"Yeah." His hand started to trace up and down my back now. "I think my mom's going to stick around for the month. She's got some friends that she wanted to visit. Dad's going to love that."

"I met my dad." I flushed as I said it. I hadn't meant to, but as soon the words left me, something lifted off my chest.

He met my gaze through the darkness. "You did?"

I nodded before I pressed my forehead to his chest. "He was here Tuesday night when I got back from a run. We didn't talk much."

"What'd you talk about?"

"He asked if I kept track of my achievements and I told him he could go home, I wasn't worth his time."

He chuckled, but then his hands skimmed down to my waist and he lifted me higher on him. He started to nuzzle underneath my chin and as the same need started to stir inside of me, I closed my eyes and surrendered. We both knew he wouldn't get any sleep.

And when his alarm went off, neither of us slept a wink. With a huge yawn, he rolled over and shut the alarm off before he slowly turned and sat on the edge of the bed.

I sat up and scooted against my headboard with the sheet gathered around me. "Are you going to be okay today?"

He shook his head and then shrugged. "Shower. Then I'll tell you."

When he stood from the bed, he checked his phone, cursed, and yawned again. I watched as he tried to shake the yawn away, but it didn't go anywhere. Then I realized I had one also. I was still yawning when he came back from the shower.

He came to the bed and bent down to press a kiss to my forehead. "I'm going to get some clothes from my room and take off." He swept a hand down the side of my face and lifted my chin. I gazed at him through sleep deprived eyeballs. They should've been sucking the moisture out of the air, but I didn't feel an inch of my exhaustion.

"Okay."

"I'll see you tonight?"

I nodded and my eyelids were already starting to droop as I nestled under the covers. I was faintly aware of my door opening, but my bed was so comfortable. I was asleep before it closed.

When I walked into the festival, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had never been one for school events so the sight of streamers, balloons, blown-up slides and fun houses wasn't what I had in mind. Booths were spread out everywhere within the school. They started in the parking lot with one for coffee and cappuccino and one was even snuggled in a back janitor's closet for Fallen Crest Academy flags.

Little kids darted around my feet. I saw more than enough of my classmates and our teachers positioned everywhere. When I passed the football booth that had footballs with Fallen Crest Academy's name on it and made with our colors, I saw David chatting with some parents. Then I realized they had old varsity jackets on and knew these were the alumni.

I wandered through the entire school, even up to the third floor, before I found Mason. He had been tucked near the art room behind a table of white lacey doilies. He was lounging back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest, his legs crossed underneath the table, and his cap pulled low enough to cover his eyes. As his chest rose up and down at a steady rhythm, I enjoyed the sight for a moment before I kicked his feet.

He jerked back, startled, and threw back his cap. A snarl lit over his face, but he relaxed when he saw me. "I didn't know you were coming today."

"What if I'd been my dad?" I shrugged. "Why not come, it's my school."

He grunted. "What does he expect? He stuck me up here selling some church ladies' handkerchief things. No one wants these." He eyed the coffee in my hand. "You got another one of those?"

I grinned and pulled out an energy drink.

"Thanks." Then he nudged the other chair out. "Want a seat? Keep me company?"

"So you can sleep and I'll sell the doilies?" I was aware of his hungry gaze as I sat beside him. Every nerve in my body was awake and kicking because of it. Who needed coffee when I had him?

"No one wants to buy from me. I look angry when I'm tired."

As he yawned again and tried to cover it with his hand, I thought he looked adorable. His eyes were softer from the fatigue and his eyelids drooped a bit. His lips were a little swollen from our kisses and his skin looked bright with color. When I caught sight of the hickey I'd left under his shirt's collar, I reached over to tug his shirt to the side.

He grinned when he realized what I was doing. "Yeah, I keep moving my shirt too, but it always goes back. I'm sure people have already seen it."

"I hope not." What if David had seen it?

"Who cares if they do?" He studied me as he said that.

"What? I'm supposed to say something or…what?" Was he testing me?

He cracked a grin and squeezed my knee. "I'm messing with you, but I don't care if they see it or not."

I'm not sure how to react so I grew quiet and sat back. After a few minutes, I knew he'd fallen back asleep, but it was a relief. His presence affected me so much. I had a hard time making clear decisions, especially when it came to him or us. After an hour and after I had sold three doilies, I nudged his foot. His eyes opened and he was awake, just like that. There was no sudden movement, no snort. Sometimes he reminded me of a machine.

"I'm going to wander around."

He groaned. "Please stay. You make this somewhat bearable."

I grinned at him. "Could you be more dramatic?"

"Yes."

Something bolted inside of me when I saw he spoke the truth. He was unreadable again and my finger itched to reach out and touch his lips. Those delicious and earth-shattering lips that could do wonders on me… I shook my head to clear the lustful thoughts.

His eyes had darkened as he watched me. "You want to go to my car? I have a lunch break coming up."

"Your car? Now that's romantic."

"It's the best I can do. I don't know this place and I'm pretty sure every hidden nook and cranny is being used."

I arched an eyebrow, but I saw the teasing light in his eyes. Oh how those eyes could unravel my wardrobe in a heartbeat. "I'm going to get some more coffee."

"Get me some?"

I nodded and moved past him. He leaned forward and his hand grazed the back of my thighs as I went.

A jolt of lust coursed through me, but I readied against it. It was a feeling that I was starting to grow accustomed to, but as I pushed into the bathroom, I wasn't ready for the sight I saw in the mirror. The girl who looked back had sex-crazed written all over her. Her lips curved up in a seductive tease with a blush to her cheeks. And the lust in her eyes had darkened them so they wore an unrecognizable gleam. My skin glowed and I touched it in wonder.