The Hazards of Skinny Dipping
The Hazards of Skinny Dipping (Hazards #1)(54)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy
I started where I’d left off. They were more of the same. Mostly, just updates on me, but then, suddenly, they changed.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Hey
Amy,
She’s a lot cooler than you give her credit for. I keep thinking of ways to kill Dylan Bradley any time I see them together. He doesn’t deserve her.
Reed
***
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Hey
Reed,
Are you into my cousin? Be honest.
Amy
***
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Re: Hey
What if I was?
***
From: [email protected]
Subject: One and only warning
Reed,
If you break her heart, I’ll break you.
Love,
Amy
***
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: One and only warning
Amy,
You have my permission to do that.
Reed
***
From: [email protected]
Subject: Remember
Reed,
Remember my threat. She’s in love with you.
Amy
***
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Remember
Amy,
That’s good, because I’m in love with her.
My breath hitched when I read his words even though he’d told me so many times.
***
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Re: Remember
Reed,
Wow. Who would have thought?
***
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Remember
Amy,
You said it. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but it did.
Reed
And then they changed again.
***
From: [email protected]
Subject: Help
Amy,
You have to help me. I can’t lose her. I won’t lose her.
Reed
***
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Help
Reed,
She hates me, too. I don’t know what to do.
Amy
***
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Help
Amy,
I’m going to give her space, but it’s going to hurt like hell. I don’t know what else to do.
***
From: [email protected]
Subject: Juliet
Reed,
She’s worth it.
Amy
***
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Juliet
Amy,
Completely worth it.
The last document on the drive wasn’t to Amy. It was a letter to me.
Juliet,
I’ve been thinking things over every second of every day. I know I should have told you I was talking to Amy, but I was too scared to lose you. In the end, that fear was the reason I lost you. I know we belong together. No one else will ever make me feel the way you do. No one else could ever make me whole again. I’m still here—waiting. I keep thinking that, if I give you time, you’ll realize how right we really are.
Yours forever,
Reed
A box of tissues wasn’t enough. I loved Reed with everything I had. I’d needed time alone to figure things out, but I knew what I had to do.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I knocked, hoping someone in the house was up. Thankfully, a few guys playing pool heard me.
“Is he home?” I didn’t bother to say who.
“Yeah, he’s up there.”
“Good.”
I took the stairs slowly, still rehearsing what I was going to say to him.
I knocked softly, but he didn’t answer. I tried the door, and it pushed in. It was dark, but from the faint glow of the moon through the window, I saw him sleeping. He was on his back, with the sheet and comforter down around his waist, leaving his naked chest exposed. From experience, I knew the rest of him was probably naked too. He hadn’t made that up.
I kicked off my shoes and tossed my jacket on the chair before climbing in next to him.
I ran my fingers down his chest, and leaned in to whisper, “I’m ready.”
“Juliet?” His hand touched me like he was trying to make sure I was real.
“I miss you.”
He pulled me into his arms. “I’ve missed you like crazy. I’ve been out of my mind.”
“Me too.”
“Did you look at the rest of the emails?”
“Yes.”
“So, do you believe me?”
“Yes. But I’d be here even without them. I’m still a Reed addict.”
He laughed. “I hope you’re here for more than the sex.”
“Who said I was only addicted to your body?”
“Oh… it’s more?”
“Yes, it’s more. It’s all of you. It’s the way you make me feel, the way you make me smile even when I want to cry.”
“You’re crying now.” He wiped a tear off my face.
“I’m just emotional. It’s not too late, is it?”
“Of course not.” He kissed me, and I kissed back. I put everything in that kiss—the pain, the sadness, and the love. He did the same, and the kiss became something much more than merely physical.
“I know it’s late, but will you do something with me?”
“Anything.”
“You’ll need to get dressed.”
“That’s disappointing, but I’ll do it.”