His Forever Girl

“He’s in bed,” my dad says. “You’re coming over here. You’ve been gone two days.” I peek over the air conditioner to see my dad grabbing Quinn. She lets out a giggle that is the exact same one as my Zoey. I sit there shocked for a minute. He kisses her for a long moment before pulling her toward our house. I’ll be damned. The old man still has game.

I easily jump the fence before I grab on to the roof of the shed and pull myself up. I jump onto the roof over the garage, crossing back to Zoey’s window. I push it open so that I can slip right in. I lock it before kicking off my shoes and pulling my hoodie off. I fall back onto her bed, putting my hands behind my head.

That was easier than I thought it would be. I’d mapped that plan out years ago. It was nice to finally get to use it. I hear the sink faucet go on and off a few seconds later. Zoey opens the door and flips off the bathroom light. She lets out a gasp but quickly cuts it off.

“What are you doing?” She looks over at her bedroom door. She walks over to it and clicks the lock into place.

“I think you know what I’m doing.” I pull the blanket back for her to get into bed. She climbs in and flicks the lamp. She cuddles into me, laying her head on my shoulder and throwing her leg over mine.

“Wonder what Mom will say if we get caught.” Zoey lets out a laugh, not sounding too worried. I think she’d get a pass, to be honest. Based on what her mom said earlier, anyway. Zoey was never one to break the rules. Hell, I’m not sure what the rules even are at this point. Especially not after what I saw outside a few minutes ago.

“I’ll be gone before anyone knows it.” She kisses my neck. “A few years and we’ll have a place of our own. I have to live on campus. Some frat house, I think.” Unless your family lives close to the university, all freshmen on the team have to live on campus the first year.

“A frat house?” I know what she’s thinking. It’s the same shit I’m thinking too. All the crap you see on TV with wild parties and so on. I won’t be partaking in any of that shit. “Are you going to be okay with us when we get out there?” She traces hearts over and over on my chest with her fingers. “You didn't seem to like the people that were stealing glances our way during dinner earlier.”

“It worries me a little, to tell you the truth. I think they look at us now, and they don’t understand why all of a sudden Reid Knight is all over a girl, for one thing. The other reason I think they’re so curious is because they can’t believe it's me you fell for and not a cheerleader or something.” I shift, moving Zoey over. I flip on the nightstand light, coming back over her. I want her to see my face.

“I have never cheated on you. I’ve never even come fucking close to it.” I told her this pretty much when I said I’d never kissed anyone but her. I think she gets it, but she wants it spelled out, which I’m happy to do if it makes her feel better.

“We’ve been together—”

“Since the moment I moved in next door.” She gives me a small smile. “I’m not trying to be sweet here, Zoey. I’m giving you the truth. Not one time have I ever thought it would be anyone but you. If anything, that should probably scare you a little bit. It’s safe to say I'm obsessed with you. When you took those pictures of me, you said I never smiled. I only nodded when we scored or I won a game. I considered all of those moments to be another step in the direction of my future. That future always has and always will be you. I got my ass into Kingston University because I knew you were going to be there. Not to go to some frat party or to hook up with cheerleaders. Everything I’ve done has been for you, for our future.”

“Reid.” My name leaves her lips in a soft breath.

“Yeah, babe?” I lean down more. My heart pounds in my chest.

“The weekend is over.” I nod. She wraps her legs around me. “Make love to me.” I close my eyes, dropping my forehead to hers. “You clearly love me, and I know I Iove you. Even when I try to hide it, somehow my camera always finds you.”

“Say it again.” I open my eyes. She wraps her arms around my neck.