It was unbelievably goodâ¦
Now what? Addie was lying half-underneath Derekâinstead of Kevinâand Derek was kissing her, sweet, perfect kisses that made her feel as if she was melting into the mattress. She wasnât exactly objecting.
Addie gasped. Derek had started tasting the curve where her shoulder left off and her neck began, sending shiversâ¦everywhere.
She should either continue the seduction, or she couldâand shouldâbe honest: tell Derek she was sorry, but sheâd made a terrible mistake. And then heâd stop sending her into orbit.
âDerek.â
âYes, Addie.â He sounded amused. What was so funny?
âUm. The thing is.â
âYe-e-s?â He kissed her bare shoulder, a slow, gentle kiss that made her pause, because she wanted to enjoy it.
âI made a mistake.â
âReally.â He lowered his head to her breast; his mouth took her nipple. Wet heat. Pressure. A shock of pleasure through her.
âI thought you were Kevin.â
THE SOUND OF the ocean swelled through Addie Sewellâs bedroom. She stirred in the soft cotton sheets and listened, picturing waves tumbling, sea foam forming lacy patterns that rushed in, then retreated across soft white sand. Somewhere far off a seagull called.
Addie groaned and threw off the covers on her twin bed. âAlarm off.â
The ocean stopped. Or rather, the ocean sound stopped, made by her talking alarm clock, which sheâd affectionately nicknamed Tick. The real ocean would have to wait until the following week, when she flew north to attend her friend Paul Bossonâs wedding on his familyâs island in Maine.
She should be looking forward to this vacation a lot more. Been a while since sheâd been anywhere except her parentsâ new house in Florida, and it would be great to see high school friends again. But honestly, she could use the time better staying home and going through boxes of old family photos and papers her great-aunt Grace had left behind, and to get serious about looking for a condo.
By living with her elderly aunt for two years before Graceâs death, Addie had inherited this rent-controlled apartment a block from Central Park on Manhattanâs E. 97th Street. With her actuaryâs salary, sheâd saved enough for a down payment on the right condo. She just couldnât seem to find time or enthusiasm for the search.
To be honest, she was not a big fan of life changes, and the apartment was not only in a great location, but held lovely memories of Great-Aunt Grace.
Yawning, she stretched and blinked blearily at the freshly painted ceiling, a nice change from the crackling that had progressed for years. Desperate pleas to the landlord had finally been answered.
âTime.â
âSeven oâclock,â Tick replied.
Seven oâclock. Her eyes fluttered closed, shot openâ¦closed again. Usually she had no trouble jumping out of bed in the morning, especially in the summer when it was so bright out. Lately it had become harder. Maybe she should get her iron checked. Or her vitamin D level. Or work out more.
The chime of an incoming text forced her eyes open again. Pretty early for anyone to be in touch. Mom and Dad were cruising the Mediterranean and her brother, Gabe, was off hiking somewhere in Nepalâ¦
Anxious curiosity got her out of bed; she retrieved her phone from its charger and checked the message.
Oh, my. She was awake now. Wide-awake.
The message, seven words long, was not from her worldtraveling family members, but from her childhood best friend Sarah Bosson, twin sister of Paul, next weekâs groom.
Kevin Ames will be at the wedding.
Kevin Ames.
Addie gave a short laugh, shaking her head. Look at her, all excited over something so silly. Kevin was two years older than Addie, Paul and Sarah, but heâd been on the cross-country team with Paul since middle school at John Witherspoon in Princeton, New Jersey. Addie and Sarah had seen him constantly at the Bossonsâ house. Last she heard, Kevin had some work conflict in Philly, where he lived, and couldnât make next weekâs Maine trip.
Ignoring her responsible side nagging that she should be in the shower by now, Addie texted back.
Since when?
Wow. She headed for the bathroom, still clutching the phone. Kevin Ames was The One That Got Away. Everybody had one. That person you never went out with that you really wanted to, or maybe you almost did, but something went wrongâthe timing wasnât right, or, in Addieâs case, when finally presented with the opportunity to start something with Kevin the summer before her senior year at Princeton High School, sheâd totally messed it up.