Read Online Our Kind of Love by Shane Morgan - Free Book Online Page B

it.”
    Looking at her clearly now, Claudia is
beautiful. And if this was Illinois, where I was sleeping with a different girl
every week, she’d be the kind of girl I’d have some fun with. But my mind keeps
drifting to Reign—the girl who clearly has a boyfriend.
    Suddenly, I’m over this party and want to get
out of here. I ease her hand away and apologize to Claudia as I stand. “Sorry,
but I gotta go. Like I said it’s been a long day and I’m tired.”
    “Wait.” She hops off the stool. Edging closer to
me, she rests her hand on my chest and dips her head back as if she wants me to
kiss her, or rather, like she’s going to reach up and take it. After all, she
seems like the kind of girl to take charge.
    “Why don’t I drive you home, and then we
can…hang out?” she offers.
    “Listen, Claudia, you seem like a nice girl, but
I can’t. Sorry.” I gently move her hand away and start out of the kitchen. I
cross the living room, almost expecting her to follow me as I step out the
front door. She doesn’t.
    Walking down the stoned entrance towards the
front gate, the music fades a bit and I hear the sound of waves crashing. I
make a U-turn and decide to check it out before heading home. It’s not too far
a walk from my house, anyway.
    Taking off my sneakers and holding them in one
hand, I stride barefoot in the sand down the beach, far enough that I can’t
hear any music or loud voices coming from the beach house.
    It’s nice being alone out here with nothing but
the sound of the ocean. It drowns out everything. Not even my memories
interrupt this moment of peace.
    After some time, I turn to head back. The
instant I twirl around, I notice someone coming towards me. Her appearance is
hidden by the night at first, but in no time I recognize the long hair blowing
in the breeze and the protective way she hugs herself.
    Reign.
    She’s wearing her t-shirt and shorts again.
“Hey,” she says with a slight curve of the lips as she reaches me.
    “Hey yourself.”
    She nods behind at the house. “You don’t like
parties?”
    “Not really. You don’t either, huh?”
    Reign unfolds her arms and tucks her hair behind
her ears. Facing the ocean, she looks down at her toes digging into the grainy
sand and watches as water washes up to her tiny feet. I notice she flinches a
tad when it touches her.
    “No,” she finally breathes out. “I just came ‘ cause Nate wanted me to. And Claudia wants to hang out with
you so…that’s why.”
    Ignoring the last part, I step closer to stand
beside her. “What would you like to do instead?” No idea where that question
came from.
    She tilts her head back and peers up at the full
moon, its blue light barely visible amidst the dark clouds. Reign stays quiet
for a moment before whispering, “I’d really like to go swimming.”
    I lean forward a bit and study her face. Once
again she’s in deep thought.
    “Let’s go then,” I say, tossing my sneakers into
the sand and hauling my shirt over my head. Reign widens her eyes in
astonishment, watching me take off my jeans.
    “What?”
    “Coming?” I urge, ecstatic by the fact that I’m
about to rush into the ocean with her. At night. Alone. We’ll probably be touching, and that’s the best part
to know.
    My smile falters as she shakes her head and
backs up. I stop from walking into the ocean, staring at the frightened
expression on her face.
    “I…I can’t,” she says, her voice a near whisper.
    I look at her while creasing my forehead,
baffled. “But, you just said you’d like to go swimming. So let’s go—”
    “I didn’t mean now.”
    “Oh… kay ,” I stretch
the word.
    Reign looks straight into my eyes. I so want to
disentangle that mind of hers. When her gaze drifts down to my chest and
lingers there, I suddenly remember that I’m shirtless, not to mention I’m only
wearing my boxers.
    “Shit…” I snatch up my jeans and hurry back into
them. “Sorry, wasn’t thinking.” As I pull my shirt