When we get in Liam’s car, he glances around, then leans in and kisses me. “Hey.”
“Hey. Careful.” I look out the windows. Philip’s car is still in the lot, but he must be upstairs waiting for Cam.
“Jackson. It’s been a month. Would it really be so bad if people saw us?”
Maybe. I don’t know anymore.
Jasmine hasn’t asked me to recite Liam’s list since his dad dropped me off two weeks ago. Maybe she’s finally getting over him.
But I’ve been too nervous to risk our fragile peace.
“Jasmine’s getting better,” I tell him. “Give me a little more time.”
He blows out a breath that makes his lips flap. “All right. Want to go rehearse lines?”
“I don’t know. You seem pretty off-book already.”
“All thanks to you.”
“Thanks to your hard work.”
He brings his hand up to trace my jaw with his thumb. I melt into his touch.
“Take the compliment, Jacks,” he finally says.
“All right.” I rest my hand on his knee. “So. Where to?”
Liam bites his lip. He meets my eyes, then glances down toward my lips, and then back up again. “My mom’s not home.”
“Oh?”
Is he suggesting what I think he’s suggesting? My heart flies up into my throat like a poorly weighted lineset.
Liam’s eyes widen. “Oh, god, that somethingsomething.” He covers his face with his hands.
“What?”
“Sorry.” He starts signing as he talks. “I just meant, um. We could hang out. And kiss and cuddle some? Not... uh, anything else.”
I nod.
“I’ve never, um. Had sex. With anyone.”
“Really?”
His eyebrows scrunch up. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I blink. “Just... you’ve seen yourself in a mirror, right?”
Liam blushes and shrugs.
“Take the compliment, Liam.”
He grins. “What compliment?”
“You’re hot, okay? Really, really hot. And thoughtful. And kind. And brave. And I...”
I can’t say I love him. Not until I’m sure he’ll say it back.
