He laughed, but it sounded strained. “Allie, I don’t think you mean that.”
Yep. She’d said it out loud. But she wasn’t embarrassed.
She sat up, taking the covers with her. “I do mean it. I…I love you, Tom.”
He looked startled.
She gulped. Should she not have it said it first? Then he grinned, and a wave of relief washed over her. Of course he loved her. He just wasn’t ready to say it yet. He sat up and tucked a long stand of hair behind her ear, then leaned down to gently kiss her. “You make me crazy, you know that, right?” he whispered against her mouth.
Her mind immediately jumped to Lauren, Tom’s-ex. She shouldn’t compare herself to anyone else, but it was hard not to wonder what exactly had gone down between them. They’d dated almost a year. Had he said those same words to her, as well?
Allie tried not to think about anything other than the two of them. If he wanted Lauren, then he’d have tried to win her back. But he hadn’t tried. Not one little bit. “Not as crazy as you make me,” she whispered back. She glanced over at his nightstand.
He followed her gaze and shook his head. “I don’t have any condoms.”
She sighed. What eighteen-year-old boy given the proverbial green light refused sex? Tom Donalan. Mr. Responsible, that’s who. Allie should be grateful he wasn’t reckless enough to engage in intercourse without protection. It was just…she mentally shook her head. Didn’t he want her as much as she wanted him?
He jumped up from the bed, and Allie couldn’t help but sit back and enjoy the view. Six foot three, and all those lovely muscles. Allie hadn’t fallen in love with Tom because of his looks, though. Initially, yes, she’d been attracted to him for all the usual reasons, but it went far beyond that. He was the one person in the world she felt comfortable saying anything to, and the only person in the world who knew what happened the day her mother died. Allie had never been able to talk to anyone about it. Not grief counselors, not even Buela. But Tom? There was something so natural about their relationship. It was like there was this thing between them that didn’t exist with anyone else.
He began pulling his clothes back on. “My parents should be home any minute,” he warned.
“I thought church lasted till at least nine. Doesn’t your dad believe in long sermons?”
“It’s a meet and greet, not a service,” Tom said.
“Well, I wouldn’t want the Reverend Donalan’s son to be found in a compromising position,” she joked. Reluctantly, Allie began pulling her clothes back on as well.
He playfully swatted her on her ass t
hen pulled her against his chest. “Were you serious?”
“About…going all the way?” She nodded.
“I don’t want to rush you,” he said.
“We’ve been going out for three months now. Besides…” She let her next words drift off. She was going to say she loved him again. But she didn’t want to put him in a position where he said it just because she’d said it.
He cupped her chin with his fingers and stared down into her eyes. “I’m not very good at this. But…I’ve never felt about anyone the way I do about you. You know that, right?”
It was as if the sun had knocked down the walls to his bedroom and was shining down on top of them. They were all the words Allie needed to hear. She shamelessly rubbed herself against him, making him go hard.
He groaned. “Allie, are you sure?”
“Positive. And…we could use Zeke’s house. He and Mimi are taking Claire to Disney World tomorrow, so their house will be empty. And guess who has a key?”
“I don’t get off work till after eight.”
“I’ll meet you there at nine,” she said.
He slowly nodded, then smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”
She smiled back. “Bring a condom. No wait, on second thought, bring two.”
*~*~*
On his nights off from the police force, Zeke worked security at The Harbor House, Whispering Bay’s fanciest restaurant. That connection had helped Allie land a summer job bussing tables. In exactly two weeks, she’d be moving into her dorm at Florida State. The money she’d made this summer would help offset some of her living expenses. Eight more shifts and she’d be done here. Eight more hours and she’d be in the process of losing her virginity. She couldn’t wait.
Was Tom a virgin, too? Allie had never asked him and he had never volunteered the information. But considering his only real girlfriend before her had been Lauren Handy (little Ms. Perfect who never once colored outside the lines) then the answer to that was probably a resounding no.