"Me too." His arms tightened around her. "That's the one thing that's held me back this whole time."
"Same." Eden wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her forehead against his chest.
"But I'm tired of fighting how I feel about you, Eden."
His voice took on that husky tone again, and the way he said her name sent a shiver of warmth skittering down her spine.
"Promise me you won't give up on us yet. Let's see where this leads and work on a solution together." He lifted her chin and gazed into her eyes. "Will you promise me?"
Even though knots still filled her stomach, making her rather nauseous, she nodded.
Rudy's thumb shifted to stroke her bottom lip, and a spark of desire lit in her. He tilted his head a little then paused to search her face, then ever so slowly he closed the gap between his lips and hers.
They'd kissed enough times now that she should be used to the unexpected rush of giddiness that Rudy's kiss triggered in her, but she wasn't. She hoped she never got used to the feel of his mouth on hers, the taste of his kiss, his smell that drove her crazy each time he got close. She could easily become addicted to this; always searching for her next dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin hit. He'd totally destroyed her for any other man.
A loud boom enveloped them, and the night sky lit up.
"There's something about kissing you..." Rudy said in that husky voice. "I swear I see fireworks whenever my lips touch yours."
Laughing, Eden poked him in the stomach and backed away. She turned her face toward the sky as fireworks exploded one after the other. They were beautiful, but they didn't compare to kissing Rudy. Not even close.
Instead of setting out their chairs, like Eden expected him to do, Rudy laid the blanket on the ground. He looked at her and lifted an eyebrow. When she nodded, he laid down and spread his arm out for her to lay her head on.
They were finally alone and able to kiss freely without an audience, yet Eden's stomach churned with anxiety. So much so, she had a hard time enjoying the fireworks and the occasional kiss that Rudy stole.
Had she made a mistake by agreeing to not give up on them?
He'd told her he was falling in love with her too, so she should feel ecstatic. But she didn't. She felt nauseous and agitated. Being in love only complicated the choices she needed to make.
Relief flooded over her when the fireworks finally ended. She was more than ready to go home and go to bed. Hopefully, she'd be able to shut her brain off and be able to sleep. That is if her roiling stomach would let her.
Rudy got up and helped her to her feet. "Want to go for a drive after I get done here?" When she didn't answer, he went on. "It'll be late, but...we could talk some more, or you know, make out a little?" He wiggled his eyebrows and gave her a wicked grin that normally turned her knees to jelly, but tonight, it only added to her anxiety.
She pressed a hand to her stomach that continued to churn. "Can I take a raincheck? My stomach's not feeling very good. I think I'd better just catch a ride home with Kennedy and Scott."
Rudy's brows dipped as he gave her a concerned look. "Why didn't you say something? I could have taken you home hours ago?"
"It really only hit a little while ago, but it has gotten steadily worse."
Eden's stomach bucked and convulsed. Watery saliva filled her mouth, and it was all she could do not to throw up at Rudy's feet again.
"Yeah, you don't look good. Why don't you sit in my car, and I'll call Scott to swing by and pick you up."
Too miserable to argue, Eden let him lead her to his car where she waited and wondered.
Was this a stomach bug? With all the kissing they'd done, Rudy would probably end up getting it too. Or was it something she ate?
She felt the blood drain from her face as she considered another possibility.
Is this punishment from God for kissing Rudy? For falling in love with a small-town boy whose world I don't belong in?
* * *
Rudy's handpaused as he reached to unlock the bathroom door on Eden's side. It was late, and he was ready for bed, but he wasn't tired. In fact, he felt wired.
Eden had told him she was falling in love with him, and like an idiot, he'd said, "Ditto."
He shook his head at himself. He should have told her the truth.
