Summer and May

Chapter Sixteen: Summer

Something about a bonfire made me want to do things I just shouldn't. Maybe it was the darkness, lit only by the flames. Maybe it was the fact that the sun was just now going down, it was exactly eighty-two degrees, and that I was wearing my favorite sundress. Or maybe it was the way Jeremy looked tonight; his white tee hanging onto his chest, his unbuttoned striped shirt on top of it, the pool in his eyes.

I was reeling him in, there's no doubt about it. He leaned in each time I spoke, his hand brushed against mine accidentally at least three times by now. He seemed more present, less distracted, when I was around. It seemed as if he was busy checking out what was around him, but tonight, he was all about me. He asked me questions about my childhood, about things I never really talk about. He was right where I wanted him.

Amid a few interruptions, I learned more about the ambiguous yet captivating Jeremy Dawson. He played baseball for his high school, which would explain his physique. His team won state his junior year, and senior year he was captain. He was a morning person, too, even managing a workout before going out to fish for the day. He liked his coffee black. He's a huge USC fan. And he has no plans of going to college anytime soon.

"Is it because of Sully?" I quizzed. College isn't for everyone, I get that. But Jeremy's talent may be wasted just staying in this town.

Jeremy shrugged, glancing off towards the woods, like it may have some kind of answer for him. "Somewhat. Maybe that, and because the allure of college... the blind independence, the parties, the drinking... it sounds fun and all, but it's not for me."

Oh. After a little over a week of knowing Jeremy, I didn't understand why I continued to be shocked when I remembered just how different we are. College was becoming my entire personality; I was drawn into that allure ages ago. I couldn't wait to drink on weeknights. Join a sorority. Become president of a club. Tailgate for football games. Go to eight-a.m. classes. Drink twelve times the coffee.

It was as if Jeremy could read my mind. "But I know you can't wait for that, and I like that. I think you're going to be amazing."

Lord, he was making my head spin. My stomach was twisting into knots. Everything he said did something to my body, even if he wasn't on the same page as me. I licked my lower lip, trying not to think about his lips on mine. By the way he was staring back at me, I imagined he may have been thinking the same.

When I heard that Alec needed more firewood, I practically jumped. "I'll get it."

Alec arched a brow. "Are you sure?" he peered around, shocked by my request. "You're not doing it alone."

I waited for Jeremy to create space for himself. For him to jump in and say, "I'll go with her."

It took ten long seconds for that exact thing to happen.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "I can do it myself."

He stood before me, already heading towards the woods. "Let's go."

I giggled to myself. This was going to be easy. By the end of the night, I will have kissed him, and it made my heart do a dance.

There's no telling how far we walked. All of it was in complete silence. It was as if a cloud of tension—the good kind—draped over us like a blanket. When the woods got thick, he grabbed my hand without even turning around. It was hot that he had this innate sense that I was right behind him. That, or the sound of all the twigs I was stepping on.

We reached a point between two large trees, and I was beginning to feel nervous. The moon hung high in the sky, which aided very little in our search for firewood.

"We may have gone too far," I mention.

He turns around slowly, my fingers still intertwined with his. I had never enjoyed the feeling so much.

"This is where the good stuff is." He smirked, as if he was impressed with himself, and looked behind him for about three seconds before he found a fallen branch. He cracked it over his knee, splitting the long branch in half. Tossing them aside, he searched for another.

I wanted to be helpful. I really did. But not nearly as much as I wanted him, or at the very least, to watch him do this for the rest of the night. I kicked a branch to make it sound like I was doing work, but my chest was ablaze.

Before he had ten logs in the pile, I marched over to him. He turned around, almost expecting me there. Almost knowing I would come. Once I had him just within my grasp, I didn't know what to do with him. Thankfully, I didn't have to guess. The look in his eyes matched mine, and I decided then that I'd waste no more time.

I crashed into him. The logs in his thick hands fell with a thud, and he seemed to nearly lose his footing as he wrapped himself around me. I almost laughed, but I would hate myself later if I did a single thing to ruin this moment. Our lips melded into each other in a warm mess of passion. I kissed him like I needed him. He kissed me like I was the only woman in his world.

His lips were soft, his tongue was welcoming. It danced with mine until I was breathless against him. His hands fumbled as he lifted me up, leaning me against a nearby tree. I moaned into his mouth.

"Is this why you brought me out here, Summer?" he asked, his breath hot, rushing down my spine.

I pulled at his hair gently, nipping his ear. "I'll never tell."

"I'm far too smart to be trapped," he said, his lips deep in my neck. "I came out here willingly."

His body weight crushed against mine, my back splayed against a tree trunk. I may have a bruise or two tomorrow, but I'll have a hell of a story for show for it.

His lips nipped at my neck, and I was on the edge of doing something I shouldn't. I wanted Jeremy, but how I felt about him was beginning to linger past the point of a crush. I needed to figure out what that feeling was before I go any further with him.

"I hope you don't plan on getting all of me out here. You have to earn it, you know."

He stopped his motions, one hand on my hip, the other in my hair. The curve of his lip tilted upwards just slightly, into a devious smirk. "I am a gentleman. Don't forget that."

And with that, my feet landed back on the ground, and his burly arms were wrapped around a bundle of sticks. My knees were weak, my chest was on fire, and my lungs were reaching for air. I believe Jeremy Crawford had just beat me at my own game.