“Flattered, definitely flattered,” I manage, forcing a confidence I don’t quite feel as the room edges into a slow spin. “I mean, you’re kind of a big deal.”
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers brushing my skin. “And you’re kind of amazing.”
My heart stumbles at the closeness, and I meet his eyes. “You’re not so bad yourself. Better than all my past boyfriends. Exponentially better.”
“Ah, yes, I’m glad I exceeded Pee Wee league expectations.” He laughs through his nose. His voice softens as he leans in, “For the record, you’re pretty great yourself.”
Our faces are inches apart, the air crackling with tension that hangs between us. His hand rests on my waist, securing me in a way that feels both familiar and new. I feel the heat of his breath on my skin, and my heart starts to race, thumping against my chest like it's desperate to say something I’m not ready to hear.
Just as our lips were about to meet, an obnoxious ring slices the moment. Jared jerks away, surprise and frustration crossing his face as he snatches his phone from the bedside table.
“Sorry, it’s my dad,” he mutters. He walks out of the room to answer the call.
I prop myself up, pressing my hair back behind my ears, feeling a hit of sobriety. I look out to find his back facing inside, and I’m willing my heart to stop hammering so fiercely. The moment’s magic got interrupted, but the connection we shared lingers, making me feel a confusing mix of disappointment and hope.
Jared comes back moments later and looks over at me, yet avoids my direct gaze.
“Everything okay?” I murmur.
“Yeah.” Jared runs a hand through his hair, a hint of exhaustion in his voice. “The girls won’t go to bed until they see me. They’re giving my dad a hard time with Ma out of town.”
“Duty calls.” A hint of disappointment sneaks into my voice.
He hesitates, his eyes locking with mine, his brow furrowing slightly. “Will you be alright?”
“Fine,” I mumble, my eyes flicking away casually as if the answer doesn’t matter.
He nods, but neither of us moves right away. The air feels charged again, like a thread pulling us closer. I want to say something, to reach out and close the distance between us, but the moment slips away as he glances towards the door.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asks, almost as if he’s seeking reassurance.
My mind’s too foggy to piece together a proper response.
“Alli, what’s wrong?”
“You should go,” I manage, my voice faltering as I press a hand to my temple, trying to mend the swirling haze in my mind.
Please go before my mind turns into a pile of poo.
He eyes me closely, as if trying to read between the lines. I can feel my cheeks burning under his gaze, and all I want is for him to leave before I say something I’ll regret. Before I admit just how badly I wanted that almost kiss to happen.
“Alright, whatever you say. Goodnight, Alli.”
I watch him go, the door clicking shut behind him. “Goodnight,” I whisper into the stillness, my chest tightening with an ache I try to rub off.
Chapter 17
Jared
The fluorescent lights above buzz faintly, the sound grating enough to set my teeth on edge. Beakers clink, pens scrape, and someone in the corner clears their throat for the fiftieth time—it’s all white noise at this point. Typical Monday afternoon. A drag.
Except, my brain’s gone rogue.
I stare at the equation in front of me, but the numbers blur into a mess of lines and curves. Because I’m not thinking about chemistry. I’m thinking about Alli. About the way she looked at me the other night, her lips parting like she was just as breathless as I was. About how close we came to crossing a line I’m not sure I want to uncross.
Hell, who am I kidding? I want to. I’ve been wanting to since the second she stepped into my orbit.
We haven’t talked about what happened. We’ve been avoiding the subject since I drove back to campus, sticking to safe topics and pretending like nothing’s changed, but I feel the shift. It’s like there’s this bubble of silent confessions between us, and every time she goes quiet, I’m bracing myself for her to bring it up.
