I wasn’t sure what he considered “the fun stuff.”
I just knew, with a sense that was fierce and frighteningand wonderful, whatever it was, I wanted to do it with Darius.
“The fun stuff,” it would turn out, was lying on ourbacks and watching the clouds drift by.
You might not think this was fun…as such.
But lying on my back beside Darius, our fingers linked andresting where he’d pulled them, on his flat belly, our arms pressed together,both our knees bent (and every once in a while, he’d move his leg and bump itagainst mine, which was adorable and electrifying, both at the same time),talking and watching the clouds drift by was the best time I’d ever hadinmy life.
“Do you ever try to see things in the clouds?”I asked.“Like dragons or elephants?”
“Do you see something like that?”
I lifted my free hand (because, straight up, I wasn’tletting go of his, no way, no how) and pointed.“Well, that one kinda lookslike a T-Rex.”
“Which one?”
I looped my finger.“That one.”
“I don’t see it.”
I turned my head on the blanket and looked at his profile.“Maybe squint?”
He squinted.It was adorable too.
I started giggling.
He turned his head to look at me, his lips moving like hewas fighting a smile, before he asked, “Are you messing with me?”
“No,” I lied.“I totally see a dinosaur.”
Something changed in his eyes, and suddenly, he let my handgo as he turned to his side and got up on a forearm.
For the second time on that mountain, my breath caught, thistime because of the expression on his face.
“You ever been kissed, Malia?”he asked, his voice soft.
I liked the tone of his voice, but…
Uh…
I was so sure!
“You’re not the first date I’ve ever had, Darius Tucker,” Ireturned.
I mean, really.
Did he not think I lived a life until he walked down thatrow at Fortnum’s to me?
“No, I mean properly kissed,” he replied.
Oh, now Ireallyknew what he meant.
I turned and got up on my forearm too.
“You’re hot and all, but that is not where this is going,” Itold him.Because,gah!This was our first date!Feeling somethingcrushing my chest in a manner that caused actual physical pain, I suggested,“Maybe we should head back down the mountain.”
“You’re misunderstanding me,” he said.
