The One For Me by Layla James Page A

I run toward the blanket.
    I lie down on the blanket and laugh. It feels good. Lia m’s pants are soaking wet when h e gets to me. He looks down at me, smiling. “You asked for it,” I say.
    He tilts his head to the side, dropping to his knees. I sit up, but he pushes me back down. He reaches for my ribs. I start to laugh. “No, stop,” I say, laughing. He digs his fingers into my side, tickling me. My dad use to tickle me so hard, I would laugh until I cried.
    “Say you’re sorry,” he says, smiling.
    “No!” I yell. “Stop.”
    “Say it,” he says.
    “Sorry! Mercy! Uncle!”
    He stops, looking down at me. I’m still out of breath. Liam is laughing along with me. “You asked for it,” he says.
    I suddenly realize how this looks. Liam is sitting so close to me, his legs touching mine. His face turns serious. Liam’s lip s part . I want to kiss him. I want him to kiss me. I just want him. He leans down a few inches, until he is hovering over me. Ah, hell . His fingers brush against my jaw. It sends shivers down my body. I moan. I don’t know where it comes from, but it just happen s. Loudly. I know he hears it.
    Liam snatches his hand back, shaking his head. “Um, I’m going to go throw away our trash. I’ll meet you at the Jeep. ” Liam grabs t he remains of our napkins and walks toward the trashcan.
    I can barely make myself move. What just happened? Was Liam going to kiss me? Was he going to hold me? I sit up and look over toward him; he isn’t looking back, only walking quickly toward a trash barrel. I close my eyes. Don’t let yourself care Katy. Suck it up. I chased him away. Jeez, way to go, Katy.
    I grab the blanket and fold it up. I walk back to the Jeep alone. Try to act normal. I wait by the passenger side door, leaning against it. Liam walks toward the Jeep, hands in his wet jeans pocket. He doesn’t look right at me. It’s like he is afraid I’ll turn him to stone.
    “Read y to go?” Liam asks, unlocking the door. I nod, pulling myself up into the Jeep. Liam’s eyes are wide, his shirt still off, and his pants soaked. I want to say something. I want to make him talk to me. Had he wanted to kiss me? Was it just in the moment? Did my dang moaning like an idiot scare him?
    God, I hope it’s none of that.
    I give Liam a sideways glance. He is staring forward. He doesn’t look at me. I bite my lip, looking out the passenger side window. This is awkward.
    The ride home is silent. Liam turns up the radio, but it doesn’t seem like he is even paying attention to it. He just stares forward. I sigh. I’ve never known Liam to stay quiet this long.
    When we pull into the driveway, Dad’s SUV isn’t there. I’m half relieved. “Um, so, I had fun. Thank you,” I say, lowly.
    Liam looks over at me. “I’m glad you did. You needed a break.”
    I nod. “Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then?” I have my hand on the door handle. He doesn’t stop me.
    “Tomorrow is school,” he says.
    “Yep.”
    “Well, see ya then,” he says, looking out his window. I want to grab him, hug him or touch him. But he is looking the other way. He wants me to leave. I do. I get out, waving at him, while he drives away. I walk over to my bag sitting in the grass. Mom didn’t pick it up? Something must be wrong.
    I hesitantly open t he door. Mom is sitting at the kitchen table when I walk in . Her eyes are glazed over. Her face emotionless. Her hair looks like a bird’s nest.
    “Momma?” I ask.
    She glances up at me. “Katy, you’re home…where have you been?”
    “ With Liam. We went to the beach for a little while. ”
    She glances down at my shirt. “Is that your shirt?”
    I shake my head. “Liam’s, I got mine wet, he let me have his.” She nods, staring into space. “Are you okay? What’s the matter?”
    She places her hands over her face. She lets out a small sob . I walk toward her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders. They’re shaking. “Momma,” I say.
    “He is leaving.