Uh, we’re moving on from this topic that quickly? I mean, I should have assumed he wouldn’t carethatmuch, but I guess he really doesn’t want to discuss this. Which is fair. Why would he? He’s already moved on, and so have I.
I slip my pencil between my fingers. “Oh, studying. Right. Sorry.”
“No,” Oliver amends. “Your first kiss.”
My head snaps up so fast I may have given myself whiplash.
Whatdid he just say?
The corners of his mouth tilt up. “Come on, then.”
“What?” I splutter, dizzy with confusion.
“Youjustsaid you wanted to get it over with, right?” He shifts forward in his chair, leaning in even farther.
And—oh my. His eyes are a kaleidoscope of greens. A lighter mossy color in some areas and a richer jade in others. Captivating, really.
Then it hits me.
Oliver Yang is about tokiss me.
Here.
At his kitchen table.
Do I want that?
“Ah, wait!” I slap my hands over my face. “No! I’m saying it was stupid of me to ask you that one time. I wasn’t thinking, clearly. And I don’t want it to happen like this—with all this math homework everywhere.” I squeeze my eyes shut as I admit the rest. “I actually want my first kiss to feel special, you know? With someone I really like.”
“Relax, Sara.”
Huh?
I lower my hands. Oliver is still close, so close I can spot the lighter shades of golden blond mixing with darker strands as his hair shifts.
He grins. “I was kidding.”
And then the little prankster starts laughing.Laughing!
My fingers connect with his chin, pushing his face away from mine.
“Why are you laughing at me?” I demand. “After I just told you all that? How embarrassing.”
Oliver leans back in his chair, still smiling. He should really do that more often. Smile, I mean. Not try to kiss me.
“Hey, you did the same thing to me, remember? I had to re-create the moment. Consider it payback.”
Then he winks. It happens so fast that I think I’ve imagined it. Wow, I haven’t seen this side of him. Relaxed. Playful, even. Is Oliver Yangfun? Who knew?
My surprise must show on my face, because he laughs harder. It’s not mean laughter, though, and dimples appear on either side of his cheeks as he grins. It’s very adorable, which only causes my blush to deepen.
I thought he was cute the night I spotted him at the subway, but he’s been so grumpy to me ever since. This Oliver is tolerable. If he’d acted like this from the start, maybe we’d be friends.
“Okay, I’m back!”
As Joe reenters the room, I fling back in my chair, putting space between myself and Oliver. If Joe thinks this is odd, he doesn’t show it.
“Mom’s just having another panic attack about the wedding,” he goes on. “She keeps calling me every five minutes.”
