop me if I pushed her up against the car and just did it.
I bow my head to her, running my mouth over her temple and into her hair.
“God, I’ve waited for this,” she pants.