I lower my chin. “And would that be so bad?” I ask quietly.
“Yes—because I have a meeting tomorrow morning. And that would mean I wouldn’t have time to cook you breakfast.”
“I can skip breakfast,” I whisper, as he places his left hand on my cheek.
He leans his face in closer. I smell the garlic on his breath, but I don’t care. I lick my lips, pushing away any concerns about what my mouth might taste like.
“But I make a killer eggs benedict,” Colin whispers, and I see his eyes close as he moves his face in to meet mine.
His kiss is transcendent. I am lifted out of my own body, floating in the air somewhere, completely weightless. His tongue is gentle but firm. He moves his hands slowly, reaching one across the center console of the car to hold my waist and running the fingers of the other one through my hair, lightly massaging the back of my scalp with his neatly trimmed nails. I feel exhilarated and exhausted all at once, like a runner who has reached the end of a marathon and finally crosses the finish line. I want so much more from him, but in this moment, in this vehicle, on this Thursday night, I am wholly satisfied.
“Mmm,” he says, slowly pulling away in order to take a breath.
I open my eyes. It’s real. He’s still here. This actually happened. It’s not cystic acne Ronald in front of me—it’s Colin Yarmouth, genuine flesh and bone. I don’t know what to say, but I feel my mouth form a smirk, and before I know why, I begin to laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
I shake my head.
“What? Do I taste bad?”
“Oh my God, no,” I say. “Not at all.”
“Then, what is it?”
“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that for.”
“Yeah?”
I nod. “I used to daydream about kissing you.”
“Really?”
“Uh huh,” I say, sheepishly.
“And? How did the real thing measure up?”
“Good.Verygood.”
He nods. “I’m glad. Can I call you when I get home, or will you be asleep?”
“You can call,” I say. “You should call. Definitely.”
“Okay,” he says, licking his lower lip. “Then I definitely will.”
“It’s probably a good thing you’re going,” I say.
“Why’s that?”
“Because I lied to you before.”
He looks at me, confused.
“I could never skip breakfast,” I say.
He kisses me again, says good night, and waits in the car until I am safely inside.
Colin
