Intentional grounding, p.1
Intentional Grounding, page 1
Intentional Grounding
Cadence Keys
Intentional Grounding
* * *
Copyright © 2020 by Cadence Keys.
* * *
All rights reserved.
* * *
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
* * *
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblances to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference.
* * *
Cover Design: Xee_designs1
Created with Vellum
Contents
1. Paige
2. Jack
3. Paige
4. Jack
5. Paige
6. Jack
7. Paige
8. Jack
9. Paige
10. Jack
11. Paige
12. Jack
13. Paige
14. Jack
15. Paige
16. Jack
17. Paige
18. Jack
Paige
Epilogue
Author’s Note
About the Author
To my husband, for always encouraging me to follow my dreams.
Chapter 1
Paige
It feels like I’ve known Jack my whole life. We first met on the playground at school on my first day of kindergarten. I was sitting on the swings, still struggling with that legs-forward-then-kick-back thing to get myself moving – I was mostly just kicking off the wood chips that made up the playground. Next thing I know, three first grade boys came up to me and told me to move.
I’ve never liked being told what to do – I think it comes from having two obnoxious older brothers, but who really knows. Basically, I told them they could have their pick of the other ten open swings, but they kept hassling me. They started jostling the swing’s handles attempting to throw me off.
Clinging to them with all my might, I didn’t notice anyone join us until I heard a boy shout at my bullies. The boys parted, and that’s when I first laid eyes on Jack Fuller. He was cute even then, not that I was really paying attention at that point. Boys still had cooties as far as I was concerned.
My bullies didn’t like that someone came along to spoil their fun, and they ended up pushing Jack down. He got back up and punched the biggest one in the face. The boy - I can’t remember his name now to save my life - burst into tears, and then the whole group ran away. Jack watched them carefully before he walked up to me, his cute little face frowning, looking at me closely.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “Thanks.”
He proceeded to sit in the swing next to me and then spent the remainder of recess teaching me how to properly use my legs to gain momentum. At the end of recess, he told me that I was his friend now, and he’d always protect me. I thought he was just being nice, but it’s been over 10 years since that day, and he’s still my best friend.
Today is the first day of our sophomore year at Forrester Park High School. I haven’t seen Jack all summer, since he’s been at an intensive football camp that only finished a week ago. He’s a crazy good quarterback, and already has scouts from several universities looking at him. I’m beyond proud of him since I know that he wants nothing more than to go pro.
Not seeing him this summer turned out to be harder than I ever imagined. It’s the first summer we’ve gone without seeing each other since we were five years old. We tried to talk on the phone at night when he had some time, but he was usually pretty tired.
After spending the last ten years talking or seeing him nearly every day, it feels unnatural not to talk regularly. I’ve missed him so much, but our separation has also made me realize something that I think I’ve been ignoring for a long time.
I’m in love with my best friend.
I’ve always liked Jack, but it’s only been in the past year or so where I’ve really noticed him. Actually, that might be a lie. I noticed him in the 7th grade when he kissed me on a field trip. Since he never mentioned it afterward, I thought it must be a fluke. But ever since we entered high school, I can’t help getting distracted by how mesmerizing his dark blue eyes are, or the way his arms look now that he’s been spending more time in the gym trying to bulk up for football.
It’s dangerous feeling this way for your best friend. If I tell him how I feel, it could ruin our friendship. As sure as I am about my feelings, I have no idea if he feels that way for me – or ever could. I’m not about to risk losing my best friend just because I’m in love with him. I’d rather have him as we are than not have him at all.
And yet, I can’t help wondering if he might feel this way, too. Am I missing out on something wonderful because I’m too scared to take a risk?
My heart speeds up a little at the idea that he could love me back.
It drops to my stomach when I think about what would happen if he rejected me – politely, of course, because it’s Jack and he’s always nice to me – but still wanted to be friends. I’m not sure I could handle that. The thought of watching Jack date other girls makes me want to vomit.
I need to stop thinking about this. There are too many possibilities, and I’m overanalyzing.
I don’t have time for this. Jack’s picking me up in 10 minutes to drive me to school, and I’m practically giddy with excitement at the thought of finally being reunited with him. It took me forever to figure out what outfit to wear, but I eventually settled on a cute, deep red summer dress with cap sleeves. It accentuates my figure, just like the magazines suggest I should wear to get a boy’s attention. I also put on makeup, using the colors the girl at Sephora advised to bring out my brown eyes. My dark brown hair lies in loose curls just past my shoulders.
I hear the doorbell ring just as I finish applying my lip-gloss.
“I got it!” I yell as I grab my backpack and run down the stairs.
I swing open the door and my eyes widen as I take in the sight before me.
Holy shit.
Jack got way hot. His brown hair is cut short on the sides and left a little longer on the top. His deep blue eyes widen like mine as he takes me in. My heart is racing as I watch him peruse my body in a way he never has before. He finally makes eye contact with me and smiles wide.
“Wow, Paige. You look great!”
He steps into the house and gives me a tight hug. My heart is slamming against my chest at this point. God, he smells so good. I close my eyes and squeeze him back, relishing in this moment. This is heaven.
He pulls back, “You ready to go?”
“Yep!” I turn around to pull the door closed after we’ve walked out, trying to hide the blush that’s spread over my cheeks. “Bye, mom, see you after school.”
I think she calls back, but I don’t hear her before the door closes, and I follow Jack to his BMW 3-series. Have I mentioned his parents are loaded? Personally, I don’t think a 16-year-old boy needs a brand-new beamer, but since it’s now my ride, too, I guess I can admit that it is pretty cool. He opens the door for me and I slide in. He walks around the front of the car and gets in the driver’s seat. I catch him glancing at my legs as he starts the car, and I can feel the blush on my cheeks deepen.
He clears his throat and slides his sunglasses on. “How was your summer?”
He glances at me briefly again before focusing back on the road. Are his cheeks turning pink, or am I imagining things?
“It was amazing,” I reply. “I spent some time on my grandparents’ farm in Eastern Washington.”
“Those are the ones with the horses, right?”
“Yep. My grandpa actually let me name one that they got while I was there. I named him Charlie. I hated that I had to leave him. I miss him.”
“More than you missed me?” He smiles at me as he says it, and I can feel my blush deepen further. At this rate, my cheeks will be darker than the red of my dress before we even make it to school. I really need to get myself under control. It’s never been this hard to hide my feelings, but I’m still processing how hot he got over the summer, and my brain is struggling to remember why it would be a bad idea to lean over and kiss him right now.
I slap his arm, “No. That would be impossible. By the way, you’re not allowed to leave me for a whole summer ever again.”
“Well, that might be a little problem, since I already got invited back for next summer.”
“Seriously?!” He nods. I can’t help being proud of him, even if I am disappointed that I’ll have to go another summer without him around.
“Congrats. I know how big a deal that is – even if it means that you’re abandoning me again.” I smile at him so he knows I’m not really mad.
We pull into the parking lot and I move my hand towards the handle when Jack stops me.
“Hang on.”
He reaches into the back, grabs his backpack, and then runs around to my side. He opens my door for me and my jaw practically hits the floor. I was not expecting that. First, he’s never done t
This is going to be a good year. I can already tell.
Chapter 2
Jack
I’m struggling to concentrate on what my history teacher, Mr. Morris, is rambling about. I flip my pen around on my desk, distracted by thoughts about my best friend that I probably should not be having right now.
God, Paige got gorgeous over the summer. Was she always that pretty? Have I been blind this whole time? I mean, I always noticed that Paige was cute, but something definitely changed over the summer.
I can’t stop replaying that moment when she opened her front door this morning. Holy shit, I thought I might come in my pants with how hot she got.
My thoughts veer off to how her plump pink lips looked wet from her lip-gloss and the way her dress hugged her in all the right places. I wiggle in my seat subtly, suddenly uncomfortable with the tightening of my pants, and wondering if I can discreetly adjust myself without anyone noticing. I’ve got to stop thinking about Paige, or this is going to get out of hand fast.
I glance over at her sitting in the desk to my left. She’s focused on our teacher and taking notes dutifully. At least one of us can concentrate. I wonder if she’ll let me copy her notes later. Maybe I can invite her over under the pretense of copying her notes but then make a move.
Wait a second. What the fuck am I thinking?
This is Paige, for fuck’s sake. She’s my best friend. She’s the one person in my life who has never cared about my parents’ wealth or my popularity. Hell, she’s the one who’s always calling me out if I start to get too cocky. I can’t fuck things up with Paige. But, goddamn, I can’t stop thinking about her…and not in a purely friendly way. There is definitely nothing pure about the thoughts swimming around in my head right now.
I glance over at her again and catch her looking at me, or my arms more specifically. She glances up, her eyes meeting mine and then turns away quickly, a blush creeping across her cheeks that makes her look even hotter, if that’s even fucking possible at this point.
Um, did Paige just check me out? Is she feeling this, too?
Heat spreads throughout my body at the idea, and I’m convinced that all the blood in my body is quickly heading south.
After what feels like forever, the class ends, and I walk out into the hall with Paige like usual. She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, suddenly shy with me. Paige hasn’t been shy with me since we were five and I taught her how to swing, but I kind of like that I seem to make her a little nervous now. It’s causing this adorable blush to stay on her cheeks and I really like that.
I put my hand on the small of her back – the contact causing warmth to flow through my body – and pull her into a secluded walkway nearby. I face her but glance behind me quickly to make sure no one is coming down this way.
“Jack? What’s up?” Paige is looking at me like she’s confused, which makes sense since I don’t usually act like I’m about to do a secret drug deal.
“I… I couldn’t focus in Morris’ class. Would you be down to come over to my house tonight so I can copy your notes?”
She looks at me like I’m a weirdo, which is fair right now because even I’m aware that I’m acting weird. “Sure, or I could just give you my notebook now. You can give it back to me tomorrow.”
“No!” I say far too quickly. “I mean, it would probably be better if you just came over…. you know, so I can… ask you to clarify your notes if I’ve got a question… or something.”
She squints at me. “Okay, sure. Did that really require the whole stealthy deserted hallway things? You’re acting like you’re about to do something illegal,” she laughs at me nervously like she thinks I’m losing my mind.
To be fair, I might be. I’m trying to think of a valid reason, but god, she looks so beautiful looking at me with those big brown eyes that match her long, wavy hair.
I can’t stop myself.
Before I lose my nerve, I whisper, “No, but this did.” And then I lean down and press my lips to hers.
Her lips are soft, just like I remembered from our all-too-brief kiss in 7th grade. She makes a little moan and leans into me, kissing me back thoroughly. I get hard again instantly. That moan is, hands down, the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard. I kiss her deeper, holding her as close to me as possible. My tongue snakes out to slide along the seam of her lips. They open for me on a gasp, and I groan a little, kissing her harder, our tongues dancing with each other as if they were always made to do this.
I’ve never wanted anyone this bad before. I don’t ever want this kiss to stop.
I hear the bell ring loudly and Paige reluctantly pulls away. Her eyes are wide, but then a smile breaks across her gorgeous face, and I can’t help matching it with a big smile of my own.
“Pick me up after you get out of football practice. See you tonight.” Paige gets on her tiptoes and kisses me briefly – too briefly – on the lips again before she rushes to her next class.
I lean against the wall and take a deep breath. I’m going to be late for class, and I couldn’t care less.
I just kissed Paige.
And she kissed me back.
I’ve kissed a girl before – Jenny Blake at a football party my freshman year - but it was never like that. Even the brief kiss I gave Paige in 7th grade just to see what it was like doesn’t compare to what just happened. All I can think about is how badly I want to kiss her again. I turn and walk down the hall towards my next class, not even bothering to hide the smile that seems glued to my face.
Chapter 3
Paige
I’m sitting in my room, fidgeting with my backpack strap, waiting for Jack to pick me up. He should be here any minute, but all I can think about is that kiss in the hallway at school.
I’ve only ever really kissed one other boy before – Brody Kemper, who kissed like a fish (it was disgusting…and sloppy). I’ve always secretly wondered what it would be like to kiss Jack again, and now that I know, I don’t want to stop. The kiss in the hallway today was nothing like our kiss in 7th grade.
I also can’t stop thinking about what this means for our friendship. Is it too much to hope that Jack wants me to be his girlfriend? He hasn’t had any serious girlfriends in the past – thank god, since I’m positive now that I wouldn’t be able to hide my jealousy – but I know he’s kissed other girls before, or at least one other girl. He told me about Jenny Blake after that football party last year. I was relieved when he confessed that it was pretty bad. Laughing to myself, I remember him telling me how scared he was she was going to suck his face off.
I guess I always thought that Jack and I would end up together or I hoped at least. It almost feels too good to be true now that it looks like we’re actually heading that way. There’s nothing I want more, but I’ll be devastated if he doesn’t see this as long term. I want to be his girlfriend, more than I’ve ever admitted to myself in the past.
The doorbell rings, and I jump up and head downstairs. My dad answers and greets Jack with his usual warm smile. My dad loves Jack. I think he’d be thrilled if we got together. Jack is like the athletic son that my dad never had. Both my brothers are insanely nerdy – Trevor is in robotics and wants to be a mechanical engineer when he gets older, and Connor is a hardcore gamer.
