“You saved the night,” I whispered to Emma, going over to stand behind her where she was hanging out near the window, staring out of it like she was keeping an eye out for Reece as well. Everyone else was getting their plates and heading over to the buffet as the waiters set down the food, and since they were all otherwise occupied, I felt safe enough to get so close to her that my front brushed against her back as I spoke. “Thank you for stepping in, especially like that. You were amazing. I’d be surprised if anyone even remembers that Reece and Caitlin were here tonight after that.”
She turned slowly into me, not putting any space between us as she faced me, tipping her head back slightly to look into my eyes. “You did pretty well yourself. That was a beautiful speech, Colt. Your parents would’ve been so proud of you.I’mso proud of you. It can’t be easy on you either, having to stand in for them the way you are. I know it’s been rough on Teddy, but I want you to know that you haven’t been forgotten in all this.”
“Thank you.” The moment stretched out between us as we stood there, gazes locked and so close together that our chests touched on every inhale. I wanted to kiss her so badly, but my sister was here and she didn’t need any more drama tonight. “We’d better go get some food, but you’re a good friend, Em. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to tell you, but Teddy is lucky to have you in her life. I’m glad you two have stayed so close.”
A soft, surprised smile appeared on her lips, and it made me want to kiss her that much more. Her eyes glistened with a watery sheen that made it look like she was going to cry again, and she nodded. “She’s lucky to have you, too. It turns out we make quite a team when you’ve got your wits about you.”
I shrugged, my gaze still glued to hers. “It wasn’t my wits that kept me under control tonight, Emma. That was all you.”
Before I gave in and kissed her despite Teddy’s proximity, I returned her smile, allowed my fingers to squeeze hers lightly, and then walked away from her. For the rest of the night, I kept my distance, making small talk with the rest of the bridal party and Scott’s family before eventually settling the check and going home when the party petered out.
Once I was finally alone and in my bed, I thought back to all the times Emma and I had made out in the ice-cream truck again. It had never left my mind earlier, even if I had managed to shove it right down, but now, since I was alone, I allowed the memories back to the fore.
Her lips had always tasted like the popsicles she’d liked back then, faintly cherry. My tongue darted out to swipe across my own lips, and even though I knew I wouldn’t, I was still vaguely disappointed not to taste cherry on them.
I was instantly hard again as I remembered her grinding on my thigh and shuddering in my arms as she made herself come on it. I went back to imagining making love to her now. Because with her, it would never just be fucking. It might not be the kind of making love that meant we would last forever, but it would still be more than just sex.
I ached so much that before I could even think about stopping myself again, I had my fist wrapped around my shaft and I was stroking slowly. Wanting her so badly that it hurt, I could barely even remember my ex-fiancée’s name right then.
All I could think about was Emma, and it felt so fucking good. My hips bucked and my body was begging for release, but I didn’t speed up. There were too many memories I wanted to relive. Too much I wanted to picture doing to her.
While I hadn’t been planning on it, I’d already given in to jerking off over my sister’s best friend for the first time in years. If I was going to do it, which I obviously was since I’d have blue balls for the rest of my life if I didn’t see it through with the way I felt right now, I was going to make it worth it. Make it last.
Tomorrow, I’d go back to holding my poise and pretending like she’d never meant anything to me, but tonight, I was going to indulge the fuck out of all those old memories and the new fantasies. Strangely, said new fantasies weren’t even all about sex.
Those things she’d said about the kind of relationship she wanted also made their way into my brain, and somehow, the fantasies took on a whole new dimension. In my head, we weren’t just going at it all over the place. I was coming home to her and kissing her hello after a long day. She was waking me up in the mornings with a naughty smile on her face before her head dipped under the blankets we shared. We were making out at night while cooking dinner together.
When I finally couldn’t hold back anymore, I came to a vision of kissing her good night and holding her in my arms as we fell asleep. My orgasm ripped through me, so powerful that my muscles were still twitching a full minute later.
As I lay there panting in my bed, back in the awkward position of having to get rid of the evidence in my childhood bedroom without anyone catching on, it stayed with me that what had pushed me over the edge hadn’t been thinking about something hot, but something sweet. Something domestic.
That had never happened to me before, but being back here was doing things to me. Seeing Emma again was doing things to me. Things that were better left forgotten or never experienced in the first place.
Things that I already knew I’d never be forgetting again. Things I would never be able to stop thinking about again.
16
EMMA
Scott’s favorite bar was a place called Oldies, and the owners had gone out of their way to make it feel like a blast from the past inside. The newest music that got played was from the nineties, the décor was a collection of sports memorabilia from the seventies and eighties, and the bartenders were in their sixties.
The vibe was great, and so far, the night was going really well. It was their combined bachelor and bachelorette parties, and since the wedding was tomorrow, all the guests had officially arrived in Rockdale. I was surrounded by Scott’s friends and Teddy’s gal pals, and even though they’d chosen to have a low-key gathering instead of separate, raucous parties, everyone seemed to be having a blast.
We had to get up early tomorrow since they were getting married, but I was still insisting on them getting the full experience. As the party got underway, I pulled the happy couple aside and held up a backpack of goodies.
“For the bride,” I said, opening the backpack and pulling out the first of the paraphernalia. “A tiara and the obligatory Bride-to-be sash.”
Teddy grinned and gracefully bowed her head so I could dress her up. “You know this wasn’t necessary, right?”
I waved her off, then rummaged around in the bag for the final touch. “Nonsense. I’m the maid of honor. It’s not only necessary, it’s mandatory. Here.”
She bowed her head again when I motioned for her to, then burst out in a fit of giggles when she noticed the penis necklace I’d just put on her. “Noooo. I can’t walk around wearing this.”
“On the contrary,” Scott said, chuckling as he slid his phone out of his back pocket. “You’re not only going to walk around in it. We’re also going to take some pictures to memorialize it for eternity.”
Squealing as she tried to get away from him, he wrapped his hand around her wrist and tugged her into him, lightning fast. Then he lifted the phone and laughed when he took a selfie. I gave them the moment, then beckoned him to me before he could get away.
“Don’t think you’re escaping,” I warned. “I’ve got something for you, too.”