Stealing for Keeps (Frost Lake High Book 1)
Stealing for Keeps: Chapter 26

It’s afternoon by the time I wake up on Saturday. We got back super late last night after our road trip games. We won both, and the entire drive back, the team was on a high.

In the kitchen, Torrance looks like she just woke up as well. She sends me a glare over her cereal bowl.

“Where is everyone?” I ask.

“Dad got in late last night. He and Mom are at Wyatt’s game.”

“Right.” I spot the note on the counter.

A + T,

At W’s game. Clean your rooms and bring your dirty clothes to the laundry room. And don’t make plans tonight. I’m making calzones.

Mom

My stomach grumbles. We haven’t had Mom’s calzones in forever. I open the pantry and grab the Lucky Charms, then shake the box. It’s nearly empty.

“Sorry,” Torrance says, mouth full of my cereal.

I’m annoyed but too tired to fight with her. I grab a banana instead and head out to the backyard. I pull my phone out of my shorts pocket as I take the first bite of fruit. At the far end of the yard, I toe a soccer ball. The cool air nips at my bare chest. I don’t know if I’m ready for winter in the north yet. This time of year in Arizona, I’d still be wearing shorts every day and swimming any chance I got.

Claire picks up on the second ring.

“Hey.” Her face fills the screen, and my heart lurches in my chest. “Just wake up?”

I get a glimpse of myself and run a hand over my messy hair. “Yeah.”

Her laughter puts me at ease. Fuck I missed her. “How are you? What are you doing? What have you been up to?”

She continues to laugh as I toss out more questions. We texted a little while I was gone, but I don’t feel like I’ve really talked to her in days.

“Things are good. I’m at Ruby’s dance competition.”

“I guess that means you can’t hang out today. I was hoping you were free.” I kick the ball up and catch it on the top of my foot.

“I wish I could,” she says, and I can hear voices and music in the background. “I’ll be back tonight. Probably around seven.”

“I’ve got dinner with my family. You could come though.”

“Haven’t I crashed enough of your family dinners?”

“No.”

“What about tomorrow?” she asks.

“Yeah, I’m free.”

“Let’s hang out tomorrow then. I’m sure your family missed you.”

I know she’s right, but… “Not as much as I missed you.”

She laughs again, eyes sparkling and smile turning a little shy. Then she glances over her shoulder like someone called for her. Looking back at me, she says, “I gotta go. See you tomorrow.”

* * *

Family dinner starts out nice. It’s been a while since just the five of us sat down to eat together. Wyatt is tired from his games today and falls asleep within minutes. Mom carries him off to bed, and then Dad gets a phone call.

“No phones at the dinner table,” Mom admonishes him.

He mouths, “Sorry” and then hurries out of the room. Mom turns her attention to Torrance, who has her phone out like always.

“Ahem.” Mom holds out her hand.

“But, Mom, I’m making plans for homecoming with Kaylie.”

“I told you we can’t make that work right now.” Mom sounds tired, on the verge of exasperated.

“But her mom said it was fine. I can stay with them.”

“I’m sorry, the answer is no.” Mom beckons with her fingers. “Give it. You know the rules.” Then her stare moves to me. “Are you texting under the table as well? If so, give me yours too.”

“I left mine upstairs,” I say, holding up both hands where she can see them.

Torrance glares at me like I’ve betrayed her.

“What?” I ask her.

“You never have my back.” Torrance sets her phone in Mom’s palm with a huff. “I hate this family.”

Mom’s lips purse and twist. “You don’t mean that.”

“No. I do.” My sister’s voice rises, and her green eyes, several shades darker than mine, light up with anger. She stands and pushes her chair back. “I hate this family and this town. I wish you’d just let me go live with Kaylie or someone who really wants me.”

She’s gone with a huff, storming up the stairs and then slamming her bedroom door so hard the house shakes.

“Should I go talk to her?” I ask. It is my fault we’re all here, and while I doubt she’s going to want to have a real conversation, maybe she just needs to yell at me for a while to feel better.

“No. She just needs to cool down for a bit.”

Angry music starts blaring.

“What’d I miss?” Dad asks as he comes back into the room. He glances to the empty chair next to me and then in the direction of the music. “Where’d Torrance go?”

“Her room.” Mom sighs.

Dad doesn’t press for more information. He slides back into his seat and reaches for his fork.

“Who was on the phone?” Mom asks him.

“My client finally got the funding approved for the site upgrade.”

“Does that mean you have to leave?”

He nods, mouth pulling into a firm line. “Monday morning.”

My head snaps up. “Wait. You’re leaving Monday? When will you be back?”

He takes too long to answer, and I know. I just fucking know.

“You’re not going to make my game on Thursday, are you?”

“I’m sorry, Austin.”

I don’t trust myself not to say something I might regret, so I get to my feet and take my dishes to the sink.

“Son, if there were any way—”

“No, I get it.” I grab my keys from the counter.

“Where are you going?” Mom asks as I head to the door.

“Out.”

I left my phone at home in my haste to get away, so when I pull up outside Claire’s house, I contemplate whether I should ring the doorbell or try to scale the side of the house to climb in her bedroom window.

The light is on in her room, but the curtains make it so I can’t see her. I pace as I figure out a plan. There are flower beds along the house and sidewalk, and they’re outlined with small gravel before it turns to grass. I pick up several small rocks.

It takes two attempts before I hit her window. I wince, grateful when it doesn’t break. I’ve never actually tried this, only seen it in movies. I can’t even hear it hitting the window from here, so maybe she can’t either.

But then, there she is. With one hand, she pushes the curtain to the side and comes to stand in front of it. I lift a hand in a wave. It takes another few moments for her to unlock and push open the window.

“What are you doing?” she asks in a hushed voice, just loud enough for me to hear.

“Still want to hang out?”

Her smile alone makes the sting of my dad leaving again lessen. “Meet me at the door in the back of the house.” She motions for me to go around the side.

By the time I get there, she’s waiting for me.

“My mom’s not here, but my sister is in the living room,” she whispers and then holds a finger to her lips. She grabs my hand, and we quietly move up the stairs to her room. When she shuts the door, she laughs and wraps her arms around my neck. “I thought you were busy tonight.”

“I couldn’t wait to see you.” I kiss her.

She giggles into my mouth, and our teeth clink lightly. My hands go to her hips. She’s wearing a big, baggy T-shirt, and when I slip my fingers underneath the hem, they brush against her soft shorts that are several inches shorter than the shirt.

Our kisses grow more insistent. She pulls on my neck like she’s trying to bring me closer. Leaning down slightly, I pick her up and then walk back to the bed. We fall onto it together, laughing again.

“I like you,” I say, brushing a piece of hair that’s fallen into her face back behind her ear.

“I like you too.”

The words don’t feel like enough.

We make out until we’re both breathless and my head swims with only thoughts of her. Her smile, her laugh, her taste. I’d give up just about anything right now to stay in this moment.

My hand skims up her ribs to the side of her bra. She stills, then nods slowly. “It’s okay.”

“Tell me if you want me to stop.”

She nods again.

My fingers slowly graze along the soft material until my palm is covering her breast. My gaze stays locked on hers. I want to see every reaction from her. It’s not the first time I’ve felt up a girl, but my chest tightens like it never has. As I explore her, Claire’s lashes flutter closed, and she arches into me slightly. But her lips stay curved into a smile.

I am so far gone for this girl. The realization makes a lump form in my throat. Everything feels different and better and also just…bigger, like there’s no going back.

She’s sweet but tough. Her heart is big, but she’s careful about who she lets in. She is someone who has known incredible joy and great heartbreak, and it’s shaped her into this extraordinary person that I can’t imagine my life without.

Being with Claire feels like a milestone that can’t be undone. I’m sure she’d think I was exaggerating if I said any of that out loud, so instead, I bring my mouth to hers and say, “I really like you.”