I looked around. Some people were making out on the stairs, others were bending down to snort drugs on a small table, and half-naked girls were standing on the armchairs, trying to dance on them.
“I doubt . . .” I muttered reluctantly.
“Tell me the truth, were your friends making fun of me for coming just to talk to you?”
We got to the garden, and I took a deep breath of fresh air.
“No, they said it was cute. You were very sweet to apologize in person.”
“The girls say one thing, but they always end up meaning the opposite.” William made that statement without taking his eyes off two figures who were just going inside. It was Brian and Ari, walking hand in hand like the perfect couple. They were so beautiful that they made us mere mortals look like dweebs.
“That’s not true. I thought that too. That you were cute,” I added, brushing against William’s arm.
That caught his attention again. He didn’t think about it twice. He put his hand on my hips. He did it with such unexpected confidence that it took me by surprise. Our eyes lingered on each other’s lips.
Was this finally the moment?
A tall, clumsy guy bumped into us without even apologizing.
“Come with me. It’s too crowded here.”
Will led the way through the garden to a more isolated area.
It was too late to ask him where we were going. But when we got there, I swallowed loudly.
“Wow.”
A big oak tree decorated with fairy lights dazzled in a peaceful little corner. A porch swing stood out on the lawn, and scattered on the ground were an array of cushions and . . . books? The scent of freshly planted roses and violets enveloped us.
“Did you do this for me?” Incredulously, I clutched my heart.
“I thought you might like to get away from the chaos. So I created an alternative.”
“It’s beautiful. Really, Will.”
I turned around in a circle to admire the spectacle of lights.
“June.” Despite all my romantic expectations, William was sitting on the porch swing looking worried. “I have to talk to you about something.”
I was startled, but sat next to him. “Okay.”
His nervousness was palpable, so it certainly wasn’t the right moment to think about how the damn dress was clinging to my butt cheeks and I couldn’t do anything about it.
“We have to talk about something serious. But first I want to do something because if I don’t do it now, I might never get another chance,” he said, confusing me as he lowered his head and took a deep breath.
“What do you mean?”
“There are some things you don’t know, June.”
I had an inkling.
“About me,” he added.
“About you?” I raised both eyebrows.
“Yeah. And I’m scared that if you found out . . .”
I was so focused that I forgot how to breathe and blink.
