“I kiss them,” I said.
“Like on the cheek?”
“No. On the mouth.”
Alex blinked. “Is that right?”
My cheeks grew hot again, but I couldn’t chicken out now, not with Nina watching. “It’s tradition. It’s how we say hello in Florida.”
He squinted at me. “Tradition, huh?”
“Yes,” I said, sure this would go down as the most embarrassing moment of my life. “A very important tradition. Ancient, I’ve been told.”
“How have I spent my entire life as a Floridian and not known this?”
“You’re sure you’re not a tourist?”
He tugged at his nondescript black T-shirt. “Thanks?”
“It’s a compliment!”
“No one has ever called someone a tourist as a compliment.”
“Until now.”
Alex’s eyes roamed my face. Any second now he’d push away his beer and run away from me.
But then he smiled. “Okay, sure.”
“Sure... what?” I said, momentarily distracted when his eyes met mine again.
“You can kiss me,” he said.
“I can?”
Alex shrugged. “I’m not sure I could live with the weight of ruining an obscure Floridian custom I’ve never heard of on my shoulders. So I’d better play it safe and let you kiss me, right?”
I glanced at his shoulders, which were quite nice, really. “Right.”
Alex nudged his stool closer to mine and turned to face me. He set his hands in his lap and closed his eyes. “Okay, I’m ready.”
If I hadn’t been so nervous, I would’ve laughed. He looked like a man trying to meditate in the middle of all this noise. The upward curve of his mouth and the way he leaned slightly toward me were the only signs his mind was on sillier things.
“Well?” he said, eyes still closed. “Are you still there, Florida Girl? I’m going to be really disappointed if I open my eyes and discover you were a figment of my imagination.”
Now or never, I thought. I closed my eyes and leaned in swiftly, kissing Alex before I could change my mind. His mouth softened, and he leaned in to deepen the kiss. He tasted like the bitter piney flavor of his beer, but the kiss itself was lingering and sweet. For a moment, the noise of the bar, my list, the aching sadness I couldn’t seem to shake, it all fadedas I got lost in the smell of him. Light and warm, it reminded me of days in the sun and hours on the water.
When we finally broke apart, my mind was spinning. Nina clapped, but I ignored her. Alex and I looked at each other, and I nearly kissed him again.
“Wow,” he finally said. “I agree. This ancient and venerable tradition must be preserved. Do I get to know your name now, Florida Girl?”
“Jo,” I said, stretching out my hand.
He smirked and took my hand in his. “So formal.”
“Very funny,” I said.
When he let go of my hand, I glanced at Nina, but she was absorbed in conversation with Ollie.
