CHAPTER ONE
Whitney
SUNLIGHTPOUREDTHROUGHfourceiling-heightwindowsoverlookingthecityscapeofNewYorkCity’sUpperWest Side Thesnugbutwell-furnishedandartfullydecoratedlivingareaofthetwo-bedroomvacationrentalsmelledfaintlyof cleaningsolutionasIfollowedJessicainside,panting,sweatpricklingalongmyhairline.
“Notbad.”Jessicagrinned,tossingherdufflebagontheredfabriccouchbeforefloppingdownandfanningherselfwith herhand “Toobadtheelevatorwasoutoforder,though”
“You’retellingme,”BillraspedsomewherebehindmeashecameintotheapartmentdraggingJessica’ssuitcase an ancientbeastmadeofplasticandrubberthathadseenmuchbetterdays.Heletitdroptothegroundwithathudand immediatelyshruggedoffhisjacket,hangingitoverabarstool “Fiveflightsofstairs ”
“Itwasn’tthatbad”Rhys’svoicewasjovialasheenteredtheapartment Iturnedmyheadintimetoseehimedgethedoor closedwithhisfootbeforedroppingoursuitcases.
“Saystheguywhogoestothegymtwiceaday.”Jessicatwirledalockofherglossyredhairaroundherfingersandclosed hereyesagainstthewarmspringsun
“Andrunslikehe’strainingforamarathon,”Billsnorted,movingtowardthebarcartandexaminingthevariousshooters thehosthadleftforus.
Rhystookoffhisjacket,hiseyeslockedonmine.Iscrunchedmynoseathimandwalkedtowardthecouch,sittingdown andcrossingmyarmsovermychest Jessicastretchedherlegsouttorestovermylapandknittedherfingersoverherstomach, sighingblissfully.
Shehadtherightidea.We’dcomehereforsomerestandrelaxation.Amuch-neededbreakfromstudying,exams,and campusingeneral Ishouldbeinthebestofmoods,butI’dsulkedtheentiredrivehere I’dhad,unfortunately,allthetimein theworldduringthenearlytwo-hourdriveintothecitytoletmyassumptionsaboutRhys’snoticeableabsenceinmylifeover thelastforty-eighthourstosinkinandfester
HecouldtellIwasmad IcouldseeitinhiseyesashecautiouslywalkedovertoBillandaskedwhichbedroomhe wanted.
Billglancedoverhisshoulderatme,thenbackatRhys.“Well,youmightbetakingthecouchtonight,buddy,soitdoesn’t mattertome”
Jessicasnortedwithlaughterandpeeredatmethroughslittedeyes “Comeon,Whit Lightenup”Hervoicewasawhisper asBillandRhyslefttheroomtocheckoutthespaciousbedroomsoneithersideofthelivingarea.“Youpromisedmeyou’d usethistimetorelaxandnotthinkaboutwhatjusthappened”Shetappedherphone “Youtextedittome,actually That promiseisbasicallyacontractualagreementnow.”
“Iamrelaxed.I’mlightened up. ”
Sherolledhereyesandswungherlegsoffthecouch,groaningasshestretchedherarmsaboveherhead.Thenshemade herwaytothebarcartandpickedthroughthegoodiesondisplay Ihadroughlytwosecondstopreparemyselfbeforeshe tossedashooteroftequilainmydirection.Icaughtitonlytopreventitfrombouncingoffthewallbehindmeandhittingmein thebackofthehead
or d h, er Withaheavysigh,Ididthesame.
“NowgotalktoRhys.Helookslikehewantstocrawlonhishandsandkneesandbegforyourforgiveness.Thatmightbe inyourfavorifyou’retryingtogetfriskytonight”
Igaveheradisgustedlook “You’vebeenreadingtoomuchsmut”
“Don’ttellmymom,”shelaughed,wigglinghereyebrowsatmejustasRhysandBillwalkedoutofoneofthebedrooms. “Jess,youandIareinthisroom,”Billsaid,jabbingafigureattheroomhe’djustcomeoutof.
“AndyouandI,”Rhyssaidslowly,“areinthatone.Unless,ofcourse,I’msleepingonthecouchtonight.”
“Thatdepends.”Iflippedmyhairovermyshoulderandstoodup.Ibrushedpasthim,grabbedmysuitcase,andwalkedinto thebedroom,closingthedoorbehindme.Sure,Imightbeactingdramatic,butinmydefense,itfeltlikemylifeasI’dknownit hadblownupinmyface,andRhyshadn’tbeenthere.
ThedooropenedandshutbehindmeasIhastilyunpackedmysuitcase,arrangingmyoutfitsonthebed.Rhysletoutasigh asheliftedhissuitcaseupnexttomine.“Whit,I’msorry.”
“It’sfine.Imean,youstraight-updisappeared,andIwenttothechancellorandtoldhimeverythingthinkingyou’dbeen fired,butnoworries,it’stotally,completelyfine.”Igrabbedthepairofblack,red-bottomedstilettosI’dpackedandabsently examinedthem,likesomethinginthegleamingleatherwouldgivemeananswertoallofmyproblems.“Totallyfine. Everythingisfine.”
“Whitney ”
“Wherethehellwereyou?”Iwhirledaround,clutchingthestilettoslikeweapons.
Rhys’seyeswentwide.Heraisedhishandsandtookastepback,butasmiletwitchedatthecornerofhismouth.“Whitney, look,Ican’ttellyou”
“What?”Ipracticallygrowledthewords
“Ican’ttellyou”
Igapedathim,loweringtheshoesandtossingthemonthebed “Areyoukiddingme?”
“No,I’mnot”Hetookhisglassesoffandranhisfingersthroughhisdarkbrownhair Ithadgrownoutabitoverthelast fewweeks,makinghimlookevenmoreruggedandtousledthanusual.Ilikedit,butIwasn’tabouttolethisgoodlookswin meoverrightnow “I’lltellyousoon,okay?It’snothingbad Theopposite,actually”
“Well,hopefullyitmakesupforwhateverhellisawaitingusbackoncampus”
Rhyspursedhislips,bitingbackasmile Hetookasteptowardme,archingabrowasifinquestion Iletmyshoulders slump,givinghimthesilentconfirmationheneededthatIwasn’tgoingtobludgeonhimwithashoeifheapproachedme.He tookmeinhisarms,andthat’sallittook Hiswarmthwrappedaroundme,aninstantcomfort
“I’mtakingyououtonarealdatetonight,”hesaidintomyhair “I’veplanneditallout”
Irestedmycheekagainsthischest,closingmyeyesandlettingallofmyanxietywashaway,ifjustforamoment “Havewe everbeenonarealdatebefore?”
“NotsincewewenttoSleepyHollowtogether,butthisis...different.Everythingisbehindusnow,Whitney.We’refreeto justbetogether,andIwanttomakethemostofit Ipromiseyou ”HereacheddownandtookmebythechinsoIhadtolook upathim.Hekissedmegentlyandtenderly,lettingallofhisfeelingsflowintothatkiss.
to it y, we
Hewasseriousabouttakingmeonadate.Twohourslater,wewerecozilyseatedinsideaquaintItalianbistro.Candleslit everytable Itwasasix-coursemealpairedwithwine,andforthefirsttimeinawhile,I’dhadarealreasontodressup
“Youlookbeautiful,”Rhyssaidforthefifthtimetonight Itiltedmyhead,smilingathimovertherimofmywineglass “How’dyoufindthisplace?”
“Billknowsaguy.”Hesmiled,thecandlelightreflectingonhisglassesashetoppedoffhiswinewithwhatwasleftinthe decanter.“Heseemstoknoweveryone,actually.”
“He’sagoodfriendtohave,”Iagreed,takingasip.Thewinewasdelicious,aswasthefood,andtheintimateatmosphere hadmefeelinggoodasIwatchedRhysconversewiththewaiter,handinghimourbill.
Beyondthewindows,NewYorkCitywasalivewithnightlife,thelightsglimmeringandblinkingaspeoplepassedonthe sidewalkoutsidetherestaurant.
“What’snext?”Iasked,finishingmywine.
Rhyseyedmeovertherimofhiswineglass.“BillandJessicawantedtomeetupataclubafewblocksaway.”
“Aclub?”WhenwasthelasttimeIwentclubbing?Betteryet,hadRhyseverbeentoanAmericanclub?
Sensingmysilentpondering,hesmiledandarchedabrow “Oneday,I’lltakeyoutoEuropeandshowyouwhatareal nightclublookslike,butthiswilldofornow.”
“Oh?”Ilaughed,andherosefromhischair,offeringmehishand.TheblackstilettosI’dnearlybludgeonedhimwith earlierweresurprisinglycomfortableasIfollowedhimoutoftherestaurantandintothehustleandbustleoftheUpperEast Side.
HeaskedifIwantedtohailacab,butIdeclined.Iwantedtowalk,toseethecitylights,tofeellikeasmallfishinthe oceanthatwasNewYorkCity Itwasaplacewherewewerejustus Notthenewlyouted,infamous,andsubjecttogossipand ridiculecoupleoncampus.NotthecouplethatmightbeinserioustroublewhenwereturnedtoGatlington.Justus.
Iknittedmyfingersinhisaswewalked.Thecoolnightairbrushedovermythighs,mytight,revealingblackdressdoing nothingtoshieldmefromthecold
I’dbeensavingtheoutfitforawhile,nothavinganoccasiontowearituntilnow Rhysnoticedtheshiverrunningupmy spineandtookoffhisleatherjacketwhilewewaitedtocrossthestreet,drapingitovermyshoulders.Ibeamedupathim.He caressedmycheekandbrushedakissovermylips,warmandinviting Partofmewantedtocallitanightandtakehimhome, intoourbed,andletthatkissturnintosomethingdeeper.
Butthenwecrossedthestreetandspottedalinewrappingnearlyaroundtheblock.
“Thisisit,”Rhyssaid,hisarmropedovermyshoulders.
“Oh,great.Lookatthelinetogetin!”
“Don’tworryaboutit.Billsaidwe’reonthelist.”
“Letmeguess,heknowssomeone?”
Rhys’seyesglimmeredwithlaughter.“Yeah,hedoes,ofcourse.”
Iwasn’tentirelysurprisedwhenwewalkedrightuptothebouncer,gaveournames,andwereimmediatelyletinside.
Itwasajazzclub,andeverythingwasalldarkwoodandredvelvet.WewereusheredtotheVIPsection,whereJessica andBillweredressedtotheninesanddrinkingespressomartinisundersoft,goldenlight
nd
“There’sathemetonight.”Jessicagrinnedasshepattedthechairnexttohersatthesnughigh-toptableoverlookingthefirst flooroftheclub “It’stheroaringtwenties”
“I’munderdressed,”Iadmitted
BillandRhyshaddroppedintoeasyconversationacrossthetable,andIspentthenextthirtyminutestalkingtoJessicaasI nursedmydrink.They’dspenttheirdaywalkingaround,checkingoutafewbookstoresandmeetingwithacquaintancesofBill.
Eventually,Rhysstoodupandleanedtowhisperinmyearovertheroaringmusiccomingfrombelow,“Comedancewith me”
Myheartfluttered.Irealized,maybeforthefirsttime,thatthisnightwasthefirsttimewe’dbeenabletojustbetogether outintheopen.Todothingsnormalcouplesgottodowithouteventhinkingaboutit.
Itookhishand,andheledmedownstairs,BillandJessicaclosebehind,andforthenexttwohours,wedanced.
Idanced,anddanced,anddanced,untilmyfeetachedinmystilettosandmyhairwasdampwithsweat.Icircledmyarms aroundRhys’sneckandkissedhimfully,deeply,whilebodiesswayedtothemusicallaroundus.
MyboyfriendandItoreupthedanceflooruntiltheearlyhoursofthemorning.
Ididn’teventhinkaboutGatlington.Ididn’tthinkaboutwhereRhyshadgoneorwhatawaitedusafterspringbreak. Ijustletgo,forthefirsttimeinmonths,andletmyselfenjoythatmoment.
Andlyinginbedwithhim,watchingthesunrisethenextmorning,Irestedmypoundingheadagainsthischestandwatched thesunglitteroverthethousandsofwindowsliningthebuildingsoutsideandcountedmyblessings
Everythingelsecouldwait,justforafewdays Thisweekwasaboutus
“There’sathemetonight.”Jessicagrinnedasshepattedthechairnexttohersatthesnughigh-toptableoverlookingthefirst flooroftheclub “It’stheroaringtwenties”
“I’munderdressed,”Iadmitted
BillandRhyshaddroppedintoeasyconversationacrossthetable,andIspentthenextthirtyminutestalkingtoJessicaasI nursedmydrink.They’dspenttheirdaywalkingaround,checkingoutafewbookstoresandmeetingwithacquaintancesofBill.
Eventually,Rhysstoodupandleanedtowhisperinmyearovertheroaringmusiccomingfrombelow,“Comedancewith me”
Myheartfluttered.Irealized,maybeforthefirsttime,thatthisnightwasthefirsttimewe’dbeenabletojustbetogether outintheopen.Todothingsnormalcouplesgottodowithouteventhinkingaboutit.
Itookhishand,andheledmedownstairs,BillandJessicaclosebehind,andforthenexttwohours,wedanced.
Idanced,anddanced,anddanced,untilmyfeetachedinmystilettosandmyhairwasdampwithsweat.Icircledmyarms aroundRhys’sneckandkissedhimfully,deeply,whilebodiesswayedtothemusicallaroundus.
MyboyfriendandItoreupthedanceflooruntiltheearlyhoursofthemorning.
Ididn’teventhinkaboutGatlington.Ididn’tthinkaboutwhereRhyshadgoneorwhatawaitedusafterspringbreak. Ijustletgo,forthefirsttimeinmonths,andletmyselfenjoythatmoment.
Andlyinginbedwithhim,watchingthesunrisethenextmorning,Irestedmypoundingheadagainsthischestandwatched thesunglitteroverthethousandsofwindowsliningthebuildingsoutsideandcountedmyblessings
Everythingelsecouldwait,justforafewdays Thisweekwasaboutus
