“I want to kiss you again. I don’t ever want to stop.” My admission feels immediately raw and embarrassing. I can’t believe I said those words out loud.
“Me too, Lainey. Me too. But first, let’s get some gelato, okay?” He places both of his hands on my cheeks. I nod and when he lets my face go, I reach out to hold his hand, pulling him towards the cafe doors.
“Wait.” He’s quiet, looking down at the ground when he says “I just… I just need a minute.” I bite down on my bottom lip to keep from smiling or giggling. It feels pretty good to know he was as affected by that kiss as I was.
Once we’re inside, he never takes his hand off of me. Not even as we eat gelato side by side. His hand always finds its way into mine, onto my shoulder, and even, just once, on my bare knee.
When he drives me home, we sit back in that comfortable silence. Both stealing glances at one another. Both smiling like idiots. He might not be much of a talker, but he’s just so easy to be around.
By 11:00 he’s pulling into my driveway and I’m dreading the fact this night is about to end. Andy helps me out of the car again, but I don’t dare repeat my body skimming tricks now. Not when my parents could be watching.
He holds my hand as we walk silently to the front door.
“Thank you for tonight, Andy. I’ll never forget it. Did…did you have a good time?” As soon as I ask the question, I feel like an idiot. Like a child. But he smiles that dimple-popping smile and everything feels right.
“Yeah, Lainey. I had the best time. But I hope you know I want that second date. And then a third. Remember?” He’s facing me as he brings my hand up to his face and kisses my knuckles.
My voice cracks and my eyelids flutter as I respond. “You can have them all.” And when those words leave my lips his smile takes over his whole face. He leans down and kisses me with that same softness as the first time and whispers over my lips, “You’re so much more than I ever could have dreamed of, my sweet girl.”
I feel myself melt all over again.My sweet girl.How does one swoon? Does it require fainting of any kind? Because I might be there soon.
“Did you mean what you said?” He looks at me with a furrow in his brows now.
“I always mean what I say, but what specifically are you asking about?” I find it hard not to stare at his mouth or lick my lips so I can taste him there again.
“When you said I can have all the dates. The second and third...” He looks worried. Almost a little sad.
I straighten and place my fingers on his jaw. “Of course I did.”
And at once the furrow is gone. His eyes soften and a crooked smile appears on his face. “Good.” He tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I’ll come pick you up Monday afternoon for your shift.”
“You will? But you don’t have to do that anymore and we don’t work the same —“
“Lainey. I want to. I want to see you and be near you. Plus, if your dad really is so busy, I’d like to at least take this away from him. Let me help.” He seals his statement with a deadly brush of his thumb over my bottom lip.
“Oh. Okay. Thank you.” I can’t think of anything else to say.
He smiles and shakes his head as his eyes roam over every inch of my face. “I’ll see you soon, sweet girl.” He kisses my hand again and walks backwards, away from me.
I smile and say, “I’ll see you in my dreams.” And again, that big smile, dimple included, appears on his face, and I swear I see his eyes twinkle.
I smile the entire way to my room. I smile as I brush my teeth, put my pjs on and pull the sheets over me. I’m pretty sure I smile all night as I dream of Andy’s lips on my hands, my neck, my lips…
six
. . .
It’s beentwo weeks since our first date and Andy has driven me home from every shift I’ve worked. I think Betty has everything to do with the fact that we’ve either worked the same shifts or at completely different times, so Andy can still drive me. He promised me he doesn’t mind and will gladly take any excuse to be next to me.
It’s Saturday night, and he’s driving me home when he says, “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything you want.” Curse my mouth being faster than my brain. It feels like everything I say to Andy lately is suggestive. All I think about is his body and his hands on mine. We’ve kissed a lot these past two weeks, but nothing else. His hands never deviate from my waist or my face. I don’t know how to tell him I want more.
Before I can finish my thought, he asks, “Are you going to your prom?”
“Um, yes.” I answer quickly, though the question came out of nowhere. I haven’t brought up prom to him. I try not to talkabout high school too much. I mean, he’s 21, I’m sure he doesn’t want to listen to my petty high school shit.
“Do you have a date?” He never takes his eyes off the road and his face is void of expression, but his grip tightens on the wheel, which I've never seen him do before.
