Page 130 of When We Were Young

I try so hard to stop laughing and to hold it in that I snort.

“Oh, my God, I’m so sorry!” I cover my mouth with my hand. “But ‘two for you before I’m due.’ Really?”

“I stand by it, and now I’m pulling out the big guns.” His hand slips out of my hair and down to my clit.

“Holy hell. How are you making me laugh at the same time you’re making me… At the same time… Oh, God!”

My body explodes with pleasure, and I’m pretty sure I’ve died, and this is heaven. I writhe on him, and when he roars with his own release, I swear it makes my orgasm last even longer. There’s something about coming together that makes me feel like I don’t have a care in the world, especially when it ends like this: foreheads together, panting, and… smiling.

“Did you hear that?” Holden asks.

“Hear wh⁠—”

Voices. Georgie’s, Ruthie’s, and—oh, my God—Simon’s.

“Holden! Our clothes are out there!”

His eyes practically bulge out of his head. Before I can say anything, he’s pulled away and takes off. Less than twenty seconds later, he’s back with an armful of our clothes.

“Do you think Mom’s home yet?” Simon’s excited voice asks.

“Oh, she’s definitely home,” Ruthie says, followed by her classic cackle.

“Why did she say it like that?” I whisper.

“It’s Ruthie. Who knows?” he chuckles.

Oh, no. I’ve never had stand-up sex before, and while it’s spectacular—and I definitely want to do it again—I didn’t think about, well, gravity. On instinct, I throw my hands in front of my body as though that’ll somehow hide what’s happening. But before my cheeks can heat with embarrassment, Holden is cleaning me up.

“Holden, you don’t have to do⁠—”

“Hey, I love you, and I’m always going to take care of you.” He stands upright.” So you’d better get used to it.”

He kisses me on the temple, and my heart melts. I throw my arms around his neck and hold on for dear life.

“I love you, Holden.”

He wraps his arms around me, and we hold each other for a moment.

“What do you say we get dressed and go see Simon?” he whispers near my ear.

I nod, and we pull apart. I rustle through my clothes. I put on my bra. Then my shirt. Then I glance around.

“Um, Holden...”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“Where are my panties?”

Chapter Forty-Four

Lizzie

“Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend yet?” Simon asks.

“Uh, well...” I’m at a loss for what to say, and I glance at Holden, my eyes begging for a lifeline.

He doesn’t miss a beat. “We are, I think. Right, Lizette?”