The Other Side of Tomorrow

“Are you sure I’m going to be allowed in there?” I ask, undoing my belt as he parks the Jeep. “I am underage,” I remind him.

“Willa,” he laughs. “So am I, remember?”

“Oh, right.” I feel silly for my total lapse; besides, I should know by now Jasper isn’t the type to try to get me into trouble.

He hops out and is there to help me before I can blink. I’m thankful for his help, considering the death traps Meredith forced me to wear. I stumble a little when I get out, falling into his chest.

Our gazes connect, and for a moment everything around us disappears.

If I concentrate even the slightest I can recall the feel of his lips on mine that night at the beach. I’m desperate to kiss him again, my body aches with the need, but tonight I don’t feel as bold as I did then. Beneath the pulsing neon blue light radiating from the outside of the club, there’s no hiding, not like there is beneath a blanket of darkness and the crashing of the waves.

I look away first, down at our feet, mine clad in heels I’d never normally wear and his in a pair of brown leather oxfords that match nicely with his fitted khaki colored pants.

I remove my jacket and toss it back into the Jeep before he closes the door.

When I turn to face Jasper his jaw is slack as he gawks at me. His eyes trail slowly up my legs, over my hips, up my breasts—lingering a little longer there—until finally his gaze meets mine. I never knew someone could caress you with their eyes but I know now.

He swallows thickly. “I … um … wow. You look amazing.”

I smile from ear to ear, silently reminding myself I owe Meredith thanks later. I love that for once Jasper is the speechless one.

“Thank you,” I say, smoothing my hands down the front of the dress.

He shakes his head as if trying to rid himself of a fog.

“We better head in,” Jasper says, trying to act as if he didn’t just blatantly check me out. I love the affect I seem to have over him.

He places his hand on the small of my back, and my body instantly reacts to the feel of his touch. He guides me into the line and we wait for our turn. To my surprise, we get right in.

Inside, I’m pleasantly surprised and look around in awe.

There’s a bar on one side, a screen behind it playing a video of a beach at night. Tables line the perimeter of the room, leaving the center open for dancing. Different colored lights flash, reflecting off bubbles that float through the room. There’s a distinct smell too, one of the ocean, that seems to be pumping throughout the room.

A remix of a Lana Del Rey song plays through the speakers, bodies swaying and shimmying in time to the music.

Watching them, my body itches to join in.

“Dance with me?” Jasper asks, holding out a hand to me.

I nod, my throat too tight to speak.

He leads me out onto the dance floor and faces me.

Bending his head low, so his lips graze my ear, he whispers, “Don’t think, just be.”

Just be.

I place my hands on his chest, the muscles hard and solid, and behind them the steady beat of his heart pulses, centering me, reminding me that it’s okay to let go. I don’t have to be afraid of making a fool of myself—we’re all fools, after all.

I take a breath, and when I let it out my body begins to move. Jasper’s lips quirk, pleased that I’m giving in to my need to dance.

His body begins to move with mine. We move together easily, like our bodies were made for each other, both of us seeming to anticipate the other’s moves and counteract them with something to match.

The blue and purple lights glimmer over his face and to the small exposed bit of his collarbone. They then reflect off of his bright white shirt, making him glow like some paranormal fairy prince or something.

He smiles at me, encouraging me to let go and be free.

I close my eyes and do just that. I feel his hands at my waist. He doesn’t guide me. Instead, he follows.