I tense, yet I hold his gaze the entire time, unable to tear my eyes away even as he stops right by me. His arm brushes mine, setting my whole body on fire.
“Reese,” I say offhandedly.
“Kia.” His voice is softer than mine.
“How are you?”
“Not bad. You?”
“Fine.” I clench my jaw a little.
“How’s college?” He leans against the tree in front of me, looking completely comfortable.
“You asked me that the other day.” I tear my eyes from his, finally, and swallow.
“I bet it’s better than being here,” he pushes on.
I snort. “Anything is better than being here.”
“Kia...” he says my name wearily.
“What?”
“Can’t we just be friends? Forget last summer ever happened.”
His words pierce me right through the chest, despite me being the one to end everything we apparently didn’t have. I take in a sharp breath, squaring my shoulders. “Last summer? Forgotten.” I push off from the tree and storm into the woods. I need to get away from him.
Forget. That’s what he said.
Forgotten. That’s what I said.
How do I forget it? I can’t. I can’t forget the way he squirmed when I tickled his sides, or the way he laughed and kissed me whenever I pouted. I can’t forget the feel of his touch against my skin, the sensation of his lips on mine. My heart won’t let me forget, not when all I want is to feel him against me again. I can’t deny that. I can’t lie to myself. He still affects me the way he used to.
“Shit! Kia!” Reese calls after me. “I didn’t mean it like that!”
I ignore him and keep walking. Step, step, step. Keep going, Kia, don’t stop for him. His hand grabs my arm, and I turn, yanking my arm back as I near where his truck is parked.
“What, Reese? You’ve made it clear last summer was a mistake. You’re right. It was. It was just a whirlwind mess between two people who had no idea what they wanted from life.”
“I didn’t mean it like it came out. I just meant I didn’t want you to hate this place because of me.”
“I don’t hate it because of you.” I look at him and laugh bitterly. Shadows play across his face in the darkness. “I hate this place because of what it means to me.”
“What does it mean, Kia? Tell me.” He loosens his grip on my arm; his thumb gently stroking my skin.
“It means nothing,” I say quietly, stepping back. “Nothing.”
“You’re lying,” Reese steps closer and holds my other arm. “If it meant nothin’, you wouldn’t be running from me.”
“I’m not running from you! Why would I be? One summer, that’s all we had.”
“Is it?” he asks quietly. “One summer? Is that really all we had? Do you think my feelings disappeared the way you did? Do you think they upped and went in the middle of the night just like you?”
“I never said that-”
“‘Cause they damn well didn’t!”
“Rumor has it you’re seein’ someone, or have you forgotten that?” I throw back at him.
“Maybe I don’t care about her. The person I care about is front of me.”
“After eleven months? Why don’t I believe you?”
“Let me show you. Make you believe me.”
I shake my head. “You’re so f**king funny.” I pull myself from his grip and move toward my car, passing his truck.
“Am I?” he growls, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward him. My back hits the door of his truck, and he stops in front of me. He places his hands either side of my head, his face bent into mine. “Am I funny, Kia? Really?”
My heart is pounding furiously at his nearness, and I push at his arm. My blood is thundering through my body, my breathing coming hard and fast. I can feel the warmth emanating from his body. I want more. I need more. I want to feel his body pressed against mine, even if it’s just for a second. I need to feel it.
His hazel eyes collide with mine, and I can see he feels the same. It’s been a year. He still feels it. I still feel it.
“Jokes usually are funny,” I retort, trying to move away from him in an attempt to regain control of my body.
His mouth crashes into mine, his lips molding to mine. One of his hands cups the side of my head, the other resting on my waist. I grab his shirt when he nips my bottom lip. My mouth opens, and his tongue meets mine, stroking it in a gentle caress. Our bodies push together, and I drink him in, kissing him greedily.
Now, I remember. I remember why I can’t fight it. Why I’m powerless. Why, at nineteen, he is all there is.
I open my eyes as our mouths part. His lips are hovering over mine, close enough they could touch mine again, but they don’t. In the small gap between us all,I feel is the chilling night air where, just seconds ago, there was nothing but heat.
“Am I funny now, Kia?” he breathes, still holding my face.
“Yep,” I whisper, my voice slightly shaky. “You’re f**king hilarious.”
Reese’s hand leaves my waist and tugs the door open. “Then you better get in the truck so you can find out exactly how not funny I am.”
“I’m not...”
“Get in,” he growls, his eyes promising me a fight.
“No,” I say, pushing him back. I shake my head. “No.”
“What?”
I walk around him and away from him, walking backward. I shake my head, everything warring inside me. “I… No, Reese. I can’t.”
“Kia?” he calls.
“That…” I take a deep breath and stop at my car. “That shouldn’t have happened.”
I unlock my car, get in, and shut the door behind me. I click the lock from the inside. My hands rest on the steering wheel for a second while I get myself back together. I can still feel his lips on me, and it’s disorientating.
For someone usually so together, I’m already falling apart. And it’s all down to him.
I take a deep breath again, readying myself to drive back to the empty house. I start the engine and make the mistake of glancing out of the window.
Reese is standing against his truck, his foot propped up on the door. His eyes are fixated on mine, and they’re all I can see. The urge to leave the car and go with him, to have another night, is almost too much. But I know it won’t stop there. I know one night will lead to another, and another, each night weaving a web of growing feelings and want for things that can’t happen.