Free Safe with You by Shelby Reeves Page B

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    I sit down between Jane and J. Dan is at the head of the table and Bo sits across from me.
    “So, Cassie how did you and my boys meet?” Dan asks.
    Bo, J, and I snicker.
    “Well, it’s an interesting story. You see, Bo knocked me out.”
    “Bo!” his mother scolds. “What else have you done to her?”
    “What? I didn’t see her! It was an accident!” he says defensively while holding his hands up. “Besides, it was J’s fault for throwing the ball too far to the left!”
    So, it was J’s fault, too. Interesting.
    I wave him off. “Ever since then they just follow me around like little lost puppies. I’ve tried to ditch them on a couple occasions, but they just wouldn’t quit following me.”
    “Admit it, you love us,” Bo smirks.
    “No, not really.”
    “Come on, princess. You know you do.”
    “Stop with the pet names,” I sneer.
    “Princess.”
    Two can play this game. “Tootles.”
    “Mom! How could you!”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replies innocently and continues eating.
    “You ain’t gonna win, princess.” He grunts when I kick him from under the table.
    “We will see about that.”
    After dinner J takes me home. When we pull in my dreaded driveway I sigh inwardly. Was it bad that I was so upset to go home? Is it too soon for it?
    J, being the gentleman he is, walks me to my front door. I turn to face him when we reach the porch. He reaches up and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
    “I had fun today. Thank you,” I say to break the silence.
    “Hold up. Did you just admit to having fun?” he teases.
    I punch him playfully. “Yeah, don’t read into it. Your ego will start growing too big for your head.”
    He chuckles. “We can’t have that now can we?” He leans in, stopping just an inch away. His lips are so close all I had to do was lean in… just barely…
    Cautiously, I licked my lips. “No. Definitely not,” I say just above a whisper. My heart is beating frantically in my chest.
    The door swings open behind us causing me to jump apart. Dad stands in the doorway with a scowl on his face. Really dad? Funny thing is, it’s not because he doesn’t want his daughter with a boy, it’s because he doesn’t want me to have anything to with anybody. Reason being is they don’t want to be found. It has nothing to do with them being protective over me.
    “Goodnight, J.”
    “Night, Cass.” He leans in, giving me a kiss on the cheek, ignoring my dad’s prolonging scowl. Then, he is gone.
    I glare at my father as I pass him. I go to my room to gather my clothes for a shower.
    The light knock I hear on my window about makes me shriek. I smile as I quietly slide my window up. J pops his head inside. His hand cups my face as he leans in, pressing his lips to mine. My body quivers at the sweet tenderness of his kiss.
    Pulling back slightly, he presses his forehead against mine. “I couldn’t leave without kissing you goodnight.”
    My hand grasps the back of his neck. “No, you couldn’t of.” He smiles and leans in pressing his lips to mine once more.
    “I’ll see you Monday.” He gazes at me for a moment then he was gone, leaving me reeling.
    Leaning out the window, I watched him walk into the dark of the night. I closed my window with a smile.
    My fingers grazed my lips where his once was. Zack may have been my first kiss, but J outdone him by a long shot. My lips are still on fire. I had always thought Zack forced his kisses with me. J’s? They are soft, tender, and sweet. When he kisses me, I know he wants to.
    I wish I had a way to call him so I could tell him to come back so I could kiss him some more. Am I being greedy? Probably so, but it would totally be worth every. Single. Kiss.
    My whole Sunday is spent cleaning, cooking, catching up on homework I had put off, and thinking about J. Monday can’t get here fast enough.
    I replay our kiss in my mind constantly. Judging from the looks I am getting, my parents probably think I