“You’re the girl who makes me look forward to Cell Biology, even though I hate that class. And you know I hate that class.”
A laugh slips out of me, because yeah, I know. He hated it from day one. But it’s the way he says it, like I’ve somehow made it better, that makes me want to cry and smile at the same time.
“And you’re the girl I steal puzzles for,” he adds, his eyes boring into mine. “Even though I suck at puzzles, I’d go out of my way to steal them just to see you get that little smile when you’re working on one.”
“This thing between us, it’s becoming something real for me.” He gives up. “I’m all in. I want this to be real.”
My throat tightens, and I bite my lip as I pinch the thin skin on my hand. Nothing fades. It’s happening. He’s not just talking about hookups or keeping up the act for everyone else. He’s talking about us, about me.
“I wasn’t supposed to fall for you… but I did,” he says, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “And I’m done pretending like I haven’t.”
I stand frozen, my heart hammering against my ribs.
He reaches for my hand, his thumb skimming over my knuckles. “I see it in your eyes. The way you look at me… like you’re waiting for something. Take a chance with me, Alli. Just one.”
I feel the tension in my chest melt away with his words. I lean into his touch, allowing the tenderness of his hand to harbor me in the moment. I want to, but I can’t, not when I feel like I’m seconds away from combusting.
“I didn’t think… I didn’t think you felt the same.”
A knowing grin that twists something tight in my stomach takes upon his face. “You didn’t? Alli, I’ve been losing my mind trying to act like I was fine with just being friends.”
“You’ve been acting cool?”
“Well, I thought I was.” His chuckle is quick, but the sound dies the second his eyes fall to the floor. Like he’s searching for the right words. When he looks back up at me, there’s a seriousness in his gaze that sends a shiver through me. His voice drops an octave, like he’s letting me in on something I didn’t know I was supposed to hear. “I’ve felt it for a while, but I was too wrapped up in my own shit to admit it.”
I laugh, feeling a little breathless. And clueless. “So… what now?”
He steps closer, and before I have a chance to protest, his hand moves to cup my face, his thumb brushing against my jaw. My pulse skyrockets, my whole body feeling alive with fireworks. His eyes drop to my lips, then back to mine, honest and tired of fighting his feelings.
“Now… we stop pretending.”
Then his mouth is on mine, and holy hell, any sense of hesitation is gone. This kiss is nothing like the arguments we’ve had. It isn’t stubborn or angry. It’s raw, undoing every safety measure I’d carried far and wide for myself.
When we finally pull apart, both of us breathing hard, he leans his forehead against mine, a lazy grin spreading across his face. “Yeah. That was overdue.”
I huff out a laugh, my heart still racing. “Wow, just wow.”
His eyes sparkle with amusement as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Cat got your tongue, Castillo?”
I roll my eyes, but my smile gives me away. “Shut up and kiss me again.”
We lean in for another kiss, this one feeling real and intimate compared to the heated ones we’ve shared before.
A sudden high-pitched cheer cuts through the moment. “ALLI AND JARED KISSING IN A TREE. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”
I pull back with a laugh, just as Tyler and Serena burst into applause, grinning like we’re the leads in some cheesy Netflix rom-com. Tyler nods, like he’s been waiting for this all along.
Serena cups her hands around her mouth, beaming. “That’s my girl!”
Tyler quickly covers Serena’s mouth with his hand, doing his best to muffle her voice. “Sorry for the interruption, carry on!”
I shake my head, trying to hide my smile, and glance back at Jared, unsure what to do next, so I lay my hands flat against his chest. “Whatnow?”
“The world is our oyster, Alli baby. We can take on the world, steal more puzzles, or hit up the best matcha spots around town. You’re mine now.”
“I’m not property.”
“You aren’t, but you’re still mine.”
