We continue looking at one another.
“Do you want to sit?” I offer.
She shakes her head, and my heart drops. If she doesn’t want to sit, that means she’s here to end things with me for good.
She shifts from one foot to the other. “Jason told me everything. That he paid you to take me to the dance, but that you didn’t feel right and returned the money to him. He said…he said you had a good time with me.”
I nod. “I did. I didn’t want that money anymore. I wish I never would have taken it. Artemis, my feelings for you are real and true. I never pretended to like you.”
She nods slowly. “I know. You’d never hurt me.”
Shaking my head, I get to my feet and trudge over to her. “Never in a million years.” I’m standing right before her now. “When we danced that first night, you opened something inside me. Something I shut for a long time. And the more time I spent with you, the more Ilet myself feel. I opened my heart to the possibility of happiness. And Iamhappy, all because of you.” I take her hands. “It’s very hard for me to say this…” I shut my eyes. “No, I want to say this. I love you, Artemis West.”
Her eyes widen. “W—what?”
I nod, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I smile. I don’t think it’s much of a smile anyway, but her eyes widen even more as they shoot to my mouth and take in that puny grin. But it’s enough to change her entire face.
“You heard me,” I tell her, my voice above a whisper. “I love you.” I lower my mouth, letting it hover over hers before I slowly, so slowly, bring my lips to hers. When they make contact, it’s like a dam opens inside me and I put everything I have into this kiss. All my fears, worries, hopes, dreams.
Artemis’s fingers tangle in my hair as she presses herself closer to me, as if she can’t get enough of me and this kiss.
Then we break apart and she rests her forehead on mine. “I love you, too, Ryan Rogers, more than you can ever imagine.”
“No, I definitely can imagine it.”
Her smile is sweet and shy. I trace her bottom lip with my thumb, giving her the widest grin I can before swallowing her lips with mine.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Artemis
“Artemis, what did we say about phones at the table?” Mom says during dinner that evening. I’m hardly listening to her, my focus is on the text Ryan just sent me. He drew a new picture today, one where he and I are wrapped in each other’s arms, looking at one another like we’re each other’s world.
“Artemis,” Mom repeats.
My head lifts. “Aw, please can I keep my phone?”
“You know the rules,” Dad says, pointing his fork at me.
I groan.
“Dad, Mom, let her text her boyfriend. It’s not a big deal,” Jason says. As soon as the words leave his mouth, his eyes widen.
Dad straightens up. “Boyfriend?”
I shoot my brother a look. “He’s just kidding. Haha.”
Mom and Dad exchange a glance. “We’ve noticed a change in you lately,” Mom says. “Who’s the boy?”
I sink in my seat. “It’s no one.”
They give me an expression that tells me they know better. I heave a heavy sigh. “Fine. It’s Ryan.”
Now my parents exchange a shocked and displeased look. “Ryan Rogers?” Dad asks.
“Yeah. Why are you looking at me like that?” I glance at Jason for a clue, but he’s as confused as me.
Mom shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Artemis, but we don’t allow you to date Ryan.”
