Diary 22; Rebelling With Her (GXG)
Chapter 108
I’d never done anything without a plan. I was always the girl who played by the rules. I kept my emotions in check. I never stepped outside my comfort zone.
Until she came back to town. The same woman who’d ruined me years ago with one stolen glance. The one person on this Earth who could make me lose myself.
Her name was Natalie Reed, but she’ll always be “Nate” to me. She’s my best friend’s older sister and a rebellious artist who lives life by her own rules.
For me, she’s a forbidden fantasy.
Tonight, I was attending a party at my best friend, Sophie’s house. Her sister Natalie would be there, and I was dreading the prospect of seeing her again.
Natalie had always been a free spirit with a wild streak a mile wide. Her reckless energy was infectious, and it was easy to get swept up in the storm that surrounded her. Years ago, I had a crush on her, and things got complicated. She’d left town before we could talk about it, leaving me with an ache in my chest and a lot of unanswered questions.
Sophie had no clue about our past, and I intended to keep it that way. I didn’t want to ruin our friendship or make things awkward with her sister.
I dressed up in a sleek black dress and tied my hair into a bun, then headed out. It was just past sundown when I arrived, and I could hear the thumping of music from inside the house. As I entered the living room, the crowd was so thick I could barely make out Sophie’s face.
She spotted me across the room and gave me a grin. “Hey, baby girl!” she said, moving in to give me a hug. “So glad you made it.”
I returned her embrace with a smile. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
“Come on in,” she said, gesturing toward the bar. “We’ve got to catch up.”
As we made our way through the throng of people, I noticed how everyone seemed to be looking at us. I had a feeling it wasn’t me they were staring at. They were all interested in Sophie, and who could blame them? Her bright smile could light up a room, and her curves were killer.
By the time we reached the bar, I’d already spotted several of our friends and acquaintances. There was a tall blonde named Kate who owned a local boutique. Next to her was a man with a goatee and a crooked smile who worked as a lawyer at the firm I used to work at.
The bartender poured me a glass of red wine and set it on the counter.
“Here you go,” he said with a wink. “On the house.”
Sophie patted me on the back. “We’ll catch up later, okay? I have to check on some things.” She pointed toward the kitchen. “And don’t worry, I won’t let you get lost in the crowd.”
I nodded and lifted the glass to my lips. She winked at me, then disappeared into the crowd.
I sipped my wine and glanced around the room. Sophie’s place was a nice size-three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The living room had a huge window that stretched all the way to the ceiling, and it was currently open, giving us a view of the pool deck outside. It was a perfect summer evening, and the moon was a silver orb hanging low in the sky. I’d have liked to step out and enjoy the view if I hadn’t been surrounded by so many people.
My gaze drifted along the pool deck until I stopped dead at a figure sitting on a lounger. The moonlight highlighted the raven tresses that cascaded down her back. Her body was encased in a black leather jacket and tight blue jeans that hugged every curve. I couldn’t make out her face, but I knew who she was. I recognized her by the way she moved, even though all she was doing was running her hand through her hair.
It was Natalie.
I watched her like a hawk, unable to tear myself away. She turned slightly, and now I could see the profile of her face. The curves of her cheek and the soft swell of her lips. Her skin was a creamy white against the dark backdrop of her jacket and jeans.
A moment later, she stood up and turned to face me. I froze. She had a beer bottle in her hand, and she gave me a slow smile.
I felt the heat of it like a laser beam. She lifted the bottle to her mouth and took a sip, and I couldn’t help staring at her throat as she swallowed.
That was when she caught me looking at her. She dropped her gaze to my chest, then back to my face. When our eyes locked, I swear I heard thunder crack. Or maybe that was my heart pounding in my ears.
I couldn’t look away. I just stood there with my glass of wine in front of me, drinking her in.
I didn’t have time to wonder what would happen next, because suddenly, she was standing next to me at the bar. She set her bottle down and leaned on the counter, her body brushing against mine. The sensation of her skin against my bare arm made me feel like I’d been hit by a lightning bolt.
“You look good tonight,” she murmured. “I like your hair.”
I stared at the bartender. If I turned to look at her, I knew I’d be a goner. “Thanks,” I replied, not able to make eye contact with her.
She leaned in closer to me, her voice low and husky. “I missed you.”
The bartender handed her another bottle of beer. She didn’t move away from me, and I knew I had to say something. “I missed you too.” It came out so quietly I wasn’t sure she’d heard me.
But I knew she had. Her hand brushed against mine, and she grabbed onto my fingers.
“Let’s go outside,” she whispered in my ear. “I need some air.”
I couldn’t resist her. I never could, and I knew it.
“Sure,” I breathed, turning to follow her out of the house. We stepped out onto the pool deck, and for once, I didn’t care about following rules. Not when it came to Nate.
* * *
I couldn’t believe what was happening. Natalie was holding my hand and pulling me through the crowd in her wake. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.
We pushed our way past several groups of people until we reached the open door to the pool deck. The night was balmy with the scent of chlorine and flowers. The sky above was full of stars and clouds. My heart pounded as I followed Natalie to a lounger beside the pool.
We sat down, and she leaned close to me. The side of her leg pressed against mine, sending waves of pleasure through my body. I stared at her profile, her skin so beautiful under the moonlight.
She turned her head, looking at me with a soft smile on her lips. “You’re still the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
I felt a flush heat up my face. “No, I’m not.” She made me self-conscious when she said things like that.
“Yes, you are,” she insisted.