“We have to stop,” he tried again, but I didn’t let go of him, and he didn’t keep his mouth or his hands from driving me unbelievably crazy. “Listen, one of us has to exhibit a little self-control here.”
I lifted my lips from his and called out, “Not it!”
“Oh, that’s real mature.”
“Well, you’re older, so you be the mature one.”
“You’re the girl.”
“So?”
“Girls like to say no.”
“And do you know this from personal experience?”
“Oh, very funny.” He flipped onto his back, resting his hands behind his head and smiling over at me. I slid over and nestled against him, whispering in his ear. “You know how you’re always telling me to have sweet dreams?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, my subconscious listened to you last night.”
“Really?” He flashed a big grin. “What kind of dream did you have?”
I walked my fingers up his chest. “I’m not telling.”
“Aw, don’t play with me,” he said, pulling me in for another kiss, but before his lips found mine, a familiar voice stopped us. “Sheesh, could you two stop for one friggin’ minute?” I glanced up to find Courtney hovering over us in all her mood-wrecking glory.
“Hi,” I said with a frown.
Her eyes revealed drama. “I need to talk to you. Alone.”
Rob pushed up from the blanket and eyed me with a smile. “We’ll finish our conversation later.”
“Yeah…later.”
Rob headed toward the house, and Courtney took his spot on the blanket. “So I did it.”
“What?” I asked, since my eyes and thoughts were still on my boyfriend.
“The right thing. So, tell me, Chlo, why do I feel like total crap?” I looked over at her, trying to listen intently. “Last night Josh told me that he loved me. It was so sweet and so sincere, and I don’t think any guy has ever said it like that before. But I don’t love him that way, and this morning I had to tell him.” She brought her legs up to her chest and hugged them. “I really wish I did though.”
“But your heart is somewhere else, right?”
“Yeah, where it’ll get hurt.”
“He won’t hurt you, Courtney,” I told her like a good friend should.
“Yeah, not intentionally.” Her thoughts drifted out into the ocean, and then she turned toward me. “So, what happened out here last night?”
“I shouldn’t kiss and tell.”
“Yeah, right!”
Softly, I said, “But I think I went to heaven.”
She grabbed my shoulders. “Are you in love with him, Chlo?”
I nodded slowly and bit down on my lower lip.
“And he feels the same way about you?”
I shrugged. “I hope so.”
She looked out at the ocean again. “Yeah, me too…because if this doesn’t end well…”
“Just say it, Courtney.”
“I don’t want to take sides when it’s over. That’s all.”
“Oh, don’t worry. We promised to be friends no matter what.”
“Yeah.” She swatted at the idea. “That never works out, and you know it, Chlo.” She flicked her head up at the beach house. “Just like Josh and I will never be close again. Sure, we’ll pretend to be, but things will be weird for a long time.”