I see Todd’s name staring back at me, and I can’t help the smile that forms on my lips.

Not missing my smile, Rebecca chimes back in with her grating voice. “At least you still have a friend.”

I quickly put my phone back in my pocket. She doesn’t need to see who the text is from. I know, and that’s all that matters, so I push through the door to leave without looking back at her.

“And don’t use this bathroom anymore. This is for seniors only,” I hear her voice trailing behind me as the door shuts. Then I pull my phone back out to read his text.

Change of plans. Meet at Mark’s truck in SL for lunch.

I feel the flutter of butterflies at just the thought of him and lunch. Unfortunately, it is still hours away.

***

As expected, time ticked by incredibly slow until lunch. It feels like it was years ago when I got Todd’s text, but it’s finally time.

As I walk up to Mark’s truck, I see Todd and Mark standing outside of it. It’s strange that Mark is joining us for lunch. I try to hide my disappointment.

“Well, hello, little Taylor.” Mark gives me a head nod with a smile then he turns to Todd. “She’s all yours,” he says as he pats him on the shoulder and drops his keys in Todd’s hand. “Take good care of my, baby.” He slides his finger along the top of his truck bed then winks at Todd.

“Bye, Mark.” I shout out to him as he walks away. Once he’s out of earshot, I turn to Todd. “Why exactly are we meeting at Mark’s truck?”

“Because it’s not mine.”

“Right, I got that.”

“Well, no parents will recognize us, just in case.”

“Still not following.”

He gives me a crooked smile. “That’s why I love you, Ash. Get in.” He opens the door for me, and before he shuts it, he smiles. “Never skipped before, huh?”

My stomach flutters at the thought of skipping with Todd, but the practical side of me knows this is a mistake. However, my whole body knows this is one mistake I want to make.

I slide my fingers into his once he puts the truck into drive. “Where are we going?”

“Where else? As long as we’re back in time for our next class, we’re good.” He hands me a paper bag. “Here, I know lunch is important.” There’s that crooked smile again.

I open the bag, and of course, there is the infamous sloppy PB&J. “Do you know how to make anything else?” I ask, trying to hide just how happy I am.

“Oh, I see how it is. I’m sorry, but last I checked, you are also capable of making a sandwich.” He squeezes my knee, the smile never leaving his lips.

“Actually, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Our field is closer to school than where we live, so we are there within minutes.

“Wow, you ate that fast,” Todd says, looking over as he parks the truck.

“I wouldn’t want to waste our lunch time with something like food.”

He laughs as he presses his lips to mine.

“Don’t you need to eat?” I ask, secretly hoping the answer is no.

“I had a big breakfast. I knew what we were doing.” He gives me the slyest of smiles, and I swear I’m about to lose myself right here. “Come on,” he says as he opens the truck door.

Before I know it, we are lying in Mark’s truck bed, which is covered in blankets.

“We have twenty minutes,” Todd says breathlessly between kisses. “That gives us five to get back. So we’ll need to run to class.”

“I can do that now that I ate.” I can’t help pressing my smile into his.

His tongue twirls with mine, and then we are in full make-out mode. I cannot believe we are doing this out in the open. I mean, luckily the park is empty and the truck bed has sides, but I can still fully see the blue sky above us. It’s actually incredible. There’s something more intense about being surrounded by sky and trees, not to mention the risk of getting caught.

“What made you think of this?” I ask as Todd slides his hands down my waist and under the waistband of my jeans. He unbuttons them with one hand like an expert, and I return the favor by pulling his shirt off over his head.

We need to work fast. We cannot get caught. This thought keeps running through my head, and then I yell at myself to just shut up and enjoy the moment, for the love of God. Seeing his beautifully defined chest is worth all of the trouble I’m going to get in for doing this.

He slowly lowers himself down, so he’s on top of me as he pushes my shirt up. Then I feel his warm breath on my stomach and lose all control. He can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

I look up at the bright sun filling the light blue sky as I grip tightly onto the blankets that are covering us, trying to maintain some control.

Breathe, Ashley, just breathe.

His warm breath teases my skin as he slowly makes his way back up to my lips, keeping his kisses gentle, sweet. You would never know we had a time limit.

Locking my eyes with his, I see they are the same color as the sky surrounding us, so I know he’s happy, content—their color tells me everything.

He presses his lips back into mine with more urgency, and then his kisses move back down my stomach and trail down even lower. It’s incredible what he can do with those lips, that mouth. He gives me an explosion of joy that I don’t think I have ever experienced before. Then he makes his way back up to my neck, and I let my breath linger on his earlobe, knowing that drives him crazy.

Wanting to give him the same incredible exhilaration I’ve just experienced, I glide my hand down his stomach, and we turn over so I’m now on top of him. I’m not sure what I’m doing, but Todd gently guides me, and the look of elation that washes over his face brings me a happiness I can’t explain with words.

I love seeing him like this: relaxed, incredibly happy, and at peace. This is the Todd I fell in love with—not stressed or worried about our parents, but laid back, like nothing can stop him. I love him more than anything, and I love that I can make him this happy. The smile that spreads across his perfect lips is worth everything in the world to me.

He pulls me back up. “That was incredible, Ash. You were incredible.”

“Mark Francis Conner, why aren’t you in school?” We hear from what sounds like under the truck.

We both freeze mid-breath. Thankfully, we are under the blankets.

Todd’s eyes are huge as he mouths to me, “Francis?”

I try really hard not to make a sound, but I can’t help it; a small snort-giggle escapes. My hands fly to my mouth, but it’s too late. I already made a sound, and I just made another one.

“Ashley,” Todd mouths, trying not to laugh.

“A girl? You have a girl in there? Mark, I’m talking to you, and I know you can hear me.” What sounds like a wrecking ball bangs on the side of the truck bed over and over.

“It’s not Mark, Mrs. Conner,” Todd says calmly from under the blankets.

We hear a gasp and then silence as the shock turns to understanding. My face is burning hot, but thankfully, Todd is thinking clearly, and he keeps it together as he quickly puts his shirt back on.

“Stay down,” he mouths to me, so I do.

Todd pops his head up over the wall of the truck bed and gives her a small wave. “Hi, Mrs. Conner. Sorry, Mark lent me his truck for lunch. I hope that is okay.” He gives her a smile while I try to button my pants without making another sound.

“Oh, Todd. Hi. Well, I guess that is fine. Where is Mark?”

“He’s at school,” Todd says as if Mark is a saint and Todd is the one who should be crucified. Luckily, all parents love Todd—well, except for mine now, I guess.

I can practically hear Mrs. Conner melt. Apparently, he has the same effect on moms, too.

“Okay, well, carry on then. But you should still be in school.”

“Oh, I will. It’s lunch, but I’ll be back in time for class, I promise.”

Man, he’s good. He can turn on the charm like a light switch. I find myself smiling with pride while I hear her car start and drive away. I look up at Todd who is waving with that same oversized grin on his face until she is clearly gone. Then he turns back to me and totally breaks into hysterics.