“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.”
“You don’t have?—”
“I can’t let my girlfriend pay for her own drinks. How would that make me look to the fine residents of Asheville?”
There’s no use arguing, and it’s been a while since anyone has bought me a drink. I follow him to the bar to take care of the bill. Even though we aren’t really together, I don’t want the night to end. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this comfortable with anyone.
Once he’s finished up, he leads the way out of the bar, and I pull my arms around myself to stave off the cold. He wraps an arm around me and pulls me closer to him.
“Where are you parked?”
I nod in the direction of my car and we head toward it. He waits until I’ve unlocked the car and opened the door before pulling his arm away.
“Tonight was fun. Even if there was a bit ofhomework.” He shoves his hand in his pocket and rocks back and forth.
“It was. I’m glad I ran into you.” And almost killed him, but I don’t want to mention that again. “So, uh, do we want to practice the kiss? I mean, no time like the present, right?”
“Sure.” He takes a step toward me and places his hand on my cheek before leaning in.
His mouth meets mine, and I only expected a sweet peck. That’s not at all what’s happening here.
His lips are soft and he widens them a fraction to deepen the kiss. I wrap my arms around his waist and melt into him. Standing here, kissing him, feels like the only thing that matters. The bitter bite of winter fades away. All I can do is stay wrapped up in this warmth.
I’m not sure how long we kiss, but when he pulls away reality comes crashing back.
“Was that, okay?” He sounds unsure of himself.
“Yeah.” It’s not my fault if I sound like I’m out of breath. He stole it from me. “It was perfect.”
“Text me when you get home?”
“Uh huh.” I wait a beat. “I’ll also send the pictures.”
With a quick wave he turns around and walks off. I am so screwed.
CHAPTER SIX
tristan
My mind is still stuckon the kiss with Paula. I didn’t mean for it to be as elaborate as it was. Something came over me and it felt right. Based on her reaction she was okay with it as well.
We’ve texted here and there. Mostly her filling me on things she forgot about. However, the kiss has not been mentioned. It’s a shame because I’d like to know what she really thought. Was she as into it as it seemed? Or, was it merely practice for how she needs to react when I kiss her around her family?
“Do we need to go over the siblings again?” Dale asks, breaking me from my thoughts.
“No, I think I’ve got it.” It’s all I’ve been studying for the past week. This whole relationship thing is a farce, I know that. But I don’t want to show up to her family vacation looking like an idiot. They’ll never believe we’re together.
Dale looks around the construction area to make surewe’re alone. “Are the flowers all set to be delivered tomorrow?”
“Yep. Paula said to give her a time, and they’d try to get them too them as close to it as possible.”
“Can you tell her around 6:30 tomorrow night?”
“Sure. Where at?”
“Here.” He nods toward the studio being built.
“It’s not even done, yet.”
