Chapter 32

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Eli

Spring is here, the snow is starting to melt, and baseball season is finally happening. The new semester started in January, so I'm officially not Liza's student anymore. Yes, she's still a teacher at our school, but not being in her class was a plus and a negative at the same time. I miss getting to see her every day. Now, all we get is little glances in the hall and nothing more, which is killing me.

It took some convincing, but I finally got Liza to agree to go away with me for spring break. Billings was too close, and we were dumb to think we wouldn't run into anyone. Thank God Maya kept her word and has never mentioned anything to me about who she saw me with that day.

I found a small town a few hours away; if anyone from here is there, then we were destined to be caught because there are no such things as coincidences that big. We are staying a few nights, and I'm beyond excited to get to hold her in my arms again.

"Okay, Mom, I'm taking off," I say as I enter the kitchen.

She eyes me as she lets out a sigh. She knows I'm lying about where I'm going, but she hasn't tried to stop me, and I love her for it.

She places her hands on either side of my arms and eyes me in her motherly way. "Be safe," she says, meaning so much more than just don't get hurt or do anything stupid.

"I will, Mom." I give her a big hug, my silent thank-you for not stopping me from going to be with Liza.

I hop in the car, send Liza a text to let her know I'm leaving, and blast the radio to help the time go by faster because I've never wanted to get somewhere so fast in my life.

I check us in to the hotel that has little cabins that stand by themselves; this way, we are completely alone. It will just be the two of us for three glorious days.

Once I enter the cabin, I send her a text message, letting her know the cabin number and instructions on how to get here, then sit back and wait for the love of my life to arrive.

Tires rolling over the gravel road awake my senses, and I rush to the door to see her parking next to me. I can't help myself when I meet her at the car before she even opens the door. It's been five months since I've kissed her lips, and I can't wait one more second.

Our eyes meet, and the hunger between us is flammable as she opens the door and instantly jumps into my arms. The same fireworks I've felt anytime my lips touch hers are there as I carry her into our cabin.

We waste no time in saying our hello the proper way by ripping our clothes off. I'm inside her in what feels like two seconds, but the hunger we have for each other couldn't stop us if we tried.

We've waited too long for this. We have time to savor it later, but now, there's just a primal need to be one again as fast as humanly possible.

Afterward, I hold her in my arms, feeling whole for the first time since November.

"Hi," she whispers once she gets settled.

I laugh out loud, realizing we forgot that part. "Hi. It's good to see you. How have you been?" I play along with formal greetings.

She giggles, hiding her face in my arms. "I'm much better now."

I hold her tighter. "Couldn't agree more. Only three more months, and we'll get to do this every day."

She doesn't respond, and I sense her hesitation. Though I won't be her student anymore in June, I also know we can't just go public with our relationship the day I graduate. We haven't discussed how that will work and when she'll feel like we can make that transition from teacher and student to dating without the world questioning us. For now though, I'm just counting down the days until June because even if people don't like it, there's technically nothing wrong with it.

My stomach growls, making her laugh.

"Some things never change."

"Yes, my love for you is just as strong as my love for food," I tease.

"What's our plan? DoorDash?"

"Nope, I'm taking you out." I kiss her head and stand up. "I want to show off my girl and have a real date. It's been way too long since I've gotten to walk while holding your hand or share a meal with you."

Hesitation laces her words. "Are you sure?"

I crawl on the bed on my knees, reaching for her hands and bringing her up to me. "I'm positive. We're hours from home in a small town. No one will know or see us. Let's be normal for once."

She smiles and kisses me softly. "Okay."

We get dressed and walk hand in hand to my truck, loving the fact that we can.

Since we had to wait until school was out, then drive the few hours, it's past nine, but I found a place that stays open until midnight, turning from a restaurant to more of a bar so we can stay much longer.

After we drive there and park, we exit the truck, and I hold the large wooden door open to a building that looks like an old cabin that's been built up and expanded upon. The area inside is dark, lit by candles on the wall that make you feel like you're in an old mining town in the 1900s.

Deer heads line the entryway, leading us to a person standing at a podium.

"Two for dinner? Or do you want to sit in the bar area?"

"We'll do the dining area," I respond, seeing it's a little more secluded, and I don't want to get in a situation later on where they might ask to see my ID.

"Okay, follow me," she says, holding two menus.

I place my hand on the small of Liza's back as she leads us to our booth.

This late at night, the place is pretty quiet, so there are only a few people in their own booths around us, who are just finishing up their meal.

As time goes by, we get our meals, and from here, I can see the bar is starting to attract more people.

I motion to Liza. "This must be quite the hangout."

She laughs. "It's probably the only hangout."

The waitress approaches our table. "Do you have room for any dessert?"

I raise my eyebrows at Liza, making her giggle.

"He has room for everything. Me though? I'm stuffed." She places her hand on her stomach. "Get whatever you want. I'll just have a few bites." She turns to face the waitress. "Where is the restroom?"

"It's right through the bar to the left," she responds.

I order the chocolate sin cake as Liza excuses herself to the bathroom. On her way back, I watch as she stops at the bar to, it looks like, order a drink. I shouldn't be surprised when two guys approach her, standing there by herself, so I sit a little taller, keeping my eye on the situation to make sure she's okay.

Pride races through my veins as I watch her decline their advances.

That's right, douchebags; she's with me.

They do the right thing and say their goodbyes, turning to face one another while she waits for her drink. After the bartender sets it down, she pays for it and picks it up just as one of the guys turns as well, bumping into her.

I watch closely to make sure nothing turns weird, but they both say they're sorry while one grabs her a napkin so she can wipe the drink that spilled a little on her arm. She sets the drink down, cleans up, then waves goodbye as she heads in my direction.

"What was that all about?" I ask once she sits down.

She shakes her head, blowing it off. "Just guys being guys. No biggie." She holds up her drink to me. "Want a sip?"

I raise my eyebrows and tilt my head her way in question, silently reminding her that I'm only eighteen.

She giggles as she says, "It's only a sip."

"I'm good. Thanks though."

The waitress brings our dessert, and we get lost in conversation again as we indulge in the chocolate goodness that is almost as good as sex—almost.

I stop short from licking the plate clean when the waitress approaches us again. "You guys are welcome to sit here as long as you want. I'm just closing up my end, but the bar will be open for a few more hours." She points to Liza's drink that's half gone. "If you want another one, I can get it now to save you a trip up there."

Liza looks at me in question.

I smile, encouraging her to do so. "Have another one."

A drunk Liza could be fun tonight, I selflessly think.

"Sure, why not? A Jack and Seven."

"Sounds good. I'll get that and bring you your bill as well."

"Thank you," I say.

"Jack and Seven?" I question, realizing I didn't even ask before what she was drinking. "So, no girlie drinks for you?"

She shrugs. "My sister and I used to go to concerts, and we'd bring a bottle of Jack and 7Up to drink in the parking lot before it started. It was cheaper that way."

"You don't talk about your sister much."

She sighs. "I don't talk to her that much now either. We used to be super close, but she's got herself mixed up with the wrong guy, the wrong crowd, the wrong path in general. She won't talk to me because she knows I'm not okay with it all. She'll see though. At least I pray she will before it's too late."

"What do your parents think?"

"She was always a handful, so they know the more they pry, the more they will push her away. I think that's one of the reasons they were encouraging me to come here. They didn't want me to get mixed up with the wrong crowd too."

"Yet you're here with me," I tease.

She laughs out loud. "Yet I'm here with you. I think they'd still approve."

I reach out to hold her hand with the biggest grin across my face.

The waitress brings our check and her drink. I pay the bill as we sit and talk some more before Liza moves to stand up.

"Man, that drink has gone right through me. I'll be right back."

I watch as she makes her way through the bar toward the restroom. A few minutes go by, and when she doesn't come back into my view, I start to worry. I give it a few more minutes, then decide to go investigate to make sure she's okay.

The place has filled up, and I don't see her anywhere, so I head to the restroom to check if she's still in there. When I turn the corner, my stomach drops, my chest is tight, and I don't know whether to break down crying or beat the living shit out of some guy.