16
They made love again, and again. Billy was frantic in his need for her. She put her hand on his chest, over his heart, as he moved over her again, pushing her legs apart with his.
“Billy, stop. We have to get back to the house.”
“Don’t wanna. I need you, just you, just us.”
She pushed against his chest with both her hands. “Billy, stop.”
He stopped. “I can’t lose you.”
She moved her hands to his face. “You won’t.”
“Do you swear that to me? That there’s no one else. Is that something you can swear to, Renie?”
She sat up and moved so she was next to him, instead of under him.
“Did you hear me? Did you hear what I asked you?”
“I’m here with you, Billy. I wouldn’t be if there were someone else.”
The look on her face made his heart stop. He’d gotten carried away in his need for her, his need for her reassurance. He’d never felt this way before. He’d never cared about anyone enough to need reassurance from them. He hated this feeling.
“Come on,” she said. “Let’s take a quick shower before we have to leave.” She smiled, and pulled him to the bathroom with her.
“Yeah? You gonna let me get you clean, Renie?”
She smiled. “Yes I am, right after you get me dirty again.”
They were late to dinner, but Ben and Liv didn’t seem to notice. Luke greeted them at the front door and threw his arms around Renie’s waist.
“What’s going on, Luke? It’s hasn’t been that long since you’ve seen me.”
“I know, but I missed you,” he answered, glaring at Billy when he did.
“You remember Billy don’t you, Luke?”
“Yeah, hi,” he said, not making eye contact with Billy.
Billy reached out his hand to shake Luke’s hand, and Luke turned his back on him. Renie grabbed his shoulder. “Luke, that wasn’t very polite.”
Luke turned back around and shook Billy’s hand. “Hi,” he said again, but still no eye contact.
Jake stood off to the side, but approached Billy when he heard Renie admonish Luke.
“Hi, Billy,” he said, and made the first move to shake his hand.
“Hey, Jake—wow, that’s quite a grip you’ve got there, buddy.” Billy pulled his hand out of Jake’s grasp.
“Dinner’s ready,” Liv shouted from the kitchen. “Boys, go wash your hands.” She looked at Renie and Billy. “You two can sit down, almost everything is on the table. Ben will bring in the rest.”
“I take it I’m on the Rice boys’ shit list,” Billy whispered to Renie.
It took Renie a minute to realize he was talking about Jake and Luke.
“What was that puzzled look on your face all about? Who’d you think I was talking about?”
She had no intention of telling him she thought he was talking about Jace.