“Sure, do you think it would look that bad on me?”
“It doesn’t fit you, Will! It’s so tiny. You’ll tear it!” I shouted, throwing it aside before he could put it on.
We fought with Poppy’s skirt like two little kids until I won. I brought it toward me as much as I could, which led Will to smash into me.
“Sorry,” he said when my back was already against the wall with his bare chest pressed against mine.
I didn’t make a sound when he gently took off the ridiculous glasses.
“I missed you.”
I looked down, trying to hide the effect that his words caused.
“You’re with June now,” I whispered.
William immediately backed away, leaving a small gap between our warm bodies.
“Yeah.”
His light eyes were rapt just from hearing her name being mentioned.
“You really like her, don’t you?”
“June is . . . June. What she thinks is written all over her face and what you see is what you get with her. When I tell her about my problems, she’s genuinely interested in what I have to say. I can tell she cares about me. But then I end up doing the same thing and telling her off.”
“Because of James?” With a little courage, I hazarded a guess.
“That too. We’ve never fought over a girl. It’s only happened once.” He said that while giving me an intense look.
“Will, nothing ever happened between us, you know that, right? Other than that time—” I smiled, looking at the floor, and Will did the same.
“I know, but how could I forget that night?”
I could’ve sworn that the seven minutes was already up, but in that moment neither William nor I seemed to care. A shy smile lit his face, and I started to not understand what was happening to me. I felt the shoe rack swing behind me when William sealed my lips with his. I’d made out with so many guys before, but when our tongues met, I immediately recognized his sweet taste. With my eyes still closed, I put my arms around his neck. His skin was scorching hot. We fought with our lips until we were out of breath.
I didn’t feel the deep affection I felt for Brian, but it wasn’t even just sex like it was with James. Will truly wanted me. I felt it in how he caressed my face while he held me tight with one arm.
“For god’s sake.”
When we broke away from each other, I watched him bring the back of his hand to his lips like he wanted to imprint that kiss somewhere. Or, maybe more simply, erase it.
“Ari, I shouldn’t’ve done that.”
I looked around. For a moment I’d forgotten where I was.
“Sorry,” repeated Will.
“No, I’m sorry,” I rushed to say.
And right then Taylor flung the closet door open.
“Of course,” she chirped, looking at me sideways. “You never know how to keep your clothes on, do you?”
I was so overwhelmed by that kiss that I didn’t realize something: I was still in my bra.
24
June
