For the Rush(51)

CHAPTER 25


Holden



The rain was drenching us, but I didn’t care. This was the most alive I’d felt in days. With Chloe’s lips pressed to mine, all of the sadness of the week disappeared. Her hands touched my chest, gripping my shirt, and in her need for me I gathered strength. As our kiss deepened, I lost myself in it. The images that had haunted me all week vanished. I shut down my thoughts and focused in on my feelings. On Chloe’s touch, on her tongue in my mouth and the softness of her lips. When we parted, I stared into her eyes and ran my fingers over her face. My fingertips slid over her soft flesh, memorizing every inch of it. I wanted to stay here forever. However, I knew I needed to get Chloe out of here before she froze. Also, I wasn’t supposed to get my arm wet. I even had to wear a bag in the shower. Right now it was encased in the sling and hidden under my jacket, but with the rain coming down so hard I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep it dry much longer.

Reluctantly, I moved back. “Let’s get outta the rain.”

Chloe nodded, sliding off the bench. When I stood, I snatched up her hand, and together we headed toward the car. Once inside, Chloe rubbed her palms together, her teeth chattering.

“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling bad that she was so cold. “I should’ve gotten you in here sooner.”

She turned to me with a smile. “I’m not sorry.”

God, she was amazing.

Leaning forward, I kissed her softly on the lips. Her eyelids fluttered as I exerted a little more pressure. Before I knew it, her lips were parted and our tongues melded together. Kissing was like breathing with Chloe. It came so easily, happened so seamlessly.

“Don’t run away from me again,” I spoke against her mouth.

“I won’t.” Hot breath fanned my lips.

When we broke apart, Chloe started the car. Heat filled the car as she drove away from the lake. I savored the warmth, a chill working its way up my spine. Chloe flicked on the windshield wipers and they squeaked over the front window as they swept back and forth. Rain beat down relentlessly against the roof of the car like a manic drumbeat.

“How’s your arm?” Chloe kept her hands on the steering wheel, her gaze trained forward.

“You sound like my mom,” I joked.

“I’m just worried about you, you know…” her voice trailed off and I knew what she was thinking.

“Hey, I don’t regret what happened, and I don’t want you to either.”

“I can’t help it. I feel terrible.”

“Don’t. If I had to do it all over again, I’d do the same thing. I’m glad I saved you,” I said honestly.

“I never said thank you,” she practically whispered. “But I am so grateful. What you did…” her voice wavered. “It was incredible. Very heroic.”

“You don’t have to thank me.” I stared out the window. “What I did wasn’t heroic. It was selfish. I did it because I couldn’t imagine losing you.”

Her head swiveled in my direction. “You risked your life for me. No matter what the reason was, in my book it’s heroic.”

I nodded, not wishing to challenge her on it.

“Where do we go from here?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Forward.”

“How do we do that, though?” She quickly swiped at her face. I wasn’t sure if she had started crying or if she still had rain on her cheek. I suspected it was both. “How do we get past what happened?”

“I don’t know. I wish I had an answer for you, but I don’t. I only know that we have to try to move on.”

We neared a stop sign and she gently eased on the brake. When we stopped she turned to me. “I’m glad I came today.”

“I’m glad you did too.”



I wanted to stay home on Monday, but I knew I had to go to school. The longer I stayed out, the harder it would be to go back. Therefore, I needed to attend. I rode with Chloe. I still hadn’t driven anywhere. I was sure that I could, but Mom didn’t like the idea of me driving one-armed. As Chloe drove, her legs bounced nervously. I wanted to console her, but I didn’t know how. Surely she wasn’t dreading this anymore than I was. When we approached the school, Chloe’s eyes widened, and I inhaled sharply. God, it was a madhouse. Dozens of people stood outside of the school holding signs. Some were anti-bullying posters, while others spouted off sayings about gun safety. My stomach clenched.

Chloe’s eyes were steely, her mouth pressed together in a tight line as she hurried past them into the parking lot. “Do they really think they’re helping?”

“I’m sure they think they are.”