Read Online Spark by Jennifer Ryder - Free Book Online Page A

wanted to get close to me for so long that maybe it was all too much. I know it’s the furthest we’ve gone, but did I push him too far?
    My skin prickles, but this time it’s from the cold. I put on one of Jon’s T-shirts, and slip under the covers to get warm. Eventually he’ll have to come out of there, and seeing me half-naked isn’t going to help. I close my eyes, listening to the shower still streaming. It’s as mesmerising as rain.
    I wonder how long he’ll be.

    ****

    “Sorry about last night,” Jon mumbles, his face buried in the pillow.
    “Don’t worry about it. Sorry I fell asleep on you.” Not that we were going to stay up all night and make mad, passionate love. Definitely not . I knew this conversation would be awkward, particularly waking up next to him as I’ve never slept over before. His blond hair is messy with wild curls—it must have been wet when he finally came to bed.
    “I didn’t have the heart to wake you. Besides, it was late.” He glances at me, but then snuggles deeper into his pillow, closing his eyes. I guess if he wants to talk about last night, he will. I’m not going to push.
    Suffocating silence fills the room. What am I supposed to say now? I prop myself up on my elbows.
    My head pounds. I rub my forehead, hoping it might help. “Why did you make me drink all that wine?”
    “Me? You were the one that ordered the second bottle,” he says, his chuckle muffled under the covers.
    “Oh yeah, I kinda did. It was delicious, though.”
    “Yeah, it was.”
    “Well, next date night I’ll try and take it easy on the red.”
    Jon’s face lights up. Did he think last night would be our last? Did he think he’d blown it? Metaphorically speaking, of course.
    “I suppose we’d better get my car. I’ve got footy training in a couple of hours.”
    “Okay.” I drag myself out of bed, and straighten my skirt and stockings, which have twisted throughout the night.
    Jon pulls my side of the doona and snuggles underneath, just his eyes and messy hair visible.
    Swimming in his T-shirt, I put my hands on my hips. “You reckon I wear this today?”
    “Yup. You look amazing.” His eyes crinkle at the sides. I know he’s grinning under there.
    “Shut up, I do.” I pull his T-shirt over my head, and toss it at his face. Bullseye . I catch him sneak a peek at me as I put on my bra, and search for my top.
    “Okay, very funny. Where have you put it?” My hands return to my hips. His bluey-green eyes scan over my bra. Is he already excited under there?
    “No idea what you’re talkin’ about,” he says, not budging an inch.
    I raise my eyebrows. “My top, smart arse.”
    “Oh … your top.” Like he didn’t know . I’m tempted to sit on him and tickle him, but after last night, it’s too soon to be physical.
    “I’m freezing, so get up and help me find it.” Jon slowly gets out of bed, in a T-shirt and boxers. He finds my top in the corner of the room. I pull it on, and head to the bathroom. I tie my hair up in a ponytail and splash some cold water on my face. Spreading some toothpaste on my finger, I run it over my teeth, and rinse.

    ****

    We don’t talk much in the car on the way to the city. I turn up the radio to break the silence. After what seems like five minutes without talking, I tell him I’ve got a pretty busy week. I should spend some time with Mum and the boys. Jon knows I’ve been avoiding going home, and he is supportive, as always. A bit of time apart from each other probably wouldn’t be a bad thing. He no doubt needs time to ‘re-group’ after last night. I lean in to kiss him goodbye, and he gives me a quick peck on the lips—like how I would kiss my mother.
    “What do you call that?” I ask.
    “What do you mean?” Jon furrows his brow.
    “You call that a kiss?”
    “I guess,” he says, shrugging his broad shoulders.
    “If you’re gonna kiss me, do it properly. It’s got to last us all week.”
    He leans in, and kisses me like he