“Layla”—EricClapton
Eric Clapton’s “Layla” was playing softly on my MP3 player that was plugged in next to the bed. I was singing softly and changing each “Layla” to “Lila,” making her smile. It was my favorite song, and I did that every time it played.
“Please don’t do anything stupid,” Lila said as she rested her chin on her hands over my heart that beat for her. We were lying on the mattress and box spring I had on the floor in my room.
My arm tightened around her waist as I grinned. “Never. I have too much to lose, baby.”
Not only did I have my full-ride scholarship to Clemson, I had her. Truth be told, she was more important to me than any scholarship. My fingers twirled her golden hair. She was the best thing that had ever happened to me, and I couldn’t believe I was lucky enough to call her my girl.
“I wish I hadn’t said I’d babysit for the Millers tonight. I’d go with you,” she said with a pout. I grabbed her ass and pulled her up to straddle me. Her tank top did nothing to hide her nipples that hardened as I bit my lip and lifted my hips up to grind on her.
“Again?” she asked with a chuckle. She’d given me her virginity on her sixteenth birthday last month—I cherished it and her.
“We have forty-five minutes before you have to leave. Let’s make it count,” I offered with a smirk before I rolled us over and we went one more round.
By the time we were pulling our clothes on, we were sweaty and slightly breathless. The afternoon sunlight shone through the holes of the afghan I had nailed up over my window. It sprinkled drops of sun on her face and shoulders.
I paused and stroked my thumb over the curve of her cheek. “You are beautiful, Lila Marie Kellerman,” I murmured. She gave me a soft smile that sent my heart thumping and my gut fluttering like a fucking girl.
“So are you, Lucian Donovan Stone.”
I laughed at her. I wasn’t beautiful, but somehow I got lucky enough that she thought so, and that was enough for me.
“Are you always gonna be my girl?”
“Until all the stars fall from the sky. Duh,” she said as she kissed the inside of my wrist.
“Good, because I’ll always be your man. Never forget that while I’m gone next year.” The thought of leaving her for college tore my insides up, but it was a means to an end. I was good, and I knew it. If I could keep from getting hurt, my goal was to get drafted into the NFL. Then I’d be able to give her all the things she deserved.
“Never. My heart could never belong to anyone but you.”
She was everything good and pure in the world. The brightest smile always paired with laughing blue eyes the color of a cloudless summer sky. Hair the color of sunshine and golden wheat, skin alabaster and moonlight.
But it wasn’t only her exterior beauty that set her apart.
Inside she was the brightest star, a butterfly unfurling its wings for the first time, the scent of springtime, and glittering raindrops on the tips of a rose. No idea how I’d won her over, but we were the epitome of young love—all soft smiles and gentle touches.
Fuck, she made me feel all kinds of weird shit.
She stretched up on her tiptoes and pressed her perfect pink lips to mine.
Fuck, I’d happily climb back in that bed with her if we could.
“Always and forever, baby,” I said before I nipped her lip and held her close.
The boys and I had been at the party out by the lake, but when a few older guys showed up that seemed like trouble, I said I was leaving. They pulled out a shit-ton of weed and started trying to sell it to people. I was out. I’d only had a couple of beers, and I knew I was okay to drive.
“Dude, don’t be a party pooper,” Teddy said as he stood in front of me. Jerry, Mike, and Todd flanked him as they waited to see what panned out. I was their ride, so if I left, they were stuck there until someone sobered up. Either that, or they left with me.
“If you wanna stay, then stay. Not only am I eighteen, I’m not doing anything to risk my scholarship.” God knew, my mom wouldn’t pay for my college if I messed up by doing something stupid. That was if she could afford it to begin with.
He huffed, then glanced around as he decided what to do. “Fine, then how about if we take the party to your house? Your mom probably isn’t home, right?”
Of course she wasn’t. My dad was out of the picture, and Mom would likely be closing down the bar.
“Yeah, that’s fine,” I mumbled. Kip and Hank came sauntering up as I was pulling out my keys.
“Where you guys going?” Kip asked.