The dance was more enjoyable than we anticipated, even with the watered down music and trying to juggle two dates. New York, New York was the Homecoming theme, and the gym was awesomely decorated with cutouts of the New York City skyline and twinkle lights.
Madoc and Lauren were like yin and yang. Madoc loved everyone and everything. Lauren—I love her —barely tolerated anything. Madoc got great pictures of himself and me leaning up against a retro New York City cab for our Homecoming photo. I played along, even though he kept trying to pose like a Goodfella. Lauren had to be coerced in front of the camera, but I'm sure she just did it for me.
After the initial weirdness of trying to be together on an actual date, Lauren and I loosened up and had a little fun. I met some of her friends, and we got over the awkwardness of being around Dinah. I think she was more comfortable with Lauren than Liam was. But after a while, it was all good.
"Alright, let's get fucked up." Madoc led the way into the Beckman house in search of liquor. We arrived at Tori's after-party just as most people were getting there, and I stopped as soon as I stepped inside. The memory of the last time I was here over a year ago got my heart racing.
Damn it.
Lauren halted in front of me, probably because I hesitated. My breathing quickened, and I clenched her hand. Even in my head, I couldn't piece together why I was reacting this way. I wasn't scared. I knew nothing was going to happen tonight.
"Camz, are you okay?" Lauren's eyes looked concerned.
"Yeah, I need a drink." I'd be damned if I was going to be trapped by my past. My body was at DEFCON 1 right now, and I just wanted to enjoy this party.
Once we made it to the kitchen, complete with a make-shift bar just like last
time, Madoc set to work making us drinks. Lauren declined, since she was driving, and I was proud of her for being responsible. Madoc was simply happy he had a DD.
Snatching the red cup out of Madoc's hand, I swallowed the burning liquid mixed with Coke as fast as I could. With each gulp, the alcohol stung worse and the bitter taste had me wishing for a cookie or a Jolly Rancher or anything sweet. Successfully consuming every last drop, I swung the cup into the sink and coughed into my hand as Madoc laughed at me.
"Aw, she's about as red as a tomato," he joked to Lauren.
"Piss off," I mumbled.
Lauren wrapped a hand around my waist and pulled me close, kissing my hair.
Closing my eyes, I let the alcohol heat up my blood, relaxing my muscles. "Hey, guys." Dinah bounced into the kitchen, pulling Liam behind her. He
nodded to Madoc and Lauren, clearly not happy with Lauren and dinah briefly dating. Liam cheated, but he was acting upset because dinah spent a couple of dates with another guy.
Get over it.
"What are we drinking?" she asked.
"Well, I just had a little liquid courage, so I'm good for now." My voice was still raspy from the rush of liquor.
While she and the others set to work making their concoctions, Lauren bent down to my ear. "Come with me."
Goosebumps spread across my arms as her breath tickled my ear. She took my hand, and I let her guide me out of the kitchen and up the stairs to the second floor of the house.
The Beckman place was huge, which was why parties here were so popular. Lauren's and my houses were happy mediums, but Tori and Bryan Beckman enjoyed a lush and spacious two-level home with a finished basement and fully landscaped backyard that was big enough for a modest golf course. This house probably boasted seven or eight bedrooms.
And it looked like Lauren was taking me to one.
Oh, my.
She knocked on a door to make sure the room was empty and then led us inside.
As soon as the door was closed behind us, she backed me up against it, causing me to grab her upper arms for support. I gasped from the surprise and her kiss when her lips crushed down on mine.
Her hand went down to my
ass, and she pulled me up to meet her hips. I ripped my mouth away from her to catch my breath as she dipped her head to my neck.
"God, Camz . Your dress should be burned." Her mouth was hot on my ear as she started sucking the lobe.
"Why?" I asked, the desire burning down below making it almost too hard to concentrate.
She laughed against my neck. "Every fucking guy has been looking at you tonight. I'm going to get arrested."
Taking her head in my hands, I forced her eyes to meet mine as our noses touched. "I'm yours. It's always been you." My promise hung in the air while he gazed down at me, her emerald eyes full of desire.
"Come here." She led me to the center of the large bedroom, which looked to be a guest room by the absence of photographs or other personal paraphernalia. Lauren took out her phone and pushed a few buttons before Seether's Broken
started playing. Setting the phone on the chest of drawers, propped up by its kickstand, she walked back over and took me in her arms as I wrapped mine around her neck. Slowly, we started moving together to the music in our very first slow dance.
"I'm sorry I didn't dance with you tonight." Her eyes wouldn't meet mine, and there was regret in her voice. "I don't like doing things like that in public. It feels too personal, I guess."
"I don't want you to change who you are," I told her. "But I might like to dance with you some time or hold your hand."
She pulled me closer in a hug and wrapped her arms around my back like a steel band. "I'll try, Camz . Yesterday is gone. I know that. I want that comfort we used to have back."
I tipped my head up further to meet her eyes as we continued to sway to the music. "Your tattoo—Yesterday lasts forever, Tomorrow comes never—that's what it says. What does it mean?" I'd finally been able to read the script on the side of his torso one morning this week while he'd been sleeping.
Her hand skimmed down my hair. "Just that I was living in the past. What happened with my father, what happened with you, I could never get over the anger. Yesterday kept following me. And tomorrow, the new day, never seemed to come."
Until me, she'd written on the note.
"And the lantern on your arm?"
"Oh, you ask too many questions," Lauren complained playfully, and I could
tell she was embarrassed.
But I waited, not letting her off the hook.
She pinned me with a resigned smile. "The lantern is you, Camz. The light. I
got it after I got in trouble last year. I needed to clean up my act, and my mom decided to do the same thing with her drinking. We both picked one thought that would get us through the day. A dream or a desire . . ." She shook her head and trailed off.
