Memories of their kiss last night slipped into her mind, and her cheeks heated. For so long, she’d dreamed about the prospect of getting close to him like that. Touching him. Kissing him. And that kiss had lived up to every one of her fantasies. Hell, it had been better.
Her aunt straightened. “What’s that?”
“What’s what?”
“You’re blushing. Something happened, didn’t it?”
Shit. “Jewel—”
“If something happened, you tell me right now!”
She wanted to lie, but she’d never lied to her aunt, and she didn’t plan to start now. “We kissed.”
Jewel’s eyes widened. “Who? You and online dating guy, or you and Jace?”
“Me and Jace.”
Her aunt’s scream was so loud, Elle almost jumped off the sofa. “Jewel! Shh, my neighbors are still sleeping!”
“You kissed? Youfinallykissed?”
“Yes. Or he kissed me.”
Suddenly, Jewel flew across the sofa and threw her arms around Elle. She barely had time to swing the granola to the side.
“I am so freaking happy for you, baby,” Jewel cried, sounding overly emotional.
“It was just a kiss.”
The older woman pulled away, visible tears in her eyes. “With a boy you’ve known since you were a kid, it’s neverjusta kiss.” She sat back opposite Elle. “Where were you when you kissed?”
Elle glanced at the wall beside the door.
Jewel followed her gaze. “Here? In your apartment?”
“Yeah, he walked me home.” And touched her and called her beautiful and set off a million butterflies in her belly.
She shoved more granola into her mouth.
“I’m so happy for you,” Jewel gasped. “And Iknewit would happen. I always knew you two would end up together.”
Elle pushed a blueberry around in the yogurt. “I’m scared.” Crap, maybe she shouldn’t have admitted that out loud.
“Why are you scared?”
“Because this isn’t some random guy. This isJace. The boy I spent basically my entire childhood in love with. The boy I forced myself to accept I wouldneverhave.”
“And now you’re scared he’ll hurt you.”
“No, I’m terrified he’ll break my heart.” Because if she let herself believe that she could have him, and he left…it would destroy her. “He was never with the same girl for long.”
Jewel lifted a shoulder. “Maybe you’re both different people now.”
Old insecurities crawled up her throat. About not being pretty enough. Outgoing enough. She didn’t voice a single one of them.
“You know what motto I like to live by?” her aunt asked.
Elle’s lips twitched. There were many mottos her aunt lived by, not many of which aligned with Elle’s. “What?”
