Playing at Forever - By Michelle Brewer Page 0,53

laughed too, their echoes fading into the night sky. “You cold?”

“I’m okay,” she whispered. He wondered what was going through her head—not even sure what was going through his own. “You don’t have to stay out here with me. I mean, if you’re—”

“I can handle it.” He turned to look at her once more. “Besides, we have an item to cross off that to-do list of yours.” Penny lifted herself onto her elbow, smiling at him.

“You remembered,”

“Of course I did.” He patted the empty space between them. “Whenever you start to get sleepy, you go ahead and rest your head right here. It can get chilly at night.”

“Are you going to stay up all night?”

“Somebody’s got to be awake when that sunrise starts.”

“I’m going to stay up with you then.” He knew the moment she said the words that she would soon be asleep, though. He could hear it in her voice. “Someday you’re going to make some girl very happy,” she whispered, suddenly rolling over and tucking herself as closely as she could to him.

“You think so?” Penny nodded and Tommy felt a familiar ache spread through his chest. Deep down, he knew why—it wasn’t just some girl he wanted to make happy. He’d known who she was for a long time now. “I hope so.”

“I know so.” He wrapped his arm around her, running his hand up and down her arm. “Let’s pretend this is real, okay?” She whispered sleepily. “Let’s pretend we’re not pretending. Pretend that you’re just a boy, and I’m just a girl, and we don’t have a care in world.”

“I can do that.” It was probably the one thing he wanted most in that moment.

She was sound asleep several minutes later, her breath warm on his chest. Lightening flashed far in the distance and he watched, his heart heavy.

As he lay there, he tried to convince himself that it was just hormones. There was nothing more there than simple desire. She was a beautiful girl, there was no denying that. It was only natural male instinct.

But he knew it was all just a lie. Deep down, he had fallen for her.

Whether he admitted it or not…that was a different story.

For hours, he lay there, watching her sleep, content just to be there.

When the sky began to lighten, he whispered her name, waking her as gently as he could. “Penny, it’s starting.”

“Hm?” She stirred slowly at first and then, suddenly, she became much more aware. “You should have woken me up!” She scolded. “I didn’t want you to have to stay up alone.”

“I wasn’t alone.” He nodded toward the ocean. “Look, it’s still lightning, too.”

She remained quiet for several long moments, her eyes trained on the sky before them. “In case I forget to tell you this somewhere down the line, I just want to make sure I tell you now.”

“What’s that?”

Her eyes found his easily, her expression more heartfelt than he’d ever seen. “Thank you.”

Chapter Nine

“Just close your eyes, Penny.” Tommy repeated for what seemed like the millionth time. Penny was having a hard time following his orders, her curiosity getting the best of her. They hadn’t been back in Ravenside for more than a couple days and already he had a surprise for her.

It was more frustrating than anything.

“You better not have done anything crazy.” She warned him, trying to peek. He reached over to hold his hand over her eyes.

“You’ll find out in just a couple more minutes.” For an impatient girl like herself, a couple more minutes was just about impossible.

Finally, the car came to a stop. She heard the door open and felt Tommy take her hand, guiding her toward him. “Okay, you can open them.”

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, but when they did, she looked around, slightly confused. They were standing in front of a very large house, surrounded by trees with a yard full of leaves. “What is this?”

He dangled something out in front of her. “You didn’t.”

“Oh, I did,” Tommy’s grin stretched from ear to ear.

“You did not buy this house.”

“I did.” Penny’s eyes grew wide as she looked around once more. A wrought-iron gate separated the yard from the street—and from the looks of it, it enclosed nearly the entire yard. “Want to take a look around?”

“I don’t know, do I?” She was in shock. She couldn’t imagine being able to just up and buy a house—much less a house like this one.

“I thought you might like having a place of your