Free CONVICTION (INTERFERENCE) by Kimberly Schwartzmiller Page A

Shane. It’s okay.  Goodnight.”
    “Well, I am rather tired. Okay, goodnight. There’s angel food cake, fresh strawberries and whipped cream in the fridge if you two would like some dessert.  Goodnight.”
                 
    Shane and I finished the dishes side by side. Neither of us said much of anything. I think we were both sort of in shock over the entire evening. When we were done I made us each a bowl of strawberry shortcake and asked him to follow me to the family room.
    “I should go,” he said when he saw what I was making.
    “Please don’t go, yet. It’s the first moment alone we’ve had all night.”
    “For a few minutes.”
    He followed me into the family room and waited for me to sit down. Once I did, he sat down on the opposite couch. I stood up and walked over and sat down next to him.
    He scooted over the second I sat down. “Why do you always pull away from me?  I thought you liked me,” I said, wanting to be closer to him.
    “I do like you. I like you so much that it scares me.”
    “I’m not afraid of you.”
    “Are you afraid of Parker?”
    “No. I mean, he scared me when he tried to kiss me, but he’s harmless.”
    “No, he’s not, Rebecca. And now he’s going to try to do more than just kiss you. You need to be careful.”
    “You said that before. Why?” I asked, confused.
    “Because, now he thinks he’s in competition with me. I’m sure he thinks that I’m going to have what he believes is rightfully his.”
    “I’m not his. I never was. Besides, I already told him you and I are together. It’s not a secret.”
    “Rebecca, I wasn’t talking about him being jealous of us dating…”
    “Then, what?”
    “I’m sure he thinks I’m after…more,” he said, looking away.
    I blushed again. “Oh, well…that’s none of his business. But, um, I’m not really…ready…yet.”
    “I know you’re not. And, just so you know…I won’t touch you until you’re at least 18.”
    I swallowed hard. I knew I wasn’t ready for sex just yet, but I was hoping we’d work our way up to it…slowly; but not that slowly . “That’s not for fifteen months,” I said.
    “I just want to be with you. I can wait.”
    “What if I can’t?” I said, boldly.
    He looked me in the eyes and said, “Then we have to end it now. I will not touch you until you’re at least 18, Rebecca.” 
    He said it with such conviction. I knew it was pointless to argue with him at that time. I finally said, “I’ll take you however I can get you.”
    He smiled and touched my cheek, which shot electricity through my entire body.  I shivered at his touch and knew it was going to be a long fifteen months.

 
    Boyfriend vs. Best Friend
     
    Jillian was back. I’d managed to spend two wonderful weeks with Shane without the interference of my best friend. I had to admit I was instantly irritated with her the second I saw her. We had grown up together and had been friends for as long as I could remember. But, over the years, her attitude had gone from one of carefree and funny, to unforgiving and harsh. She was critical of everything and everyone. 
    “We had the best time! You should be so jealous! I mean, nothing can compare with Aspen!” she rambled on at lunch.
    I glanced across the street and knew she was wrong. Aspen couldn’t compare with the feelings I had for Shane. I was daydreaming, and staring at the tire store for a glimpse of the man I had totally fallen for.
    “Earth to Becca!” she shouted. “What’s wrong with you?”
    I decided to just blurt it out. The last two weeks had been the best days of my life and I wanted to share it with my best friend. But I knew she’d turn her nose up at him, and just thinking about it put me on the defensive. Here goes nothing.  “Nothing’s wrong.  Everything’s…perfect!” I grinned, hoping she’d ask for details.
    “So, then what did you do while I was away? I hope you didn’t sit around moping the entire two weeks,