But before the moment can take us away, he chuckles and gives a shake of his head.
“Sorry.” He guides my body away from his, ever so slightly, and it makes me want to frown.
He doesn’t want to kiss me? Or he thinks he shouldn’t?
“You don’t need to be sorry, you kept your promise.”
Oliver sucks in his bottom lip between his teeth, letting it drag out slowly before he speaks.
“Here’s the thing. I don’t want to be a nice guy ... but you’re right, I am a nice guy. And we still have three more things on your list. If you let me kiss you now, I can’t guarantee we finish the tour.”
I should be embarrassed at how much my cheeks hurt from smiling or over how red they are right now. But I’m not.
“Whoever said you were boring lied. Where to next?”
He squeezes my waist with a little hum. “Well, I’m thinking a street dog and then a detour to the Met for a dethaw and a call ... ’cause I think I can get us in to see the Rockettes.”
Oliver
6 p.m.: The Rockettes
Rory’s basically bouncing on the balls of her feet, looking between me and my secret show hookup.
“I can’t believe you snuck us in to see the freaking Rockettes. That was amazing. Four more inches, and nobody coulda stopped me from joining,” she breathes out, making me grin harder.
Lisa, wife of my Rockette neighbor and member of the crew, smiles. “Technically,Isnuck you guys in ... Don’t go giving him all the credit. His head’s already too big.”
I laugh. “Unbelievable. And here I thought you two just hated Benny.”
Lisa kisses my cheek, clearly joking, before giving Rory a wave and shutting the stage door. I look down at the prettiest girl I’ve ever known, shoving my hands in my pockets before leaning in the direction we should walk.
She follows, but she’s buzzing, walking too fast, then turning around to talk to me. Her hands waving everywhere as she rambles.
“What an incredible show. I’m serious when I say I always wanted to be one of them. I had real aspirations until I realized I’d never be tall or flexible.”
I laugh, enjoying the Rory show.
“And how cool that you live next door to them. They’re such a cute couple too.”
I nod, still silent, just grinning.
Rory brushes her hair out of her face, eyes shining as she stares up at me. “Am I talking too much ... I do that when I’m excited.”
“No ... I think I could listen all night.”
Her lips press together, and she gets shy, looking away.
The quiet grows between us as we walk down the sidewalk, streetlights flickering on.
She finally fills the silence. “You know, I just realized I don’t even know your last name.”
My face meets hers. “I don’t know yours either.”
She raises her brows for me to go first. So I do.
“Adams . . . Oliver Adams.”
She starts to chuckle as she says, “Smith ... Rory Smith.”
