A vibration buzzes and tries to steal my attention. From this angle, it must be her phone, not mine.
I take a breath, resting my forehead against hers. “Do you need to get that?”
She answers me by digging her fingers in and pulling me back down, our mouths crashing together in the best way. Her kiss is decadent—her lips are soft and addictive, better than I ever could have imagined, no matter how many times I’ve caught myself staring at them.
Another vibration, now from my jean pocket.
This time, it’s Claire that pauses. “You should check that.”
I groan but do what she tells me. At this point, it’s safe to say I’d do anything she asked of me. I keep her pinned against the building and slide my phone out. “Fuck.”
She kisses the corner of my mouth. “You have to go?”
“Yeah. But I really, really, don’t want to.” And if there wasn’t so much on the line, I would stay right here, melting our bodies together in a way I had convinced myself would never happen.
Claire releases her legs from around me, and I gently lower her to the ground. She takes out her phone and her eyes go wide.
“What’s wrong?” I tuck her hair behind her ear.
“It’s my…mom. She, uh, she has a layover, and she’ll be here in a few hours.”
“Holy shit.”
“Yeah, you’re telling me.” She shoves the device into her pocket. “Talk about a buzzkill.”
I rub my thumbs along her cheeks, gripping her face in my hands, and kiss her forehead, her nose, and then her lips. “You can stay at my place if you want to. You can have the bed, I’ll take the couch.”
She smiles and stands on her tiptoes to press her mouth against mine. “Such a gentleman.”
“You’d be surprised. But really, the option is there if you want it. No pressure.” I take a step back, and it’s like I’m being separated from an extension of my being. I thought there was an invisible pull to Claire before, but now, it’s out of this fucking world.
I weave my fingers through hers, and this time, it’s different. I was right, things have changed, but in a way I could have never expected.
I may have only confessed the smallest part, but it somehow made us closer than ever. It’s like I really have died and gone to heaven. Only, if that were the case, I wouldn’t stop making out with the hottest girl on the planet to run some illegal contraband across the city.
We make our way down the ladder, across the platform, and through the roof access area to enter the confines of our complex.
I bring her hand to my mouth and gently press my lips against it. “I’ll see you in a little bit, okay?”
“Deal.”
I rush along the hallway and take the stairs quickly. The sooner I get this errand over, the sooner I can see her again. I jog through the courtyard with a little extra pep in my step.
I have to knock the grin off my face or Franklin is going to be able to tell something is up. I’d rather keep my personal life as far away from him as possible. Getting involved with Claire was already dangerous enough—I have to protect her at all costs.
I open the gate to the complex and nearly bump into someone as they walk in. Déjà vu hits me from my first interaction with Claire. I don’t knock this person down, but I manage to spit out a “Sorry.”
My phone goes off again.
Unknown:???
Me:Be right there.
I continue my pace but manage to reduce the level of happiness that seeps from my pores. What Claire and I have is special, and I won't dare risk that.
I’m a few blocks away from the complex when a weird sensation settles over me. My heart pounds as my mind races to catch up with itself.
That face, the guy I ran into…it was so familiar.