Free A Fabrication of the Truth by Katie Kaleski Page B

overtook me. I wanted his lips pressing hard against mine, taking my breath away.
    He leaned in closer. I could feel the warmth of his mouth, so close to mine, and he tilted his head. I closed my eyes, waiting for the kiss. My breathing quickened and then softly, he said, “Good-night, Lexie.” I slowly opened my eyes, and he walked away. I swore I saw a smirk on his face.
    I fell back against the house, feeling like something needed to be fulfilled. I was left with this disappointment and this tingly feeling throughout my body. I slid down the house and dropped my arms to the side. Dalton Reyes was such bad news for me, yet I wanted him so badly.

Chapter Ten
    The next day at school while I did my morning ritual—standing at my locker and talking to Caroline—Dalton walked past, lightly brushing my shoulder and grabbing my wrist, ever so gently rubbing his thumb on the inside of it, then slowly pulling his hand away and continuing down the hallway.
    “Holy shit, what was that?”
    “What am I going to do?”
    “Have an orgasm in the hallway?”
    “You’re bad.”
    “Seriously, though, you closed your eyes and inhaled. The whole thing was pretty hot.”
    “You’re delusional, but what am I going to do?”
    “Dalton Reyes.”
    “I’m not going to do Dalton Reyes.”
    “Give it time. You will. But seriously, what is with you two and why would going out with him be so bad? I’d go out with him, but he only wants you.”
    “My whole life is a sham, and by going out with him everybody will figure it out.”
    “So, what does it matter?”
    “It matters. It matters to me.”
    ***
    That night, as I got ready to work on a new shirt, I just happened to look out my window to see Dalton doing chin-ups in his lola’s spare bedroom. He wore a pair of basketball shorts and a tank top. He had himself some very nice muscles – long and lean, not overly muscular or anything. I wanted to run my finger down his bicep. I tried to snap myself out of it and focus on the shirt I planned to work on, when I heard Dalton’s window open. He called my name, and I did my best to ignore him. I needed to have some control over the situation.
    “Lexie,” he said one more time.
    “Yes,” I said, giving in way too easily.
    “What are you up to?” he asked as I opened my window.
    “I’m about to cut out a pattern for a shirt.”
    “Oh,” he said, wiping the back of his hand across his forehead.
    “Did you want something?”
    “I told my sister I was going to spend the evening at the library. She’s the only one home tonight. Meet me there?”
    “Hmm.” I tapped my chin with my pointer finger.
    “She’s dropping me off, so we can’t go together.” He frowned and blinked his eyes.
    “Fine,” I said. “See you in a bit.”
    I grabbed my school bag and headed downstairs.
    “Grandma, I’m heading out,” I shouted because I wasn’t sure where in the house she was. It was a small split level, so if I stood in the living room and said something loud enough, she’d be able to hear me wherever she was. She emerged from the basement with a laundry basket.
    “Where are you going?”
    “Library.”
    “You never just go to the library.”
    “Well, now I am.”
    “You need to stay away from Dalton.”
    “I’m not going anywhere near him.”
    “You got a dreamy look on your face when you said you’re going to the library,” my grandma said, sliding the laundry basket onto the kitchen table.
    “I did not!”
    “Were you looking in the mirror when you said it?” she asked, pulling out a pair of her oversized underwear and shaking them before folding them.
    “No.”
    “So, then you couldn’t see, but your head tilted a bit, you blinked, and got a slight smile.”
    “Stop it, Grandma.” I could feel my face turning red.
    “You’re going to get him in trouble. Besides, he’s trouble.” She pointed at me with her now folded briefs.
    “No, he’s going to get himself in trouble. I have nothing to do with what he