A blur of crimson hair in a crimson cart speeds past me, and my smile widens. My cheeks are going to be sore as hell after this.
“Having fun?” Kenneth screams.
“Hell yeah,” I call out, keeping my eyes on the track.
I’m having the best time.
Smooth chocolate coats my tongue, the milkshake chilling my frazzled vocal cords from screaming for three hours.
We’ve been parked outside of my house for the last hour, chatting about everything and nothing with my legs thrown across the center console and resting on his lap.
“I can’t believe you caught a charley horse in the middle of a race,” he laughs, pushing his strong fingers into the tight muscle of my calf. “And I can’t believe that guy pushed me out of the way to check on you.”
I whimper when he finds the knot. “You were a little jealous, weren’t you?”
“A little? I was way more than alittlejealous. I wanted to be the one to carry you away and kiss it all better, but Mr. Firefighter had to swoop in and steal my opportunity.”
“You’re so dramatic. Brian might have bridal carried me to a table, which was sweet, but you know I wouldn’t have let him kiss it all better.”
Kenneth’s smile grows. “Iwouldn’t have let him, Eddie. I did love hearing you tell him you were on a date with me. I had to pinch myself a few times while we were out tonight. Part of me wasn’t sure if I had conjured up the whole thing as one big daydream. I kept expecting tolook to my left and suddenly see Cade sitting beside me, but nope. It’s you.”
I pull my legs back to my side so I can lean forward. His hand instinctively reaches for the back of my neck, and he tugs me to him until our lips meet. Not tentatively like our first one. It’s sure and certain and makes my body tingle as his lips move against mine.
My hands find his cheeks, because even I need to make sure I’m not dreaming.
“Before I get too excited and tell my mom,” I whisper against his lips, “are you sure you still want this?”
Kenneth chuckles, never taking his eyes off me. “I want it all, Eddie. As long as it comes with you, it’s all I’ll ever need.”
Every validation he offers mends my fears piece by piece. It didn’t bother him when I needed to break after four races for a snack, or when my insulin pump fell off and I had to put it back on.
Nope. He stood on the other side of the door, making me laugh until I forgot I was in a dingy bathroom.
Things almost seem too easy for us. Our conversations flow as if the pipe from my brain to my mouth is left open, wanting to share every thought that crosses my mind with him. How my favorite color has always been amber, but emerald, the color of his eyes is quickly taking the lead. How I’ve had “Right Down the Line” stuck in my head all evening because he told me it makes him think of me. How I’ve never had a first date like this, and I never want another first date with anyone else.
I want all the dates with Kenneth.
“I don’t want tonight to end,” I admit, looking over my shoulder at the house. Jo’s car is in the driveway because we planned a sleepover so I can tell them everything about thedate.
“Me neither, but it’s late. I can’t have you blaming me for your lack of sleep or falling asleep in class. Dr. Martin is always looking for a reason to mess with us.”
I wait for him to open my door and tangle our fingers the second I can. The walk up the sidewalk seems too fast, and I know it’s because in a few moments, I’m going to have to let go of him and go inside.
For so long, I wasted time fighting with him and missed out on so many good things. I’ll never make that mistake again.
“I had a great time,” he says, dragging a finger along my jawline. “I’d love to take you on a second—”
“Yes,” I say quickly, probably looking a little too eager. I don’t care. “Tomorrow?”
He leans down to press a quick kiss to my lips. “I hoped you’d say that.”
I’m deprived of kissing him again when the porch is bathed in light as the front door swings open behind me, and the sharp chill of air conditioning nips the back of my legs.
“Kenneth. Is there a reason you’re back nine minutes earlier than the time we agreed on?”
I turn around to find Shay in her pink pajamas and fuzzy slippers with her arms crossed. Her smile is small, but I’ve known her long enough to know this is the equivalent of a full-blown grin.
Kenneth wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me in until my back hits his chest. “I didn’t want to get on your bad side already, Shay. I thought having her back early would give me a better chance of stealing her tomorrow night too.”
