Page 34 of Blitz

I’m such a liar.

Tucker grins at me as I approach. He meets me at the stairs, pulling me into a hug. He doesn’t care that I’m sweaty and gross. He tugs me close and kisses me sweetly.

“You did great, Princess.”

“I should have had that last race.”

He curls my braid around his finger. “You’ll get them next week. You’ve got this.”

I wind my arms around his neck, tipping my face up for another kiss. He laughs and brushes his lips across mine, teasing, taunting.

“I missed you,” he whispers, before he kisses me properly.

He used to come to all of my track meets, even the ones we had to travel to across state lines. He’s always been my biggest fan, even more so than my brother.

“I’m right here,” I tell him.

Tucker lets out a sigh, resting his forehead against mine. “I know. I still can’t believe it.”

“Believe it, baby.” I kiss him again. “I’m just a girl standing in front of a boy—”

He laughs, swatting me on the butt. “Get out of here with that. You want to watch that movie? Fine, we’ll watch it. You know I’m a sucker for Julia Roberts.”

I grin in victory. “I have other plans for you.”

His easy smile drains from his face. His eyes rove mine, searching desperately for an answer to his unasked question.

“We’re doing this? It’s really real?”

I trace his bottom lip with my thumb. “It’s as real as we make it.”

He sets out a blustery sigh. He crushes his mouth over mine, exploring, taking. My knees go a bit weak, and I sag against him. He pulls me closer and wraps his arms more securely around me.

“I love you,” he says, before he kisses me again. “I think I’ve always loved you, even when I hated you.”

“Do you hate me now?”

Tucker grins at me. “Not in the slightest.”

Chapter fifteen

Tucker

Eventually, Mason has to go back down to the field. The track meet continues on, so even though her events are over, she still has to stick around. She gives me and my friends leave to head out. Although I want to spend all my time with her, she’s needed on the field, and I have things to do tonight.

My sheets are freshly washed. My room is picked up. My homework is done. The guys have a vague idea as to our plans tonight—it’s not like we were very subtle at the track meet or last night at dinner. Miles will be staying at Sam’s place tonight. Greg is going to a party, taking Barrett with him. That leaves just Amir and Wes in the house. They’re easily enough ignored. They are also mature enough to ignore any noises they hear from the direction of my room. I certainly don’t plan on holding back tonight.

Shit. Condoms. I’ve never had to buy them before. Jamal bought me a box as a going away present before I left for college—I ended up giving them away to my roommate freshman year once it was clear I wouldn’t have an opportunity to use them before they expired. I haven’t needed them in the last two and a half years. Never even came close.

Barrett’s door is open, but I know I can’t ask him, not without opening myself up to a lifetime of mockery. Greg is taking a pre-party nap. Amir’s room is all the way downstairs. Wes is purposefully celibate—I highly doubt he keeps condoms.

I sneak down the hall to Miles’s room. The door is unlocked. Good. I make a beeline for his bedside table. The drawer is ajar, a strip of condoms on clear display. I rip off two, shoving them in my pocket. After a long moment, I grab a third. Just in case.

There are footsteps behind me.

“What are you doing?”

Miles. Shit.