“Maybe. Enough about me. What do you want to do? If I keep kissing you, I think we’ll both end up naked in this hammock and you aren’t ready for that,” I teased. “So, tell me Adelaide Edington. What do you do for fun?”
She giggled and my fucking chest nearly exploded. Jesus. This girl was turning me into some sort of sappy asshole.
“I just finished reading Hunger Games and was going to start Twilight. Have you read it or seen the movies?”
Now it was my turn to laugh. “Have I read Twilight? No.”
“It’s supposed to be amazing. Let’s read it together. I have the Kindle app on my phone.” She reached in her back pocket and I shifted to keep us balanced. “I’ll read the first chapter aloud and you can take the second.”
I rolled my eyes. “As long as I get to kiss you between chapters, I’m game.”
And we spent the next several hours lying in the hammock next to the water, all bundled up and huddled together to keep warm, reading about Edward Cullen and Bella Swan and the whole vampire, human romance. We made out a couple dozen times and took turns reading.
And I’ll be damned if it wasn’t the best day of my life.
Better than winning football games.
Better than winning fights.
Better than breathing.
Chapter Seventeen
Adelaide
Christmas break was over, and I was not looking forward to getting back on my routine. I’d spent every single day of break with Jett. I’d never craved another person the way I craved him. Like I couldn’t breathe when he wasn’t there. Nothing felt right when he wasn’t there.
We’d hung out with our friends almost every night and had a big New Year’s bonfire out by the lake. It had been an amazing couple of weeks. He’d given me the sweetest Christmas gift which I hadn’t expected at all. He made us each a rope bracelet that he’d burned to seal the edges. He said it was a reminder that it was okay to fray, and part of finding my way. I decided that the being sealed part was how I felt when we were together. Like everything made sense. He listened to me. Cared about my hopes and dreams. We’d talk until our mouths hurt, and then we’d kiss until our lips ached. He’d never tried to take things further, but truth be told—I’d never wanted to take things further more than I did now. He’d awakened something in me that had been lying dormant before now. I’d never wanted anyone the way I wanted him, and that terrified me.
I wondered how our first day back at school would be. I hadn’t seen or talked to Alec in weeks. My mom kept me updated on him as she talked to Mama T every single day. Usually more than once. I heard them conspiring a few times and rolled my eyes. My mother told Mama T that I was spending a lot of time with Jett. I’d had dinner at his house a few times now with his mom and Gram, and I loved every minute I spent with them. His house was full of love and acceptance. You could feel it when you stepped inside. He’d yet to come have dinner at my house, and I was ready to rectify that. My mom made him uncomfortable and I understood it. She made me uncomfortable most of the time too.
I drove Clem to school in the Bug and we picked up Gigi on the way. We stepped out of the car and Alec was standing there as if he were waiting for us.
“I guess King Douchebag is back,” Clem whispered and we all three chuckled.
I stepped out of the car and he moved toward me. Clem and Gigi waved and kept walking. “Hey, Addy. Good to see you.”
“Yeah. You, too. Did you have a nice time in Florida?”
“Sure. I missed you though. Ty told me he hung out with you a few times. Said you and Jett are together now? Is that true?” He shoved his hands in his pockets and his blue eyes searched mine.
I knew Ty was in an awkward position. We’d all hung out a lot over break and Alec was his best friend. He wouldn’t like Ty being friendly with Jett, and I’m sure he would punish him for it. Alec had a vindictive side to him that I hadn’t seen often, but I’d seen it enough times to know it existed. I’d always thought it was something he’d outgrow with maturity, but looking back, I think I made excuses for the things that I didn’t like about him. I just accepted them because I thought I was supposed to.
“Yeah. It’s true.” I crossed my arms over my chest and squared my shoulders. I didn’t owe Alec an explanation nor did I need his approval. But it would sure make life easier if he didn’t make this into a big deal.
“Interesting. How long has this been going on? Did it start when we were still together?”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “You’re unbelievable. You cheated on me, Alec. This is new, and I owe you nothing. So, you don’t get to ask me questions about my relationship.”
“Your relationship? Give me a break. That dude doesn’t date. He’ll just try to fuck you and then leave you for someone new.”
“No, I’m pretty sure that’s your MO,” I hissed, aggravated that I was even having this conversation.
“If you fuck him, I swear to God, Addy, I won’t forgive you.”
I fell forward in laughter. “You won’t forgive me? Are you kidding me with this? You cheated on me. Multiple times. We’re done. I am dating someone and I’m actually happy for the first time in—” I paused because I didn’t want to be cruel. But I was happy for the first in forever. Everything felt right. Not forced. Not convenient. Not comfortable. Not arranged. What I had with Jett was exciting and passionate and real.
I looked up to see Jett standing with Shaw and Coco thirty feet away, watching me. He wasn’t storming over in a jealous rage, but he was making sure that I was okay. He tipped his chin up. Letting me know he’d jump in if I needed him to. My stomach fluttered just like it always did when I was around him.
“I’m not fucking around, Addy. I made a mistake. You need to get over it.”
“No. You need to get over it. Move on, because I have.” I turned and walked away. I was done with this conversation. There was nothing left to say. My hope was that we could find a way to be friends once all of this settled.
“You okay?” Jett asked, lacing his fingers with mine like it was totally normal. When this school year started, I’d never have thought in a million years I’d be here. Holding hands with Jett Stone just a few months later. But just the simple act of reaching for my hand… it settled me. He had a way of doing that without even trying.
“Yeah. I’m good.”
“I’d like to smack that kid upside the head,” Coco hissed. “How did you date him for so long?”
I shrugged. “I honestly don’t know.”
And that was the truth.