“Sure, come over anytime,” Jimmy said.
“I’ve got it, too.”
“Great. You’ll have the next party at your house,” Jimmy said.
Matt didn’t respond. I rose, put Chin down, and began to clean up the dishes, the silverware, and the pizza boxes. Matt started to help. When I looked back at the doorway, I saw that Haylee and Jimmy had disappeared again. Chin had remained with us.
“I think they went outside,” Matt said.
“If they went out there to smoke that joint, we’ll both be in trouble. You can be sure my mother will be waiting for us at the door with all sorts of detection devices.”
Matt checked the time. “You’re okay time-wise. We can check outside to see if that’s what they’re doing. If they’re not around, let’s take a walk anyway. I could use the fresh air. I don’t think they’ll miss us, do you?”
“After we finish this,” I said, indicating the cleanup. We took everything to the kitchen, where I rinsed off the dishes and silverware and put them all in the dishwasher. He found the garbage disposal and took care of what was left. “It’s a very nice kitchen,” I said, admiring how well kept it was and the beautiful paneling and marble counters.
“Is your sister like this at home? Letting you do all the work?”
“No, but only because my mother wants us to do everything together.”
“Somehow I think you still do more.”
“No comment,” I replied.
He smiled and took my hand. We walked out and paused in the hallway for a few moments to listen for Haylee and Jimmy, but we didn’t hear anything. Matt shrugged, turned, and went down the hall to check the other rooms.
“They must be outside,” he said.
Now concerned that Haylee really was smoking that joint, I went quickly to the front door, and we stepped out. Again, we listened for their voices or laughter but heard nothing.
“I doubt they’d be this quiet,” Matt said. “They’re hiding somewhere. He probably has his private hideaway to do things his parents can’t see.”
We walked around outside the house. The Jacksons had a pool and a cabana. The pump was off, so it was very quiet. We made our way toward the chaises that were under an overhang. Matt pulled two out farther and placed them side by side.
“Good night for stars,” he said. We lay back on the lounges and looked up at the dazzling sky. “Virgo is usually visible by late April. There,” he said, pointing. “It’s the largest constellation of the zodiac and second largest overall.”
“What’s the largest?”
“Hydra. I have this great telescope my father bought me when I was twelve, and I got into stargazing.”
“I’m not sure I recognize Virgo,” I said, looking up.
“It’s difficult to make out the winged maiden holding an ear of wheat in her left hand.” He slipped off his chaise and onto mine. I moved over for him, and he pointed again. “That sparkling blue-white star, Spica, helps locate it. You star-hop from the handle of the Big Dipper. See?”
“Yes!” I said, now excited that I could see where the constellation was.
“It’s fun.”
“We never did much of this,” I said.
“Well, maybe we can change that,” he said. I turned to him again, and we kissed longer, more passionately. “There’s a problem, however.”
“What?”
“You’re so beautiful, Kaylee. You easily take my attention from the stars.”
I started to laugh, but he was being very serious. This time, I brought my lips to his. He slowly moved his hands over my shoulders and then over my breasts and down to my hips. The warmth that moved through my body made his fingers feel like they were under my dress. I was drawn to his touch, eager to have his lips on mine, and then moaned softly, welcoming his kiss on my neck, my cheeks, and back to my lips. I was turned in to him now, pressing my body to his.
I really didn’t thin