Him by Carey Heywood (reading strategies book .txt) 📕

on to it and sit together on a bench. There is a clump of trees off to the right of the deck, and Will points out the occasional firefly. There is a full moon out, and we watch its reflection dance across the surface of the lake. It is beautiful with the exception of some bugs, intent on making a meal out of me.

"Has it been an hour yet?" I joke.

He rolls his eyes, and we head back towards the house. I don’t know why I feel so out of place. I know almost everyone at this party. It’s just that I know I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Will. He had always offered to take me parties when we were still just friends, but it never appealed to me. Before kissing him was an option, I'd rather just hang out with him at my house or go get ice cream. Will is talking to a couple of guys he had played lacrosse with. I excuse myself to find a bathroom. He asks if I want him to come with me, which makes me laugh because I'm pretty sure I can handle it.

I find Bravo and ask him where the bathroom is. Once he tells me, I'm glad I asked. I never would have found it on my own. The bathroom had been a later addition to the house and built in underneath the staircase. I’m washing my hands when someone knocks on the door. I hurry to dry them and open the door to turn the bathroom over to whoever knocked.

"Well, if it isn't SPT."

I don’t say anything, and Jessica rolls her eyes. "So where's Will?"

I shrug and turn to walk away. The last thing I want to do is get into it with her tonight.

"Did Will tell you?"

I look back. "Tell me what?"

Just then, I feel an arm wrap around my waist and look up to see Will glaring at Jessica. She smiles and goes into the bathroom.

I nudge him with my shoulder. "What was that about?"

He shakes his head. "Ignore her."

I laugh. "I try. She just makes it hard to."

Will's arm is back around my shoulder, and we walk into the living room. A couple girls from our class come up to say hi to Will. One of them, Jordyn, seems to be almost flirting with him right in front of me.

She rests her hand on the forearm of the arm not around me. "Will, I can't believe you and Jessica broke up." She glances at me.

He lifts his arm and rubs the back of his neck so she isn’t touching him anymore. "We did. You know Sarah and I are together now, right?"

She plasters on a fake smile. "I always thought you guys were just friends."

"Definitely more than friends."

"Aren't you going away to school, Will?"

"I am." He pulls me closer to him.

She nods. "I just always heard that long distance relationships never work."

He feels me stiffen against him and looks down at me. Keeping his eyes on mine, he says, "We'll be fine."

Bravo comes up behind Jordyn and rests his chin on her shoulder. "Dude, Will, you need another drink. Sarah, you drinking?"

I shake my head and walk with Will so he can grab another beer. There are a couple of guys doing keg stands. I've never done one, not that I have any plan to, especially in a dress, but it's fun to watch. When one guy drops down, I turn my head to say something to Will, but before I do, his lips are on mine. I turn in his arms, coiling mine around his neck as he straightens, lifting me. Even though we are in a crowded room, all of that noise and distraction just falls away. His lips, his tongue, his hands gripping me all overwhelm me. My eyes open and look into his as he slowly lowers me till my feet are back on the ground.

He presses his forehead to mine, eyes locked, as people whoop around us. Bravo pushes a cup into Will's hand. His eyes flick up to him, and he nods and thanks him before placing a soft kiss on my lips. I lean my head against his chest as he drinks his beer. He's standing tall with his shoulders back, his free arm around my back. He feels warm and smells really good.

I look up at him. “Has it been an hour yet?"

He grins, pulling me towards the stairs.

"Aw, come on, guys," Bravo calls out behind us. "You guys aren’t going upstairs already. The night is young."

We ignore him, only focused on each other. Will locks the door behind him as I lay across the bed, laughing when he takes a running start and leaps onto me. Since our first night together, our times together have been rushed, stolen moments while our parents aren’t home. We take our time tonight, exploring each other since there is no reason to rush. Will knows my every expression, how to make me fall apart and put me back together again. I know him too, his body, his scent, the look that crosses his face, and the way he holds his breath right before he explodes. We eventually fall asleep coiled around each other.

Sometime during the night, we both start at a loud knock on our door.

Will reaches over to flip the light on. "What the—"

"Will, man, open up." We hear Bravo through the door.

Will pulls on his boxers and gets out of bed, and I pull the covers closer to me. He cracks the door. "What's up, man?"

"Dude, I'm so sorry to bother you, but someone fucking hit your car."

"Fuck," Will hisses. "Give me a minute to get dressed. I'll be right down."

He closes the door in Bravo's face. I get out of bed and start to get dressed.

"You don’t have to come down, babe," Will says as he pulls his pants on.

"I know. I'm coming anyways."

I grab my purse in case I need to call Brian for