Page 38 of Soft Like Thunder (Savage U)

She might not have decided if she liked me, but she let me skim my fingers over her abdomen in broad daylight. Her breath caught when I broached her waistband, which was loose enough to see her little black panties underneath. I traced the ridge of her hip bone, dipping my finger into her shorts, then back out. When I dipped in again, she caught my hand, and my eyes flicked to hers. They were wide, and maybe a little worried.

“No.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

She sighed in relief.

“Shit, Helen,” I rasped.

“Show’s starting.”

She sat up, but I stayed, the breath kicked out of me. Then she reached for me, catching my hand and giving it a tug. I sat up behind her, and she leaned back against my chest, her head beneath my chin.

I had my work cut out for me with this girl. We both had some decisions to make. She had to decide if she wanted me. I had to decide if she was worth all the trouble she was going to bring me.

But I knew without thinking.

My pops used to pat my head and say, “If there’s trouble, you’ll find it, then you’ll take it home and keep it.”

Yeah, I knew.