“We can catch a ride with Bailey and Summer,” I said with a laugh.
Jett shuffled closer, resting his head in the nook between my shoulder and neck. “I feel so bad for not answering you.”
I clenched my eyes shut, remembering the time I’d almost texted him about it. “It’s not your fault. I’m the one who should’ve at least asked you about it.”
Jett took hold of my hand, brought it to his lips, and pressed a gentle, lingering kiss to my palm. My body went limp, every limb softening like overcooked noodles. All of the feels and thrills we’d read about sparked into action as he moved along my wrist in a slow rhythm.
He glanced up at me then, keeping ahold of my wrist, and wrapped his other hand solidly around my hip where he gave me a squeeze.
Goosebumps rippled over my skin.
“Harper Tisdale,” he said. “Just so you know, I reallyreallylike you.”
“I reallyreallylike you too,” I said as a giggle snuck out.
“I’d love it if you’d be my girlfriend. Will you?”
I bit my lip and grinned. “Yes.”
And there was that gorgeous dimple. “Yes,” he said with a fist pump. He moved his hand back to my hip then, and his gaze dropped to my mouth.
I couldn’t help but look at his yummy lips in return as all those sensors started into action once more. It was part of our ceremony. The ritual. A thing I’d come to call the chemistry of a kiss.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine in a full, dreamy exchange that had me grasping onto his shoulders as a sigh sounded in my throat.
Best. Kisses. Ever.
“Let’s go dance,” he mumbled against my lips.
“Sounds good to me.”
Jett led me into the gym just as a Pearl Jam song kicked on. One of my favorites. We found Bailey and Summer’s group soon enough, and joined in on the fun, playing air guitar one moment, while swaying to the rhythm the next.
Kissing Jett might be one of my favorite things, but I was glad we knew how to have fun hanging out together as well. As a new song picked up, Emmy came around with her camera and had us pose for a pic. Jett hoisted me right off the ground and cradled me for the pose. The other guys in the group followed suit as the girls squealed, creating what was sure to be a fun shot.
“Awesome,” Emmy said as her boyfriend Ky wrapped his arm around her. Looked like it was time to pass the camera on. I hoped someone would be getting pictures of those two together as well.
I glanced around the gym, eyeing all the couples that had gotten together over the last few months. A dose of warmth and gratitude filled my heart. Senior year was off to an incredible start, and I couldn’t wait to see what the rest of the year might bring.
Not to mention the rest of the evening.
Tonight was sure to include a deeper conversation about the last few days, which was good. I looked forward to being more open with Jett, and taking my brilliant grandparents’ advice as best I could. Of course, I assumed the evening would end with another incredible kiss. The very idea made goosebumps race up my arms while my heart did a little dance of its own.
Our assignment might be over, but Jett was my boyfriend now, which meant we’d get to study the topic a whole lot more.
That was definitely something to look forward to.
Epilogue
“Is the ham ready?” Missy spun her way over to the counter, gracefully picked up the basket of rolls, and tiptoed her way to the dining room table.
“Almost,” Mom said as she pried open the oven. “Come look at the glaze. It’s getting brown and bubbly.”
I abandoned the napkin folding long enough to join Missy and Mom at the oven. The fact that we were actually having so many normal foods today made this Christmas Eve dinner extra special. Sure, Mom spent a couple hundred dollars to get a ham and glaze that met her strict standards, and the mixed veggies and fruit salad were up to those standards too, but Mom threw caution to the wind by letting me pick out fresh bakery rolls at the market.Go Mom!
Better yet, Mom wasn’t the one in charge of the cheesy potatoes this year. One of our special guests was bringing them. A guest who’d learned from the woman who usually baked those cheesy potatoes for every funeral, sick home, or special event at Sweet Water Worship. That’s right. Jett and his dad were coming over for dinner.
It’d been more of a last minute thing. Ava and Ivy had flown out to spend time with their grandmother for the first half of winter break. There hadn’t been any change in his parents’ situation, as far as Jett knew, but he was hopeful. Anyway, the twins planned to travel back here with Cathy so the family could spend Christmastime together, which seemed like a good sign. Sadly, their flight had been delayed, and when Mom heard about it, she extended the offer and they said yes.Bam!
