I’d finally pulled myself from the couch, willing myself to shower so I didn’t smell like a hobo. I plodded up the stairs, my legs heavy like they were full of lead. Each step took a Herculean effort.
Once in the bathroom, I stripped down to my boxers and started the water. The shower began to fog up the window as I stared at myself in the mirror. How was I going to get over her? I’d never felt this way in my life.
The drops of water beat on the tile in a steady rhythm and I placed a palm on each side of the sink, pressing them against the granite countertop. I raised my head to look at myself once more. She’s coming back, right?
I glared a second longer, the heat building in the room and deep inside of my stomach. I heard a faint sound, like someone was knocking at the door. I was convinced it was wishful thinking. Nobody was coming to see me. I was just hearing things.
The steam lingered near the ceiling and I shoved myself up from the counter, breathing in the thick, humid air.
Reaching down, I started to take my boxers off when a shrill scream cut into my ears. It was followed by a female’s laughter. More laughter from others followed.
What the fuck?
I bolted through the bathroom and nearly busted my ass on the slick tile. Shit, that was close!
I righted myself and ran as fast as I could through the bedroom and out to the balcony that overlooked my front yard. When I got to the railing I looked over the edge.
There she was—Jenny—laughing her ass off hysterically. She was flat on her back in the middle of the shrubs underneath my balcony. Matt and Kelsey were a few feet away, laughing and talking to her.
“Are you okay?” I tried not to chuckle. “What are you doing?”
“I tried to climb your damn balcony because you wouldn’t answer the freaking door! Now, here we are, it seems.” She moved her arms and legs back and forth like she was making a snow angel in the bush.
The leaves rustled each time she moved.
“Why didn’t you ring the doorbell?” I couldn’t stop the laugh from building.
“Why don’t you trim your fucking bush?” Her hand shot over her mouth when the pun sank in.
I died laughing along with Kelsey and Matt.
“Jesus. Are you going to come fucking kiss me or not?”
I shoved off the railing of the balcony and flew down the stairs in nothing but my underwear. I couldn’t get to her fast enough. Hauling ass down the stairs, my momentum got the best of me and I rammed shoulder first into the door. It didn’t matter. Didn’t feel it. I needed her lips on mine like I needed air in my lungs. Nothing was going to keep me from her again.
I ripped the door open and flew around the side of my house to the bushes.
“I told her it was a bad idea.” Kelsey shook her head and laughed alongside Matt.
When I got to Jenny she was like a fly tangled in a spiderweb, trying to fight her way out.
I scooped her up under her neck and the backs of her knees. She wrapped her arms around my neck and her touch set in motion explosions of tingles that rushed through me like a wild current of electricity.
Setting her on her feet, I clutched her face in my palms and pressed my lips to hers.
“Mmm.” She purred against my mouth and my eyes closed tight. Every sense of her touch magnified by a thousand.
I snaked my hands through her hair—grass, leaves, and all, but my mouth wasn’t coming off hers any sooner than necessary.
Kelsey’s squeal caused me to open my eyes for a brief second to see her hand covering her mouth.
Jenny finally pulled back and stared at me. “Sorry, she squees a lot.”
“Do fucking not!” Kelsey shot back with a hateful grin.
I pressed my forehead against Jenny’s. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” She paused. “I’m s—”
“Don’t.” I put a finger to her lips. “I’m here. You’re here. That’s all that matters.”