Jett leaned back in the chair and folded his arms. “The fact that you’re dating a guy who doesn’t know the right way to kiss a woman.”
Woman?Technically I was still in high school and hadn’t exactly considered myself to be an official woman yet, but that didn’t stop the odd thrill that shot through me. “So you’re so confident, are you? About your kissing ability?”
A triumphant grin spread over his face. “Yes.”
“How? How can you be sure?” I don’t know why, but suddenly I started to feel like I needed a little space, so I scooted my chair back a foot or two. It didn’t feel like such a weird thing to do until Jett stared down at the space between us with a furrowed brow.
Slowly then, he pulled away from the back of the chair, leaned forward to drop his elbows to his knees, and squared a good, hard look at me. “That’s a good question.”
A blast of firecracker-heat flared in my chest. Just where was he going with this? But then every fiber in me threatened to go limp as I realizedexactlywhere he was going with it.
“How about we letyoube the judge?”
Jett Bryant was actually asking me to kiss him. I couldn’t have anticipated the kind of euphoria that spilled over me at the thought. I wanted to bask in this moment. This wasn’t a game of me chasing him. This was, finally, him chasing me.
I had to wonder if all this talk of kissing was playing tricks on us. Because all I could picture in that moment was me leaning forward, him wrapping his hands around my waist, and the two of us locking lips in a passionate, movie-worthy kiss.
I heard the slam of a car door. Not a distant one either. Seconds later came the squeaking sound of a swinging door. “Hello?”
I widened my eyes at Jett to get him to…stop leaning in and staring at me like this. His dad would think we were up to something.
Jett only grinned. “Hi Dad,” he called. Still leaning over. Still staring right at me with a challenging grin.
“How’s the homework coming?”
I pulled my gaze off Jett and gave Pastor Bryant a wave. It felt weird being in his home suddenly. Especially considering the conversation I’d just been having with his son.
“What is it you two are studying?” He leaned to one side to take a look at the screen. “Oh yeah, the kiss. That’s an interesting topic.”
Jett finally straightened up. “It sure is,” he said, stretching his arms over his head.
The pastor gave my arm a nudge with the back of his hand and nodded to his son. “You don’t have to kiss this kid in order to get an A do you?”
“Huh?” I squeaked.
He broke into a smile. “Kidding,” he said with a laugh. He walked over to the counter and looked at the food on the tray. “Think the girls will have already eaten again?” he asked, glancing up at Jett.
Jett yawned, his biceps popping as he propped his hands behind his head. “Probably.”
“Yeah. I’ll get this put away. You two go on with your studies. Don’t mind me.”
“Well, we would, Dad,” Jett said, setting his gaze back on me, “but our research actuallydoesinvolve kissing, so I think that’d be a little awkward.”
“Ah,” Pastor Bryant said with a nod. “Are you sure you don’t want a different partner, Harper?”
I laughed. Partly out of nerves and partly because it was actually funny. I reallyhadpleaded with Ms. Tolken regarding the issue.
“Actually,” Jett said with a grin. “Shedidask for another partner. Tolken said no.”
“Ha ha,” his dad said. “Well, at least you tried.”
I shot to my feet. “I’ve got to get going,” I announced. It came out as awkward as it felt but I didn’t care. Any minute, Pastor Bryant would disappear and I’d be stuck sitting alone with Jett and his seriously tempting offer to see for myself whether he really was a good kisser.
“I hope I didn’t scare you away.” His dad piled the corndogs, french fries, and pizza pockets into one big storage bag and zipped it up.
“No, you didn’t. I just…remembered I was supposed to be home by…” I had no idea what time it was so I just said, “…by, um, now.”
“Okay then,” the man said pleasantly.
