She looks relieved to see me. “Already?”
“Two days no sleep,” I remind her. “Twenty-one hours in the car to see you and do you really want to spend all of the time I manage to be awake here?” We’ve been here for like three hours already.
“Good point.” Facing her ex, she says, “See ya.”
We leave the loud music and her confused ex behind. It takes us ten minutes to get to the hotel room. I sit on the bed and rub my eyes. Sydney steps between my legs.
“Sorry. I forgot that you must be exhausted. Let’s just go to sleep.”
Sleep is all I can think about. Sydney unknots my tie and pulls it loose. I watch her push my jacket off. Next, she unbuttons my shirt and slides it off my shoulders. My skin warms as she trails her fingers over my chest. The more she touches me, the less sleepy I am. My shoes and socks are next to be removed. Finally, she grabs my hands and makes me stand. When her hands grab my belt, I kiss her.
There’s no stopping us now.
Our hands move frantically to shed our clothes. Sydney pushes me back onto the bed, straddling my hips, and it’s a race to get inside of her and feel good. God, I’ve missed her. I need her so much. The first time is quick and over too soon.
“You should sleep,” Sydney says, still breathing heavy.
I shake my head as I move over her body again. “I need more of you. You’re more important.” I push inside her. This time, we’re taking our sweet time. Who knows when I’ll see her again. We need to cherish what we’re doing because it’s not just sex.
The thought makes me pause.
Holy fucking shit.
I love her.
Dipping my head to kiss her neck, I focus on what we’re doing because I’m not ready to face that yet.
Later, we’re beat and I’m hugging her to me. Sleep should be my priority, but my eyelids are my enemy right now. They keep falling.
“Have you decided on a major?” I ask.
“English.”
“I should’ve known,” I chuckle.
“I’m thinking I could be a teacher.”
“You’ll be good at that. Still want to move to Raleigh or Charlotte?”
“Anywhere but here, yes.” Which could translate into where I live. “Go to sleep, Ian. We talk when we aren’t together. We don’t need to talk when we are, especially when you need the sleep.”
“I want to talk to you, though. And I don’t want you to think I’m here for sex.”
“I don’t. We’ll talk over breakfast. Sleep.” She kisses me soundly on the lips and lies back down.
It takes me a bit because I’m thinking about my revelation. I’m not where I can commit to Sydney yet. I need to be more settled before I can do that. Let’s just hope Sydney hasn’t fallen in love with me. What a fucked up thing to wish for, especially when it’s the only thing I want. I need this to be on my timeline, so I hope she can wait.
I lie in bed, reliving prom. That was the last bit of normalcy between Ian and me. Not to mention that it was simply wonderful. But yeah. Something hasn’t been quite right with Ian since he came to visit me. We still talk, but not every single day. Now, it’s every other day. It’s like he’s putting distance between us. It’s worrying me. Everything seemed perfect. I don’t have a single clue what could’ve gone wrong.
My phone dings and I pick it up from where it’s lying next to me on the bed.
Ian: I’ll be there this weekend. Coming in Friday and leaving Monday. Wish I could stay longer, but that’s all I can afford.
Graduation is this weekend. I told him I had a ticket saved for him, if he wanted to come. Honestly, I didn’t think he would since things have been a little weird between us. I’m glad because I’m hoping that by seeing him, it will relieve the tension between us.
Me: Can’t wait! Thanks!
I have to admit. Him coming to prom and now to my graduation makes me feel a little guilty that I didn’t at least go to his graduation. But considering my mom didn’t know about him until a few months ago, I couldn’t go. He didn’t ask me to come either. Maybe he didn’t want me there.