“The long-term plan? You know? You’d said that you were going to get a plane or train ticket out of this part of the country. But…”
“But what?”
“But…”
Fuck it, man, just say it.
“But I like having you here. You’re... I like you.”
Lilly bit her lip, reached for the remote, and muted the TV.
“I like you too,” she said. “I don’t know what the plan is. I definitely planned on escaping here as soon as I could. But after what happened a week ago... well, I don’t know.”
“What do you think you know?”
We were both trying to pull the other in without pulling ourselves in. We were trying to see what the other’s “secrets” were without revealing our own. It was exhausting, but given our pasts, it felt necessary.
“I think I want to be with you, Cole,” she said. “I’ve... had thoughts about you. I’ve wanted to be with you. But I’m nervous, I guess. I don’t know. I really don’t.”
I bit my lip. What the hell had I lied to my brother for if I’d come here to avoid the hard conversation? What had I done that all for if I wasn’t going to take advantage of the moment?
“Well, Lilly…” I said.
Just do it. Just take her.
I leaned forward, grabbed her, and pulled her in for a kiss.
