Free Relativity by Lauren Dodd Page B

That’s the thing about Jasper. You’ve got dirt poor and filthy rich but we all get along pretty good. Our hallways aren’t perfect, but I think it is about as good as you can get with all these hormones from different social standings flooding the place.
    I glance at the clock and realize that I’m between first and second period. Walking in here for the first time since the accident is going to be bad enough, there is no way I’m busting into a classroom already in full swing. My hands are starting to sweat just thinking about going in there. I don’t think I can do this. I’m not sure which stage of grief Natalie would say I’m going through right now but I feel like I might lose my shit.
    I grab my phone to calm myself down and see that I missed a text when I was getting ready this morning. I pull it up and see Knox’s name and a very old picture of him sporting shaggy hair pop up. I didn’t even realize that he was still on my contacts list.
    Please .
    A one word text is all it takes to make me put the mini-van in drive and make my way back to the house where Knox is living. I pull into the driveway of the big house and slowly wind around to the garage. I shove the mini-van in park and shut it off, knowing what a huge mistake I’m making before I even climb the stairs. If I was smart, I’d turn right around and go back to school. But being around Knox is the only thing that makes me forget the horrible reality of my life.
    I can feel myself come alive as I climb the stairs to his door. I hate myself but tackle the stairs faster all the same. Once I reach the top, I take a deep breath, and for a second, I convince myself that I’m just here to talk, but the minute he answers the door, shirtless with a towel wrapped around his waist, I know there won’t be much talking going on.
    Neither of us says a word, our eyes burning into each other. He steps back into the loft, his eyes challenging me. He wants me to be the one to make the first move. I guess I can’t blame him after all my crap about us being a one night stand. I step toward him, into the loft, never taking my eyes off him. He closes the door behind me, brushing my arm with his bare shoulder. The energy between us could power the entire town.
    “Say it,” he demands, moving to lean against the couch.
    “Say what?” I ask, knowing full well what he wants to hear from me.
    “Tell me you want me,” he challenges, the smoldering look he gives me practically melting my clothes off. I think about being indignant and spouting some nonsense about how I only rushed over here because of his text but I know how ridiculous it would sound. Besides, the protruding growth in the middle of his towel has captured all my attention and I can’t seem to form a complete sentence.
    Wordlessly, I walk toward him, stopping just short of his erection poking me. Making sure he is watching, I stick my index finger in my mouth, slowly sliding it out then running it along the top edge of his towel. He gasps with pleasure.
    “Today only, then whatever this is between us has to be over,” I demand.
    “What if I can’t agree to that?” he says, grabbing my wandering hand.
    “Then we’ll pretend I was never here,” I say, my heart sinking.
    He shakes his head, angrily, and just when I’m sure he is going to kick me out the door, he reaches for me.
    “I’ll take what I can get,” he says, his voice husky with desire, then crashes his lips down on mine. I reach down and loosen his towel, not wasting any time. His erection springs out and I can feel myself get even wetter than I already am. He pulls my T-shirt and hoodie off while I fidget with the button and zipper on my pants before yanking them off. He leads me over to the bed and kisses me. I reach down and take him in my hand, stroking him up and down until he’s practically panting.
    He unsnaps my bra, my nipples standing at attention, patiently awaiting a turn in his hot mouth. He doesn’t disappoint and I