In Too Deep by Michelle Kemper Brownlow Read Free Book Online Page A

from my head and suddenly saw this scenario from another point of view. I was the shy girl. The good, not-too-forward girl, who never made the first move. Joel and I fooled around, but I always followed his lead, and the only time I spoke up was when we were getting a little too close to the real thing. I never had the upper hand with a guy. And especially, not a guy like Noah. Some of the stories I’d heard him tell the other guys about his conquests at work made the hair on my neck stand up. But right at that moment, he seemed to be into me. And as much as I didn’t want to admit it, I was hopeful.
    He was definitely a bad boy, the kind of guy that usually didn’t give a “nice girl” like me the time of day. And he was asking me for a kiss. This could be my one and only chance to have secret bragging rights to something not-so-innocent, but safe at the same time. It was just a peck, right?
    I convinced myself this was the innocent side of living on the edge. It was just one more safe way to be reckless. I knew I would never have another opportunity like this again. A thunderstorm was rumbling in the distance and a downpour would soon be upon us. Something about Noah coaxed me out of my comfort zone. I took a step toward him—and went for it.
    Our lips met and there was a shock. Literally, a shock. I flinched and pulled back. He was grinning, eyes wide.
    “Wow,” he said, “I’ve never had that happen before.”
    It could have ended there, but I leaned in again. He closed his eyes. I pressed harder this time, hoping the electricity from the pending storm wouldn’t zap us again. No zap, but those familiar vibrations came alive in me. Alive in places other than my extremities this time. There was no tongue as promised, but it was a little more than a peck. He was tasting me. I was tasting him. He tasted so good. Surprisingly, he was gentle. Not at all what I had imagined. He didn’t even reach out to touch me. He just leaned in.
    Okay. Done. Reckless abandon over.
    I stepped back slowly and opened my eyes, my lips still parted. It was so much more than I expected. He looked at me with a smirk, put two fingers to his brow, and gave me a little salute. “Night,” he said as he turned and walked down the deck.
    His lips.
    The skies opened, the rain came down, and lightning struck with a loud crack followed by a low rumble. I started to regret the kiss before my head hit the pillow.

Seven
    Late Saturday Afternoon, September, Junior Year

    I shook myself awake and quickly but carefully sat up, making sure I didn’t hit my head on the underside of Stacy’s bunk as I’d done one too many times. My heart pounded from being woken by what I assumed was the thunder in my dream. But then I heard a noise in the other room. I rubbed my eyes, and as I stood and turned toward the door, he walked in. I slapped my hand across my mouth and held my stomach all at once. The sight of Noah in my bedroom once again brought all the pain and revulsion back to real time. I couldn’t do this again. I sat back down on my bed and buried my face in my hands.
    “You need to leave. Now.” I didn’t look up. I tried to keep my voice as calm as I could so I would appear in control, but I was shaking violently.
    “I wanted to thank you for going to lunch today.”
    “Okay, you thanked me. Now leave.”
    “I…I just need…”
    And with that I stood and charged over to him. Toe to toe.
    “ You need? You need what, Noah? Pity? You think I will feel sorry for you for making a mistake? What about me, you asshole? What about the way my heart feels right now? How about how disgusted I am that you let me do what I did to you last night knowing her mouth had just been there, too? I don’t even want to look at you. Get out!”
    “Gracie. Just hear me out. Please.”
    “Noah, there is honestly nothing you could say to me right now that would make me want to be with you again. I broke up with you last night. We are done! Please