Raaa

Fireworks popped behind Kayla. Several kids ran past her screaming and laughing.

"Raa!" Someone poked her in the ribs. She screeched and whirled around.

"Got you," Tom said.

"Oh my god!" She reached out to swat him, but he grabbed her wrist, twirled her around and dipped her.

"Tom!" Kayla laughed while she held onto his arms with white knuckles. "Bring me back up!"

He did, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in for a long kiss.

Was he drunk? She thought. No, he can't be. There wasn't a trace of alcohol as his breath fanned across her face when he pulled away.

"I've been wanting to do that." He sighed, scratching is over-grown hair. It curled perfectly around his shoulders. "Come on." He grabbed her hand and pulled her though the park, dodging more fireworks, weaving around blankets and lawn chairs until they reached the street.

"Where are we going? We're going to miss the fireworks!"

They walked a block and then turned right into the parking lot behind Wendell Bakery. Tom pulled Kayla over to his car and stopped.

"What are we doing here?" she asked, looking around. "Where-"

It finally dawned on her. She looked at the car again and then at Tom. His pearl-white teeth shone bright in a big smile.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Want to go for a ride?" Tom jangled the keys in his hands and waggled his eyebrows.

"But the fireworks?"

"If we hurry up, we can head over to the state park and catch the end of the show."

Kayla ranked her teeth over her bottom lip. "Yeah. Let's go."

♥♥♥

Tom downshifted as they turned into the state park. The wind ruffled Kayla's hair, and she pulled it to the side out of her face.

"This is awesome," she said, imagining them spending the rest of the summer with Tom.

"I know," Tom said. "I love it."

They found a parking spot and got out. The fireworks boomed off in the distance, their sparks lighting the sky red. There were no other cars here, which meant they had the entire park to themselves.

"We should go up the Sky Trail," Tom said, grabbing Kayla's hand, threading his fingers through hers. "Oh, wait. I brought a blanket." He pulled it out of the car and they headed up the stairs that would take them to the top of the Sky Trail.

By the time they reached the top, Kayla was out of breath, but the fireworks were blazing through the sky and she wanted to see at least some of them. They hurried along the dirt trail to the far side of the hill near Garver Lake.

Finding a good break in the trees, they laid the blanket out and sat.

A purple and then orange firework went off in the distance. Tom lay back, putting his hands behind his head. Kayla lay next to him, curling into the crook of his arm.

"It's beautiful," Kayla breathed. They might have been some five miles away from he city park, but the fireworks were still spectacular, the color brighter than ever. And Kayla liked the quiet.

She sat up, looked in Tom's eyes.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi." She leaned over, kissing him gently. Everything felt perfect, and she wanted to share it with Tom.

He sat up and Kayla leaned back on the blanket. Tom ran his fingers through her hair, then along the nape of her neck. She shivered, pulling him down closer as he ran his tongue softly over her lips.

Every nerve in Kayla's body came alive. Her stomach knotted in excited butterflies, and she couldn't seem to think straight.

The kiss went from soft and innocent to urgent and intense. Kayla could feel Tom's heart drumming against her chest.

"We should stop," Tom said against her lips.

Yes. Yes, we should stop, she thought, but she didn't want to.

Tom pulled his hand down to touch the bare skin peeking out from beneath Kayla's top. His fingers were warm, smooth on her skin. Kayla breathed in sharply.

Stop, Kayla thought again, but then Tom's hand crept farther up her shirt and all she could think was, keep going. Keep going. His fingers caressed her ribs and then went beneath her bra.

Oh my god.

Tom's lips pulled away from Kayla's mouth and ran down her neck.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asked.

Say something, Kayla thought, but she couldn't seem to connect her brain and her mouth, and her hand grabbed Tom by the back of his head, keeping him close to her. She didn't want to stop.