The Saddest Song - By Susie Kaye Lopez Page 0,58

right here with my friends.

When the dancing began, Max held me tightly as I lay my head against his shoulder. I could hear him singing softly, his voice like warm velvet. I had kicked off my heels hours before and Max was once again taller than me. I breathed in the smell of him, his cologne my new favorite smell.

“Max,” I murmured

“Hmmm?” he whispered against my ear.

“You smell as good as you look.”

“I do?”

“Yes, you do.”

The song we were dancing to ended but I didn’t let go. I just swayed against him until the next song began. In my head I could think of so many things I wanted to say to him. I wanted to tell him how much he meant to me, how I could never live without him. But all that came out was, “I could stay like this forever.”

“Me too,” he replied, and pulled me tighter against him.

Right before midnight Ethan turned on the Television so that we could see the count down. When there was only ten seconds left we all counted down before shouting “ Happy New Year!” in unison.

While the other couples began to kiss, his lips met mine in a friendly kiss and as he pulled away I realized I didn’t want him to. I pulled him back and kissed him for real.

Max

I gave Rainey what I thought was an innocent kiss at midnight. I’d been holding her in my arms as we danced and I ached to do so much more. When I pulled away she pulled me back and kissed me like nobody ever had.

I heard Sophie say, “It’s about time,” and the four of them disappeared up the stairs. Rainey seemed unaware of them or just didn’t care that they witnessed what was absolutely the best kiss of my life. When she said we should go upstairs, I nodded and walked her to her door. She kissed me again and I tried to be a gentleman and say goodnight. I swear I tried.

“Rainey, we’re kind of drunk. Maybe we should get some sleep.”

She looked up at me and smiled, “Okay. Can I sleep with you?”

“Rainey, I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Max ,” she whined, “We can sleep in your bed. Come on!” She pulled my arm and we entered my room.

“Okay, can I get your pajamas for you?” I asked, still trying to be sober and smart about this.

“No. Can you help me with my zipper?” She turned her back to me and pulled her long hair over her shoulder so I could unzip the black dress. I took a deep breath. She was killing me.

“Are you sure?”

“Unzip me Max.”

I pulled the zipper down and the dress fell to the floor leaving her standing there in nothing but a pair of black lace panties. She turned around and began pulling at the buttons of my shirt and I lost every shred of control I had. I loved this girl and I told her so over and over as we fell onto the bed. She responded by kissing me harder and nothing has ever felt so right.

Did it matter that we were both drunk? Not then it didn’t. I made love to her as if it were my first time as well as hers. Because any sex that I may have had before had nothing to do with love. It couldn’t touch what I shared with Rainey. Afterwards we slept, wrapped in each others arms.

Chapter 25

Rainey

I awoke slowly, feeling a sharp pain behind my closed eyes. My mouth felt dry and my stomach nauseous. My heart fluttered in panic when I recalled my dreams. So wrong, but so real. I had dreamt that I slept with Max. Not slept. Had sex with him. Not just sex, either. It was tender, and passionate and perfect. Oh my god. It was so real, so what I had hoped having sex would be like. I rolled over and my head felt like it would explode. What was I thinking drinking all that champagne?

“Good morning,” Max’s voice whispered. My eyes flew open. Max was lying next to me, his hair messy from sleep, a sweet smile on his face. I blushed as I thought of what I had dreamed, glad he couldn’t read my mind.

Max continued to smile at me but his turquoise eyes questioned mine.

“Are you okay?” he asked, worry in his voice.

“I have a headache,” I said, closing my eyes.

He kissed my forehead gently. “Can I get you something for