“What are you saying?”

“Just that we don’t really have the best track record when it comes to trust and communication, is all. We clearly have some stuff to work on.” She smiled as she scooted next to me.

I threw my arm around her waist and pulled her into me before kissing her on the head. “So we’re not perfect.”

“Not even close.” She laughed and her eyes danced. “But, Jack?”

“Yeah?” I leaned away from her so I could see her face as she spoke.

“Will you please keep me in the loop when it comes to your baseball stuff? I don’t want to be the last to know what’s going on with you.” She spoke softly and I could see the hurt in her eyes.

“You’ll never be the last to know again. I promise.” I caressed her hip with my thumb, the feeling that I’d let her down surging through my body.

“So you’ll really be gone soon?” she asked, her tone of voice breaking my fucking heart.

I nodded. “But I’ll be back in a few months. The season ends in September, so I come home as soon as it’s over.”

Her eyes lit up as the worry lines on her forehead subsided. “Really? So it’s not like you move away forever?”

The heaviness in my chest lifted. “Is that what you thought? That I got drafted and never came back?”

“Pretty much. I don’t know how it works.”

“I just go for the rest of the baseball season and then I come home. They’ve already been playing games since April,” I told her, wanting to alleviate her fears.

“And then what? I mean, you go back again, right?”

I smiled half-heartedly. “I go back in February.”

She started counting the months between when I come back and when I leave again on her fingers as I braced for her response. “That’s not terrible.” She smiled and dropped her hands.

“Totally doable, right?” I asked with confidence, but my insides were doing somersaults.

“I’m not ready to give up on you quite yet. I’ll try anything with you once.” She winked at me before seeing the big grin on my face, then began backtracking. “Well…almost anything.” Her cheeks turned rose-colored.

I tilted her face toward mine, lifting her chin with my fingers. “I love you.” Her eyes focused on my mouth before closing as I pulled her to me. She tasted like the mint of her toothpaste and her lips were soft as I parted them. The touch of her tongue against mine woke up parts of my body I had no real control over. I tangled my fingers in her hair, pulling her even closer to me.

She let out a low sound and all I could think about was ripping that little white dress off her body. I leaned her against the mattress and positioned myself on top of her. The way her hair spilled out all around drove me crazy. There was something so sexy about seeing it splayed across her pillow as she lay beneath me. “You’re so beautiful,” I reminded her as I leaned down to kiss her again, pushing the lower half of my body against hers.

I waited for the signal that she was willing to go farther before I attempted anything. Her hips lifted from the bed to meet mine as she pressed herself into me. My hand reached down to her leg before sliding up along her bare skin, bringing her dress with it. I pulled the fabric up to her hip as she wiggled, sensing no rejection to my actions.

I ran my thumb along the elastic of her thong, sliding underneath it. The feel of her skin made me ravenous. I couldn’t get enough; all my thoughts consumed in what it felt like to be inside her. “I want you,” I admitted, my breath faltering.

She opened her eyes to mine, her mouth opening slightly as her hands reached for the button on my shorts. Her fingers brushed against me as she fumbled, causing a groan to escape from my lips. My willpower fading, I reached down to help her remove the fabric that remained between us.

I flung off my shorts and boxers as she pulled at me, her fingers digging into my exposed skin. I sat up, my breathing erratic as I tossed my shirt onto the floor. Her gorgeous body, half naked with her white dress bunched up toward her breasts, took my breath away, and I peeled the dress from her effortlessly. Then I reached lower and pulled her underwear all the way down to her feet, where she kicked them off.

The curves of her body called out to me, and I slid my mouth over them, my tongue tasting the salt on her skin. Her breathing was quick and heavy as her fingers slid along the muscles in my back. Every sound that escaped her lips simply made me want her more. “Jack.” Her voice was shaky. “I want you.”

Her words lit a fire inside me that was hard to contain. I wanted to please her…satisfy her…ruin her for all other guys out there. I wanted this moment right here to be the best part of her day.

Her hands gripped my body as I slid into her. She let out a sigh and I almost lost it right then. I bit down on my bottom lip as I rocked in and out of her, trying to focus on anything other than how amazing she felt.

Her eyes opened and closed as my thrusting continued. No matter how many girls I’d slept with at Fullton, none had ever come close to feeling like this. Nothing had ever felt like this. Not even baseball. “I’ll never get over how incredible you feel,” I admitted without shame.

She looked into me. “You too. Don’t stop, Jack.” She panted the words and I crushed her lips against mine. My hips moved with hers, my shoulders burning from the weight of my body, but refusing to falter. She moaned and shuddered as she sucked in a deep breath, her eyes flying open in wonder as her body trembled in spasms. My pace quickened; I knew wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer.

Her head thrust back and I kissed along her neck, before finding the sweet taste of her lips. My mouth covered hers, my tongue exploring while I continued working in and out of her. “Cass,” I said as my lips pressed against hers. She sighed as her teeth grazed against my ear. I groaned without control and released myself into her.

I gently pulled out of her before falling onto my back, my breathing loud and uneven. She turned to lay her head on my chest and I wrapped my arm across her bare, damp back.

“I love you, Jack.” Her breath whispered against my skin as I kissed the top of her head.

“Just don’t forget that when I’m gone for three months this summer.”

“I’m not the one who’s slept with half the school.” She laughed, softening the barb a little.

“That doesn’t mean half the school won’t try to sleep with you the second I’m out of the picture,” I informed her, my tone serious.

I’ve seen the way other guys look at her. I’m not the first guy at Fullton to notice Cassie. I’m just the one who actually got her.

“You’re insane.” She looked over at me, disbelief written all over her face.

“Let’s hope every guy on campus has the same opinion of me.”

“I’m pretty sure they do. It’s not like you’re known for your sweet disposition.”

“Good.” I smiled as contentment welled within me.

ELEVEN

CASSIE

Things with Jack and me were in a good place after all the chaos at Gran and Gramps’ house. We spent every spare moment together, which didn’t seem like much these days. With the baseball draft nearing, Jack focused more than ever on all things baseball. And I had been working on putting together a portfolio for the internship.

“Hey.” Melissa leaned against the wall in our kitchen, clearly wanting to talk. “I was thinking about heading home. Did you want to come with?”

I thought for about two seconds before answering, “No way. The guys don’t have games this weekend, just practice.”

She smiled. “Then I’m definitely leaving.”

I laughed, tossing my hair from my shoulder. “Alone time with Jack…whatever will we do?” I placed one finger in front of my puckered lips before tapping.

“I seriously don’t want to know.” She rolled her eyes and turned to open the fridge.

“Yeah, you do,” I teased, raising my eyebrows.

Her lips turned up in a half smirk. “Sorta. But please don’t share.” She shook her head as if trying to shake way a disturbing image. “What did I hear about Jack and the softball team?”

“Oh.” I shrugged. “Since the guys don’t have a game, they asked Jack to throw out the first pitch tonight.”

“Seriously?” Her head cocked to one side.

“Apparently it’s good publicity. I don’t know. Whatever, it’s not like he has a choice. He can’t really say no to another team at the school, you know?”

“That’s still sort of weird.”

“I think so too, but whatever. I’ll be there.”

“You’re so supportive,” she teased, cupping her hands together.

“Oh, I do try,” I said with a fake Southern accent as I fanned my hand in front of my face.

She laughed. “I’ll see you when I get back. Want me to check on your car?”

“Oh, yeah. Can you make sure it’s still sitting in my driveway collecting dust?” I giggled at the absurdity of the situation.

“You don’t need it,” my mother had told me during one of our many arguments. “It just gives you a way to leave school when you should be studying or doing homework.” I had tried to tell her that maybe I’d need to leave school for a photography project, but then she’d just insist that I take Melissa’s car. No matter how many times I tried to tell her that she made no sense, she refused to budge. So there my car sits. At home. Waiting for me. And the truth is, I’m not sure I ever want to go back for it.

“Don’t have too much fun with Jack this weekend. Call you later, ’K?” Melissa gave me a squeeze before grabbing her things.

“’K. Drive safe. Tell your parents I said hi and I miss them.” I smiled and waved as she walked out our front door, almost crashing into Jack.

“Have a good weekend, Jack.” Melissa winked and he turned to me, his eyebrows raised.

“Uh, you too, Melis,” he responded with a half grin before closing the door. “What was that about?”

“She’s leaving for the weekend.” I tried not to blush but felt the heat rising to my cheeks.

He dropped onto the couch next to me. “The whole weekend?”

“The whole weekend,” I said, dragging out the words for effect.

“Sweet. Listen, before I get distracted, Matt wants us to come over before the softball game and hang out at his place. I told him I’d check with you first.” Jack rested his head against the pillow on my couch, his hat flopping to one side.

“Fine with me. Who’s gonna be there?” I asked absentmindedly, tossing the hat aside and running my fingers through his soft, dark hair.

“A few of the guys from the team. Dean and probably Jamie. I don’t really know.”

“I like her,” I admitted with a smile. “She’s funny.”

“She is funny. And she’s good for Matt,” Jack added, alluding to things I knew nothing about and frankly wasn’t sure I wanted to.

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