Free Between the Cracks by Helena Hunting Page A

liked it.
    When most of the feeling returned to my hand, I slid it under her h air, resting my palm between her shoulder blades. She mumbled in her sleep, but that was it.
    “Hey, baby,” I murmured, rubbing circles on her back.
    I felt bad for waking her up when she’d only been asleep for an hour at the most, but I didn’t want to leave without telling her what was going on. She burrowed her face into my chest and moaned unhappily.
    A few seconds later she lifted her head. Her eyes were red and puffy. There were lines on her face from my shirt and a damp spot on my chest where she’d been drooling on me. But I didn’t give a shit.
    “What time is it?” she asked.
    “It’s after three in the morning.”
    She rubbed her eyes and pushed up off my chest, sitting back on her knees. “I’m sorry. I must have fallen asleep . . .”
    “Don’t worry about it, so did I. I didn’t want to wake you, but Hayden called.”
    She sat up, suddenly more alert. “Did he get Tenley? Is she all right?”
    “There’s a minor setback.”
    “What? Is he okay? Where is he? Did that asshole Trey do something?”
    “It’s nothing like that. He’s just having some car trouble. I’m gonna pick him up and then we’ll get Tenley.”
    “Oh. So he’s talked to Tenley?”
    “Not yet, but it’s the middle of the night. I’m sure he’ll get a hold of her soon.” True or not, I didn’t want to upset Sarah more than she already was. From the look on her face, though, I doubted she believed it either.
    I pushed up off the couch, grimacing at the stiffness in my back and neck. I wondered how differently the night would have ended if this business with Hayden and Tee hadn’t gone down.
    Sarah stood up, her palm settling against my chest. “I could come with you.”
    I cupped her cheek in my palm. “I don’t want you to miss school and you have to work tonight, right?”
    “I only have one class today and I don’t work until late.” She traced the logo on my shirt.
    “I won’t be back until sometime on Tuesday.”
    Her eyes lifted. “You think it’s going to take that long?”
    “Yeah. H got a speeding ticket and his car’s been impounded. Besides that, it’s a long drive. Even if we just go get Tee and come right back, it’ll still take a whole day.” And that was best case.
    “I’m really worried about her. I’m worried about Hayden, too, but Tenley . . . you didn’t see her . . . she just looked so hollow.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. Sarah dropped her head, wiping them away.
    Putting a finger under her chin, I coaxed her eyes up to mine. “We’ll bring her back.”
    I bent to kiss her; f or as tall as she was, I still had a good head on her. Not to mention a hundred pounds. Sarah’s hands moved over my shoulders, her palms coming to rest on the back of my neck. Her lips parted and I felt the soft press of her tongue. I didn’t resist, aware it wasn’t going farther than this. I was careful not to pull her in too tight, so she wouldn’t feel my growing hard-on. Instead, I savored the taste of her mouth and the feel of her fingers sliding up the back of my neck, into my hair. I wanted to delay leaving, especially knowing how bad the next several hours were going to suck. Staying here with Sarah and making out was a more attractive option. Eventually I pulled back. “I have to go.”
    “I know.” Her arms stayed around my neck and she kissed the edge of my jaw. “You’re not taking your bike, are you? It’s too cold.”
    “I was planning to take Tee’s car if she left her keys behind.” I didn’t mention hotwiring it if she hadn’t.
    “Take mine.”
    “What about school and work?”
    “If I can’t find Tenley’s keys, I can take transit to school, and I’ll take a cab to work or call one of the girls for a ride in.”
    Sarah didn’t have a license to drive my bike and I didn’t like leaving her without wheels. Still it would be easier if I didn’t have to hunt for Tee’s keys.