The Skylar Experiment : The "X" in Apex

Chapter Forty-Six - Already Here

The girls and I finished the carnival night with a movies and popcorn sleepover. I slid a quick phone note to Emma to update her about the kiss, and the look on her face was priceless. It was that old, pre-attack glimmer that promised to rip the details out of me over a late video call.

And I looked forward to it. I wasn't ready for a public announcement, but I needed to gush over it. It was so romantic, my head still spun.

I hadn't planned for what happened next. Before sunrise, I'd woken up thirsty and snuck across the sleepy bodies on my way to the kitchen downstairs.

Adam had just closed the fridge doors and carried a couple of ice cubes in a glass. He saw me lurking around the corner and broke into an easy grin.

"Hey, there."

"I think your house is a little too cozy."

"Yeah, it has good insulation. Pays off in the winter," he spoke lowly, in search for a second glass. "Thirsty?"

"Uh-huh."

He glanced funny over his shoulder, reaching mid-way. "Like for water or...?"

I walked over the tiles, entering the kitchen. "Just water. Sorry if that's not what you hoped for."

Adam bit his lip and loaded a comical fist in the air. But he offered me a glass of icy sparkling water, nonetheless. We sipped in silence. I felt his eyes roam when I looked away, and I caught onto the game. Since coming back from the carnival, we hadn't been around each other.

And I didn't want to go back to the girls' room. At least not yet.

We'd kissed a lot, but what was it like to sleep next to a boy? I was old enough... It wasn't wrong to be curious.

"Would you get in trouble with your parents if I stayed... with you?" I asked out of the blue.

He paused his sip then slowly put his glass down. His stare plunged into mine, and I noticed the strain in his shoulders. They were muscular, well-rounded. They probably felt really good pressed against me.

"Maybe?" His throat bobbed. "But uh... as long as we don't get caught, there's no trouble I can get in. You're saying you changed your mind?"

Okay, some boundaries needed to be clear. I never meant giving away my V-card to the first guy I kiss and on the same night—while escaping my friends. A bit too rash for my taste.

"I don't mean sleeping with you. I mean sleeping. With you. While you sleep." My lips fumbled into an awkward smile. "Just having the sleepover with you."

His face cleared up but he nodded immediately. "Sure. We can just slip under the covers and talk until we're out."

I loved hearing the idea out loud. We parted ways so I could leave a note for the girls, and then I landed in Adam's bed with the door locked. The heat in my cheeks would have been a dead giveaway if it weren't for the lights out.

Everything happened as we'd agreed, though. I slipped in facing him, and he rested his head on an elbow, watching me. We did touch while rambling, little brushes here and there, knees knocking. Each one made my stomach flip. I couldn't get enough of the sight of him this close.

"What? How do you even get to the stage of dipping french fries in your milkshake?"

That perplexed frown had no business showing up on his face. "How wouldn't you think about it? It works for chicken nuggets, too. Smoothies wasn't bad, either. It's like putting classic Doritos and ranch in your sandwich and eating it all after a long day of riding waves. Perfect junk food."