Night Sky (15 page)

Both her hands touch my calves and then run
up my thighs. Her fingers slide into the top of my shorts as she
pulls herself slowly back to the surface. Her face pauses for a
moment, even with my stomach, and then her body rubs against mine
until she’s standing so close there’s not even a breath between us.
My skin is against her skin. Our stomachs and chests are pressed
together as her arms slide around my waist.

“So, does this mean the no touching rule is
lifted?”

Her lips meet mine. She’s
wet and tastes like chlorine, and I never want this to end. But
then she drops back into the water and swims away.
In my book, the no touch rule is out the
window.
I follow, catching her easily. I
kiss her again, and her skin is hot, even under the
water.

“What do you do out here that makes you
relax?”

“Kiss you.” I chuckle putting our lips
together.

Her hand touches my chest. “I’m being
serious.”

“So, am I,” I tease, before kissing her
again.

She laughs and slides under the water, her
hair floats around her like a black cape, keeping her shrouded and
mysterious. I slide down in front of her and make eye contact under
the water. I take her hand and swim to the deepest part of the
pool, a pathetic five feet. We both come up for air.

“I sit,” I tell her.

“Sit?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.

I don’t say anything else.
I just nod before taking a breath and dropping to the bottom of the
pool. I run my fingertips down the length of her body as I
go.
Seriously, she had to know there’d be
no keeping my hands off her when she’s wearing almost
nothing.

Her face appears a moment later. I’m used to
having chlorine burning my eyes, but she isn’t. Yet, in just a few
seconds, her eyes find mine. I pull her down and we sit, facing one
another on the bottom of the pool. The lights reflect dancing
patterns around us, across her skin and mine. The only sound
breaking the silence is my rapid heartbeat. As if reading my mind,
her hand reaches out and touches the center of my chest. I follow
her movement resting my fingers in the center of her chest. I’m
completely distracted. All I can feel is her bare skin. Being down
here by myself will never, ever be the same.

She pushes off the bottom of the pool for
air, and I’m right behind her.

“You do this often?” Her hand wipes the
water off her face and she rubs her eyes. I take in every movement,
every feature.

“Yeah.”

“I can see why. Too bad you can’t stay down
longer.”

“I can stay down longer
than you,” I tease. “But sometimes I wish I had a snorkel or
something so I could stay down there longer.”
Will she think I’m crazy?
Mom’s
really the only one who knows how much I love to do that. It feels
personal…but that’s ridiculous. It’s just me, sitting on the bottom
of the pool. But even Sarah doesn’t know I do that.

“Thank you.” She steps closer and as soon as
I feel the heat of her skin I lose my head again. My mouth is on
hers. It feels like I’ll never get enough of this—feeling her like
this, my hands on her back, our lips together.

She pulls away. “I float.”

“What?”
I’m totally lost.

She giggles. “To relax, I float.”

I’d really just like to stand there and
watch her float, but I know she wants me to do it with her. So we
both lie back in the water.

“It’s too bad the city lights are so bright.
You really can’t see all the stars.” She lets the water carry her.
I do the same.

I reach out and touch her fingers as we lie
on our backs looking at the washed-out sky. Once you get away from
the city, the stars are incredible, but here, they can’t compete
with the lights in Las Vegas.

I stand up and cradle her
body in my arms. It feels like I’m carrying her, only she’s still
floating. It makes me feel strong, like I can carry her…hold
her…move with her.
Her arms go around my
neck, and I feel her lips on mine again. Right now, all I can think
is—
once again, this has to be the best
night ever.

“The water feels cold tonight.” She’s
breathes in deeply.

“Wanna get out?”
Because I don’t…
I want
to stay in the pool all night, my lips on hers.

“Can I take a shower?”

“In my bathroom? Sure…” Again, I half choke
on the words.

“You’re funny, Jay.” As she climbs out, I
watch the water slide off her nearly naked body.

I’m a little self-conscious climbing out of
the pool in my state, but there’s not much I can do about it. Not
without staying in the pool a ridiculously long time to let things
settle back into place. I wrap a towel around my waist and follow
her inside.

“Go, ahead…”
I’ll just stand out here…and wish I were with
you…in my shower.

“I just want to rinse the chlorine off…I
don’t want to go home.” Her brown eyes meet mine before she steps
toward me once again placing her lips on mine.

I feel like I might go insane by how much I
want her right now. I kiss her back, and I keep kissing her until
she pulls away. But even then, I see the trace of a smile forming
on her lips.

“I’ll be out in a sec.” She backs away
shutting the door between us.

I stare at the closed door
like an idiot. My brain’s not working right.
Now what?

I run outside and rinse off, making do with
the garden hose. I have no idea what she has in mind for tonight,
but I’m ready for anything. And probably if she’s taking the time
to rinse the chlorine off her body, I should too. Following Sky
into the shower, as awesome as it sounds, probably wouldn’t be the
best move.

I step back inside when
I’m done. The shower in my bathroom is still on. I should probably
change—into what? Jeans? Pajamas?
Okay,
I’m now officially crazy.
I pull off my
shorts, and slide on pajama pants and a t-shirt.
That should be good.

I grab a couple of dirty shirts off the
floor and throw them in my hamper. She’s been in my room a few
times, it’s just…she doesn’t need to think I’m a slob.

Sky’s probably naked in my
bathroom right now.
I’m pathetic.
She’s naked under her clothes every day. The
barrier is still there.
The shower stops.
I need to look relaxed or something. I jump onto my bed and lean
against the wall.
I’m fine…totally cool
about Sky using my shower… just relaxed.
Only I’m not relaxed because my whole body’s tense wondering
what’s going to happen next.

Sky steps out of the bathroom in her yoga
shorts and the tank she wore on our date tonight, minus her bra.
“Do you think your mom will be upset if I stay here tonight?”

I’m lying on my bed
feeling pretty smug.
How awesome is it
that she wants to spend the night?
“I
don’t know.” Mom and I have never talked about that before. And
curse my need to be honest with Sky.

“Maybe if we left the door
wide open? To show that we’re being good?” She steps next to the
bed. I’m trying to decide how much I care about being good, but the
look on her face is so soft and trusting.
I guess we’ll be good.

I reach my hand out and run my fingers up
the outside of her leg. “I’d love that.”

Her whole body lightens up when she sees me
smile. “Me, too.” She grabs the knob on my bedroom door, opening it
all the way. Turning around, she jumps over me onto my bed. She
wiggles until her head is settled on the pillow next to mine. Her
smile is wide and it makes me remember all the reasons I like being
with her. We stare at one another for a moment.

“Thanks, Jay.” Her smile disappears and she
watches her hands messing with the edge of the blanket. “I can’t. I
mean…I’m not ready for more than what we’re doing…”

“I’m just happy you’re here.” And despite
the aura she gives off of being more experienced, this is kind of a
reminder that we’re still on the same level. Even if I might be a
little more ready than she is to move forward. Or, maybe it’s just
my body that thinks I’m more ready…or maybe there isn’t a
difference.

“I’ve been having bad dreams again…more
nights than not. Just wake me up, if I…”

It hits me again—one of
the many reasons that just lying next to her is a big deal.
I reach over and touch her face. “I think you’re
the bravest, most amazing girl I’ve ever met.”

She looks down.

“I mean it.” I sit up and pull down the
blanket so that she can climb in beside me.

“Is this okay? I mean, are you sure this is
okay?” Her legs move in next to mine.

“This is…so…so good.” I slide over and she
slides over. I lift my arm in invitation for her to rest her head
on my chest, and she does. Now I feel like I’m doing something for
her. Like I’m taking care of her. The weight and warmth of her head
on my chest is filling and satisfying in a completely different way
than kissing her, but also kind of the same. I know it doesn’t make
sense, but this feels more like trust and getting closer than
anything else. And I really, really want it.

Her fingers trace
imaginary patterns on my stomach relaxing me, pulling us closer. I
slide my hand up and down her side, and then more on her stomach
and up and over her chest. She’s so warm, and soft. I expect a
protest, but I don’t get one, so I let my hand rest there for a
moment. She feels so good. I swear I could do this all
night.
My hand reluctantly slides off her
chest and back down her stomach. Now I’m pulling us closer, because
I want as much of her, pressed up against me, as
possible.

“Night, Jay.”

“Night, Sky.”

And I turn off the light
wondering if having her here will put me to sleep or keep me awake
thinking about how awesome it is that she’s here.
I’m okay with either.

SIXTEEN

When I roll over in the
morning, it hits me.
I fell asleep with
Sky in my bed
. I stretch out my arm, but
instead of feeling the softness of her skin, I hear the crinkle of
paper. My heart drops.

Jay,

I’m sorry, Nana needed my help and I didn’t
want to wake you.

Sky

My chest sinks. I wanted to see her face
this morning.

“Knock, knock.” Again, Mom’s voice is louder
than her knocking. And there’s really no reason to knock since my
bedroom door was open all night.

“Yeah?” I roll onto my back.

“We need to talk.”

I can tell by those four little words that
I’m probably not going to like what she’s about to say. Incredibly,
I hold in a groan.

“Come on in.”

She walks slowly into my
room and sits on the edge of my bed. Her hands are folded in her
lap and she has yet to speak. She’s wearing jeans and her brown
hair is pulled into a ponytail. No makeup. It’s nice to see her
like this. A little more like she was when Dad was here. She chews
on her lower lip. Another sure sign I’m not going to like what she
has to say.
“I…we…haven’t really talked
about you having girls over…to stay the night.”

“Right.” I sit up. I’m glad I have on a
t-shirt and pajama pants. “We left the door open.”

“I know…it’s just…it’s a lot, Jameson. It’s
a lot to get involved in.” She lets out a breath.

“Mom, we’re not having sex. I know that’s
what you want to ask, and I know that’s what you’re worried about.”
I wonder if that’s all she wants to know.

She closes her eyes letting out a sigh of
relief. “That’s part of it, but there’s something about those late
night hours, or the closeness that comes with them. I just…” She
takes another breath. “It wasn’t that long ago you had all your
hopes on Sarah.”

Sarah?
Sarah feels like a million miles away. “Sky is like…” How can
I best describe her to make Mom understand?
“Sky is like no one I’ve ever met before, Mom.”

“Okay.” She smiles. “I really like her, too.
It was just a bit of a shock to see her next to you in your bed
when I came home last night.”

I realize that my parents
have always given me the freedom of an adult, but it’s probably
because I always make the responsible choice. I’ve never put Mom in
a position to be uncomfortable with what I’m
doing
.
I open my
mouth to ask if I can do it again, but I stop. I don’t want her to
say no because I definitely plan on doing it again.

“Do you have any plans for today?” she
asks.

“Trying to keep up with my homework. That’s
pretty much it.”

“Your father and I are going to meet later
on.” Her voice has this soft, sad quality that she hasn’t shaken
since he walked out.

It reminds me of the other part of my
life—the part that’s a mess. “I …” How do I even ask what they’re
going to talk about? I have no idea.

“He asked if we could talk.” Mom looks out
my back door to the pool, her eyes are filled with tears. It’s the
first time I’ve seen real heartbreak on her face. Sadness,
yes…frustration, yes…but this is something different.

“Hey, Mom?”

“Yeah.” She turns toward me.

“I’m sorry I stressed you out last night.”
She doesn’t need anything more on her plate right now.

She takes a deep breath and moves her
shoulders around, like she’s trying to shake off the stress. “It’s
okay, and it didn’t stress me out. It just surprised me. I want to
make sure that your feelings for Sky are genuine. No girl wants to
feel like she’s in second place.”