We sit silently, me gazing into those pretty blue eyes she has that are so striking I feel like I could get lost in them. I clear my throat trying to think of how to bring this up without seeming like a total creep. “Sorry about… you know, earlier. I noticed you two weren't in the pool when we got home from the rodeo, and I wanted to make sure you were okay. It’s dark back there and Georgia doesn’t always think with her head about safety and wild animals."
She smiles. “That’s okay. I didn’t say anything to Georgia about seeing you.”
“I figured. If Georgia caught wind of that, she’d probably end your friendship. Or my life.”
She laughs. “I don’t think Georgia would have done that. It’s not like you’ve made any indication that you're interested in me...” her voice trails off as her eyes cast downward.
I raise a brow. Is that really what she thinks? “Mae, look at me.”
She turns slowly to gaze into my eyes, vulnerability and hesitation lingering there.
“Am I not making it obvious enough to you?”
She chews on the bottom of her lip, eyes darting anywhere but to meet my gaze.
Those lips.
"If I haven't made it clear, Mae, I'm into you. You're beautiful, andit's not just about looks. From what little I know about you, you are funny, kind, and generous. And despite teasing Georgia, my cousin's pretty discerning when it comes to people’s character. She doesn't keep anyone around who isn't genuinely good at heart, even if she knows I’m hitting on that person, and I get the feeling Georgia can tell I’m into you too."
Mae blushes like she has a tough time taking a compliment and that only fuels my desire for her more.
I lean in, bringing my face closer to hers, and watch as her eyes lift to meet mine. There’s something about her—something soft, untouched in a way that has nothing to do with naivety and everything to do with the quiet resilience she carries.
From the moment I met her, I was drawn in. She’s a little sheltered, a little wounded, but sharp in a way that catches you off guard. And I wish she could see—reallysee—that I’d never want to dim that fire simmering just beneath her surface. Not like the people in her life have tried to.
I don’t want to mold her into something smaller, something more convenient. I want her to figure out whatshewants, to chase it, to find the dreams she might not even know she has yet. And more than anything, I want to stand beside her while she does it.
I don’t want to take from her.I want to add to her.
“Stop me if you don’t want me to do this, Mae,” I whisper, “but I’d love to kiss the birthday girl that I’ve been crushing on for the past few weeks.”
She nods nervously and closes her eyes as I bring my lips in closer, brushing them against hers tentatively to get her comfortable. Slowly, her lips press to mine where I gently part, sweeping my tongue across her bottom lip to open. She does and then sighs with her whole body against me as if I’m the one thing that’s holding her together.
My hands find her waist, pulling her closer to my body until she’s straddling my hips on the couch. I reach my hand upward for herhair and tug on it slightly, liking the feel of the soft golden waves while they slip through my fingertips. When we take a moment to pause our making out, she pulls back, and I watch the way her little chest rises and falls rapidly.
“Cody… I want you to be my first time. That is, if you're okay with that?”
For a moment, her question hangs in the air as my brain struggles to catch up with my racing thoughts. What is she asking me exactly?
“What?”
“My first time,” she says, looking down at her hands. “I’m eighteen years old now. I’m an adult and I’m ready. Who knows where our senior year may take us. You may decide that I’m the weird, new girl at your high school and dislike me along with everyone else.”
“That’s not possible,” I murmur, brushing a finger against her cheek and enjoying the softness of it against my knuckle. She’s so soft everywhere, it’s a harsh contrast to me.
“I'm ready,” she says firmly, “please.”
I meet her gaze, knowing what she’s trusting me with and feeling the weight of the responsibility to handle her with care.
“There’s no do-overs after this Mae.”
She nods. “I know. I want you. I won’t regret it. No matter what."
I think for a moment, knowing that's not what I'm worried about. Regret isn't something I think I'll ever feel after spending time with Mae Beaumont. What I'm really worried about is what comes after this because nothing about what is between us feels temporary.
I lift her gently from the deck couch and then layer her back on the ground. Reaching back, I snag a cushion from the couch and place it under her head, so she isn’t too uncomfortable.
“That okay?” I ask.
