First & Forever

Chapter 23: William

MARCH

"Will, what are you doing?" Elle laughs as I lean across my car to open the passenger side door for her.

I shoot her a mischievous grin from across the car, taking in her flowy mini skirt and cardigan. She's so freaking cute. "Do you trust me?"

She tilts her head, crossing her arms with a smile that's so her - An addictive combination of sweet and sassy. "That's still up for debate."

She worries her lower lip looking over her shoulder to make sure Emely walked through the school doors before turning back to me. "You're trouble, William Rhodes." She smiles sliding into my passenger seat, her sweet citrus scent almost making me lose my train of thought entirely.

"You won't regret it." I smile, pulling out of the school gates and onto the back road that leads to the outlets.

She gasps, catching onto my plan. "You... I know what you're doing. Are you not going to get in trouble for this?" she asks with concern.

"It's Friday, our classes are a joke, you're officially done with basketball, and I don't have baseball until six. Tell me this day isn't begging to be skipped?"

"Ahh, this was what you meant by celebrate last night." She giggles, bouncing in her seat. "I can't believe we're actually doing this! Honestly, I thought skipping a day would be the one thing we wouldn't check off."

My brows shoot up. "Oh, so you knew the senior hall would happen all along?"

She flashes a sly smile and leans over to kiss my cheek. "It was touch or go there for a bit, but I hadn't lost all hope."

"Shoot. Would you look in the console and see if my wallet is in there? I may have left it in my other pants." I growl, panicking when I don't feel it in my pocket.

"I don't see it. Want me to drive?" she offers.

"Nah, I'll just run back and get it. My parents aren't home." I cringe, immediately hearing how that sounded. "Okay, this looks bad. I did not plan this part, I swear," I say, relieved when I hear her gorgeous laugh fill the car.

I glance over at her and can't help but smile when I realize this is the first time she's been back in my passenger seat since I screwed everything up. Never again.

I pull up my driveway and want nothing more than to get her alone in my empty house, but I try to play it cool. The last thing I want to do is make her feel pressured. "Come in or stay. Your choice, Elle James," I say casually, opening my door.

"Oh, Will..." She laughs, playfully calling me out as she gets out of the car. "Don't act like you're not thrilled to be here."

"This is the first time we've ever been alone like this, isn't it?" she asks, walking up the few stairs into my empty house, Casey rushing to greet us at the door.

"It is. You okay with that?" I tease, squeezing her sides in the kitchen.

She squeals and turns to face me, holding both of my hands in hers to prevent any further tickling.

Our eyes meet and my breath catches when I recognize, even more, the grace and warmth and light that's always drawn me to her.

She moves her hands to my face and strokes my cheeks with her thumbs. "Will?" she says, pulling me back from my thoughts. "Just make out with me already," she flirts with a playful smile.

I smirk, trapping her against the kitchen island. "I can do that."

Seconds turn to minutes and we don't waste any of them, kissing like we're making up for lost time. Which, we are.