“Okay, fine. I hadhoped, but I didn’t really think it’d work.”
I pin him with my glariest glare.
He takes in a breath and gets more serious. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to get the hiccups. Will you please forgive me?”
I don’t respond right away, but his puppy dog eyes are fixed on me, doing their magic. “Fine. You’re forgive—Hic!”
“Thank you.” It’s quiet for a few seconds. “So… You need any help with those hiccups?”
Do not, under any circumstances, smile, Mia. But I can’t help being a little flattered that he wants to kiss me again. “Maybe you forgot,” I say, “but it’ssurprisethat gets rid of my hiccups.”Hic!
“Toyourknowledge.”
I let out a breathy scoff, but he’s successfully piqued my curiosity. And it’s not like Idon’twant to kiss him again.
He shrugs. “Maybe we should just give it a shot. Do our due diligence, you know?”
His talk of due diligence makes me think of Gemma’s question:are we talking about a contract or a kiss?I don’t even know anymore.
I consider saying no, shutting this whole thing down right here and now. That would be the smart thing to do. But when I picture Austin walking away, I can’t do it.
Besides, I definitely want to know if kissing Austin is a magical cure for my hiccups, however far-fetched the possibility is.
I cock a brow at him.“Are you saying you want to brave the possibility”—Hic!—“of a hiccup kiss?”
His eyes already on my lips, he takes my overall straps in hand. “Absolutely.” He pulls me toward him, and I don’t even try to combat it. I just let go.
Our lips meet, and once he’s satisfied I’m staying put, he lets go of my overalls and wraps both arms around my waist.
My back’s pressed against the bus. I have nowhere to go but toward Austin. Easiest choice in the world. I’m no longer qualified to lecture him on boundaries. Every last one of mine is at our feet as our mouths meld and the space between our bodies becomes non-existent.
An engine starts up, and we both startle, our lips breaking apart.
We both laugh softly as the bus rumbles behind me.
“Guess we’re leaving,” I say, hardly able to meet his eye.
“Guess so.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “How about those hiccups?”
I take in a slow breath and let it out just as slowly, but Idon’t need to. We were kissing long enough for a few hiccups to have happened.
He smiles as the silence stretches on. “Bingo.”
“It could’ve been the engine. It definitely surprised me.”
“Keep thinking that, Mia.” He winks and slips out from our little space.
Once he’s gone, I let out a big, shaky breath and look up at the morning sky.
I shut my eyes and let my head roll from side to side against the bus. “You’re such an idiot, Mia.”
21
MIA
“Spill.”Rose sits on the couch across from me and folds her arms, staring me down. She and Kelly are finally looking like they’ve rejoined the land of the living.
I raise my eyebrows, but my pulse is officially in gear. Did she see or hear something earlier? What if she peeked through the curtains? “Spill what?”
