Free The Crescent by Jordan Deen Page B

streetlights. “I wish you would’ve told me before.”
    I looked away swiftly, “That isn’t something that I normally share with anyone. I just wanted you to know that I wasn’t being a goody two-shoes when I turned it down.”
    Alex let out a small laugh, “The last thing that I thought of you was that you were a goody two-shoes. Trust me.” He slid his hand up the side of my neck to rest firmly at my jaw line. “You confirmed you weren’t when we were in the bedroom.” His voice was inviting. “Don’t be embarrassed. Look at me.” Alex’s urged me to look at him. “I realized Friday that we have incredible chemistry and I’m attracted to you regardless of if we had sex or not. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do, so I’m perfectly fine that you wanted to stop. Alcohol or no alcohol, it doesn’t matter why you stopped.” His eyes, his touch, and his voice- they all made me want to melt into the seat. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine softly at first, but increased with intensity or maybe I increased the intensity. I’m not really sure. Once we started I wanted more. Before long, we were fully making out in the front seat of his car. He pulled at my shoulder until I was almost sitting on the center console, one more tug and I’m in the seat with him. Come here. He whispered and pulled again. I straddled his lap as his strong hands pressed into my back. The feeling of his heartbeat against my chest was faster than one of Travis Barker’s solos. The temperature increased in the car by at least twenty degrees as his hands slid under the front of my shirt to rest on the bare skin of my hips. My thoughts were jumbled trying to catch up with my body’s feelings of want and need.
    I’m crazy about you. Alex whispered as he kissed a trail down my neck. I couldn’t think of anything to say. He completely overtook my senses; his breathing, his lips, the taste of his skin and his tongue, they were the only things I could think about right now. First it was your Aunt… now your parent’s. He said as he pulls my body into a tight embrace. Both of my parent’s stared out the front window at the car. I really hoped that it was dark enough that they couldn’t see I’m in his lap and we were making out with the promise and wanting of more.
    “I better go.” I half grin as I’m having trouble breathing. Reluctantly I crawl back over to my side of the car. I really wish I could rewind time and change my decision to run on Friday. I’m sure Alex could completely replace my memories of my terrible first time with Nate.
    “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
    I nodded and escaped from the car, wanting to skip all the way to the door, but resisting, because I know if my parents just saw what I was doing- I’m a dead girl and that is no cause for celebration.

c h a p t e r
    NINE
     
     
     
     
    To my surprise, or rather dismay, neither of my parent’s mentioned Alex dropping me off tonight. Mom, dad and I sat at the dinner table eating the first meal my mother had made in weeks or maybe even months. My parent’s talked about taking a trip over the Christmas holiday to see extended family in Washington. I half listened to the conversation until she brought up my birthday.
    “What do you want to do for your eighteenth birthday?” Mom said spooning more mash potatoes onto her plate. I’d be turning eighteen during the Christmas break.
    “I don’t really have any plans.” I hadn’t had time to even think about it.
    “Do you want to throw a party?” The last party I had was elementary school- you know back in the days when the teachers made you give valentine’s to very kid… that was the last time I had more than a handful of friends.
    “No.” I respond trying to think of more than five people to invite: Jillian, Michelle, Jamie, Alex… maybe. That would be one lame party other than Jillian and Alex; does inviting relatives really count as a “rager”? I