I spun around to find Embry and his companion now sitting up and side by side on his narrow bed. I eyed them carefully, trying to determine how angry he was. When I opened my mouth to speak, Keegan cut me off.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, letting her head hang a bit. "Paul dropped off your assignments and he told me to wait in the truck. I totally didn't listen."

"Hmm," Embry began as he crossed his arms over his chest. "That totally doesn't sound like you at all."

Keegan pushed out her lower lip and pouted when we laughed at her. "Okay, Mr. Smarty Pants. You're so funny, huh?"

"I think he is," the girl beside him commented quietly. 

"Sorry, guys. This is my friend, Rebecca."

We smiled and waved at her and I shot Embry a questioning look. "Scored you a nurse there, Embry?"

She laughed. "No. I'm not a nurse yet. Just in high school like you guys. I'm volunteering for a vocational program. I'll be studying sports medicine next year in college."

Embry gave me another look that let me know maybe this girl didn't know how young he actually was. We stayed to talk for a while until his dinner came.

"We should head out and let you eat. I'll be back tomorrow with your assignments, okay man?" I leaned forward to give him a fist bump and a smile. It was good to see him looking better and I wondered how much of that was due to his new friend. 

"No need to bring me anything here anymore. I'm being released tomorrow as long as everything goes as planned.

"That's great!" Keegan gushed. "So you'll be back to school soon?"

"If he has things his way," Rebecca retorted. "I think the doctor would prefer he take it easy a few more weeks."

"Well...we'll see I guess," Embry smirked as Rebecca fussed over him, getting his food onto his tray and situating it in front of him.

"Well I guess we'll see you around," Keegan told him as we made our way to the door.

"Hey, Kee."

She turned to face him, sighing deeply when he held his arms open for a hug. "Come here," he urged gently.

I only felt a slight pang of jealousy when she fell into his arms and I saw Embry whisper into her ear. I could almost see her relief in the way she buried herself in the crook of his neck. I knew Keegan had felt bad about Embry's accident and the fact that he wouldn't even let her come visit was making it worse.

Now it looked like they were back on track to be friends again. At least I hoped that was all it was. Rebecca's gaze slid over to me while they hugged and it made me wonder how serious she was about him. Was she jealous? Did she want me to stop them? 

I tried to exude confidence in what I had with Keegan, but I supposed I would always feel a little jealous when it came to Embry. 

"Ready, babe?" I finally prompted, earning me a thankful look from Rebecca.

Keegan blushed a little as she pulled away, obviously bursting with happiness over making up with Embry. "Bye, guys. It was nice meeting you, Rebecca. Take good care of Embry, please."

"Oh I will," she replied with sass, sliding in beside Embry as he tucked into the meatloaf on his tray. She slipped her arm around his back and leaned into him, pressing a quick kiss to his shoulder as he ate.

Keegan watched them for a moment before gliding past me and retreating out into the hall. She was moving fast, weaving between food carts, nurses roaming the halls and patients being pushed in wheelchairs. I caught up to her as we exited the building, trying to gauge her mood while we walked to my truck. 

We climbed in and I sat silently, observing Keegan as she tried not to cry. Anger boiled under the surface as I tore out of the parking lot and drove toward town. I squeezed the steering wheel and clenched my jaw just trying to stay cool.

"Why are you so mad?" she sighed after watching me for a few minutes. 

I kept driving until she moved closer, tugging on my shirt sleeve and begging me to talk to her. I pulled over in front of a small café and killed the engine. I stared out in front of me and tried to gather my thoughts before I said something I couldn't take back.

"Just say something," Keegan begged. 

"Are you in love with him?" I blurted quickly, cringing at how desperate I sounded. 

"You're seriously asking me that right now?"

"Just talk to me...fuck! I feel like I'm losing you, Keegan."

"Please take me home," she whimpered.

Fuck that. I pulled her closer, nuzzling into her hair and praying she wouldn't stop me. "I can't let you go, Kee. We have to talk about what's going on between us."

Keegan squirmed away from my tight hold and glanced up at me. "I'm hungry," she pouted.

I glanced around and noticed the cafe behind us. "Stay in the truck and I'll get you something."

"Why can't we just go in?"

"We need to talk...alone."

….

"Come here."

Keegan sighed when I lifted her by her waist and placed on my open tailgate. I passed her a brown paper bag with handles containing sandwiches and small containers of potato salad, cut up fresh fruit and cole slaw. I went back into the cab for some blankets I had tucked behind the seats and our drinks.

I sidled up beside Keegan and handed her the iced tea I bought her. "Here. I got it with strawberry."

She managed a small smile and passed me a wrapped sandwich. "I took the chicken salad," she told me quietly.

After we finished our food, I spread out the blankets in the bed of my truck and tugged on her hand so she would lie back with me. The sun was starting to set at the bluffs and it was quiet here except for the sounds of the waves lapping against the rocks.

After a few minutes of silence, Keegan spoke. "I'm not in love with Embry. I love you, Paul. I'm sorry you don't feel that."

I tucked both hands under my head and felt the weight of the world on my chest. "You've been distant, Kee. You haven't wanted anything to do with me. And it's killing me that you don't talk about the accident."

Keegan shifted closer to me, turning on her side and resting her head on my bent arm. "I feel...I've felt so guilty. I hate myself for just standing there when that car came at me. It's all my fault Embry got hurt and…" her voice broke and it killed me to hear the pain behind it. 

I gathered my girl into my arms and listened to her reveal how guilty she had been feeling. "I just hated what happened to Embry. I already felt bad because he didn't want to stay friends and then because I stupidly stood there, he was forced to push me out of the way."

"He wanted to save you. You know how much he cares."

"It didn't feel like it when he wouldn't let me visit."

"So what did he say to you earlier?" I asked hesitantly, not quite sure I was ready for that answer. 

Keegan raised her head from where it had been buried in my chest. "He said he wasn't mad about the accident. That wasn't why he wouldn't let me visit. Embry just needed time to sort through how he felt. He said Rebecca was helping him."

"That's good, baby," I smiled, holding her jaw gently in my hand.

"I'm sorry for keeping my distance since the accident. I know you're pissed and…"

"Stop," I pleaded. "If you're not ready to move forward physically because of Embry or the accident, I totally understand that. But you not communicating your fears with me, not letting me know what was going on with you, that was killing me."

"I should have told you how I felt," Keegan sighed. "And I didn't feel like I deserved to have this amazing relationship with you when Embry was suffering. I'm sorry."

Keegan snuggled closer and I gasped when she started trailing kisses down my neck. "What...what's that for?"

"I have a lot to make up for," she replied mischievously, sliding her hand up under my t-shirt and smoothing her fingers over my abs.

I gripped both her wrists and rolled us over, me on top and nestling between her thighs. "You can't touch me like that," I chided, nipping at her earlobe.

She wriggled against me, giggling when I groaned. "Please stop," I moaned when she lifted her hips and grinded into my already throbbing erection.

"Is that what you want?" she tempted, arching her back and forcing her breasts to mash against my heaving chest. 

I pinned her wrists to the bed of the truck, softened by the mountain of blankets underneath us. I thrust against her repeatedly, giving into the temptation of having her so pliable under me. "Fuck, Kee," I finally groaned, releasing her wrists and rolling off of her. 

"You make it so hard for me to be good," I breathed, rubbing my hands over my face as she curled into my side.

"So why are you?"

I wrapped my arms around my girl and couldn't contain my grin as she held me just as tightly. "You've been upset about the accident, Embry and I haven't known how to help or what to do to lift your spirits. I just wanted to know where your head was. I'm not trying to push you for more than you're ready for."

I was being honest. I didn't bring her here to convince her to have sex with me. I just wanted to keep her from slipping away. Even if she had said she wanted to be with Embry, it would've killed me, but at least I would know where I stood.

"What if I'm ready now?" Her eyes were wide open and innocent, her voice sounding like a breathy sigh. "I was ready during Spring Break. It's always been you saying no."

I nodded slowly, realizing she was right. I have been hesitant. "I just want you to be sure, not feel like I pressured you or I couldn't wait."

"I want you," Keegan smiled. "And I don't want Embry. I'm happy he found a girl he likes. I'm thrilled he's getting over me so I don't have to feel so guilty anymore! Things are finally good again. And I'm sorry I made you worry."

I held Keegan even tighter against me, running my hands soothingly over her hair while my lips brushed back and forth across her forehead. "You still wanna go to prom with me?"

"Yeah," she giggled. "I do."

"Me too," I hummed contentedly. "It's two weeks away. You still have time to get a dress."

She nodded and buried her head into the crook of my neck. "I hope Embry will be able to go. He could ask Rebecca to go."

"Except he's a sophomore," I laughed. "She'll have to ask him instead."

"Oh shit! I forgot! Do you really think she doesn't know?"

"My guess is no, but I'm sure he'll figure it out." 

Keegan shifted on top of me, straddling my hips and making my eyes roll back in my head as she wriggled around getting comfortable. I bit down on my lower lip, reaching for her hips and holding her snugly in my hands. 

"So it's gonna be me and you at the prom?" she mused innocently, as her tongue swept across her lower lip. 

I couldn't tear my eyes away from her mouth. I shifted my hips, forcing her to fall forward into my arms. "It'll be our night, baby. We can go somewhere nice to eat, dance all night, anything you want."

Keegan buried her fingers in my hair and nodded quickly. "Anything?"

"Yeah."

"That will be the night then."

"The night for what?"

I held my breath as Keegan pressed her lips under my jaw and kissed her way to my ear. "The night I lose my virginity to you."

My whole body flamed with want, picturing our first time and my mind went into overdrive coming up with the plan to make it perfect. 

.....

A/N: double update! Prom night is next...