Page 97 of What We Knew Then
Drunk or not, I would never litter.
“You came prepared,” he says in such a way that I can’t tell if he’s judging me or not. The beach is kind of tipping side to side, courtesy of the tequila.
I grab the front of his jacket with both of my hands and lean down until only inches separate us. “That’s me. Miss Prepared.”
Lane laughs at the way I say the words, then looks at me with those deep chocolate eyes. Soft. Only for me. I’ve never seen him look at anything the way he looks at me.
Fuck. Maybe that’s why it’s easy to love him.
Moving my hand to his mouth, my thumb brushes the scar on his upper lip. The one that breaks my heart if I think of it too long.
“What are you thinking?” His warm breath hits my fingers.
“How I wish I could kiss this away. Make you forget about it.” My lips find that spot and I press my lips to it, slow and careful. The way I wish his parents would’ve been with him when he was a kid.
Lane kisses me back and it’s the type of kiss that could melt me, even on this freezing beach. I sink into it for as long as I can.
He pulls away and murmurs, “You kiss me like I’m worth saving.” Lane’s eyes glance past me a second, like he’s gathering the courage to continue. “It’s not something I’m used to feeling.”
My heart stutters in my chest at the honesty. The raw vulnerability. Lane is the kind of person who deserves to be loved.
Man, I’m fucking lucky to get to do it.
Chapter 57
LANE
Wesitonthebeach until Cora’s teeth start to chatter. It doesn’t take much convincing to get her back to the party, her eyes shining when she talks about getting back to her new friends.
She’s holding my hand when she pulls it up, kissing the inside of my wrist.
Fucking Christ. I’m never coming back from this. From her.
I love you.
She said that to me. And it wasn’t like her words slipped or she didn’t mean to say it. Cora told me she loved me in a way that made it feel impossible not to believe her.
No part of me thought I’d tell her how much I care about her while we were outside of some random house party, but I couldn’t help it. It was like if I didn’t say it right in that moment, something horrible would happen. It was the only choice.
Now we’re back inside, the warmth of bodies and laughter surrounding us. Cora takes Leo’s jacket off, finds him at a table, and slides next to him.
Next thing I know, we’re playing beer pong. Me and Leo against Cora and one of her new friends.
Her hair is falling out of the messy knot she’d thrown it into a few minutes earlier, dark strands slipping loose around her face. The kitchen light catches in it, almost blue where it curves over her shoulder. She bites her lip in concentration, then glances up to check the distance and I catch the flash of her eyes—bright, clear blue even in the dim light.
Then she smiles.
Not at anyone in particular. Just that little crooked smile she makes when she’s about to do something she needs to think about.
Fuck, she’s beautiful. Even in the party lighting, about to toss a ball in one of the remaining cups.
And she loves me.
I’mthebeerpongwinner and luckily,Cora’s ready to go. Leo’s back at the party, not ready to go—true Leo energy—and I’ve got her keys.
She leans against me as we walk toward her car. She pulls out a bottle and takes another swig—the bag that keeps on giving.
“Think we’ve had enough?” I suggest. No part of me wants to boss Cora around. It feels like she needed tonight a little bit, to let go, to not be the carefully curated version of herself she’s spent years perfecting.
