"Can I meet you guys fordrinks?"
I'm surprised he asks, and he laughs at my facialexpression.
He holds my hand timidly. "You are going to tell her about us,right?"
"I wasn't sure if there truly was an us to tell herabout."
He pulls me close. "I like this, so yeah, I hope you'll claim me toher."
I laugh out loud. "Claimyou?"
He chuckles under his breath. "You know what I mean. She'll give you shit. Wait"—he leans back slightly—"does she know you came to the club to findme?"
"Hellno."
"Does she know you wanted to find me?" he asksseductively.
I shake my head. "I've never told her anything about my crush onyou."
"So I'm your crush." He pulls me in tighter, and I can feel the semi that's growing in his loungepants.
I flush with embarrassment, and he kisses mylips.
"How long have I been your crush?" he asks, and I'm officiallymortified.
I bite the inside of my lip, praying I don't have to answer hisquestion.
His eyes widen in shock. "Thatlong?"
"Stop." I place my hand on his chest. "It wasn'tthatlong."
"Then tell me. Since you were sixteen,seventeen?"
I glance down, and he places his finger under my chin, tilting it to meet hiseyes.
"Thirteen," I answer with trepidation, embarrassed to admit it was since the first day I saw him, at ten yearsold.
He holds my face, forcing me to look athim.
"I've seriously never been so humbled and honored. You're my crushnow."
His lips meet mine, and it takes all my power not to pull him back to his room for round three. Instead, he opens thedoor.
"I'll see you tonight. Text me where to meet you, and I'll be prepared for Tracy to betotally grossed out," he mimics his sister'swords.
I laugh slightly, kissing him quickly before walking out of hisapartment.
* * *
"Hey, girl!"Tracy says when I open the door to myapartment.
She gives me a big hug, and then I show her around my newplace.
In my room, she sits on my bed and smiles lovingly at me. "I'm really proud of you, youknow."
"Thank you. Everything's happening so fast, but things have beengood."
"How is it going?" she asks, beating around the bush, not wanting to say it outloud.
