"You can be mad at me as long as you need to be. I broke your trust. That doesn't get fixed in a week or a month."
I studied his face. I looked for the catch and didn't find one.
The haunted chair creaked.
"That chair is cursed," Adrian said.
"My grandmother's. She was kind of a witch, but in a good way. She blessed it, but she was bad at blessings, so they came out weird."
He almost smiled.
I took a breath.
"You hurt me. You lied. You made choices about my life without asking."
Adrian nodded.
"I'm still mad about that, but I don't hate you."
Relief flooded his expression. "What else do you feel?" he asked.
"Confused. Scared. Kind of hopeful in a way that pisses me off." I looked at him. "You're different. Not just saying things.You showed up at practice without a camera. Now, you're sitting here letting me be mad at you without trying to fast-forward past it."
"Those things shouldn't be a big surprise."
"But they are. With you, they are."
I reached over and took his hand. He looked up, surprised. "I'm not ready for everything. But I'm ready for this."
His fingers curled around mine. I realized I wanted more.
"Adrian."
He looked at me.
"Can I kiss you?"
His eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't sure."
"Yes. You can kiss me."
I leaned in slowly. Our lips met carefully, tentatively. His were softer than I remembered.
I pulled back. "Okay?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Yeah."
I kissed him again. Longer this time. Heat started to build in my chest.
"Bedroom?" I asked.
"Yeah."
I stood. "I need to be in charge."
