“Fouramazingweeks,” I say, and she gags dramatically. “Fine, I’m sorry. No more boy talk.”
She eyes me through the screen, incredulous and far from believing me. After a full minute of stubborn silence between us, she lets out an even louder groan and says, “Fine. You get five more minutes. Then not another word about Mr. Dreamboat for one week. Got it?”
“Got it!” I squeak, unable to hold in my excitement.I know how ridiculous I sound, but I can’t help it. I’ve never been this invested in a relationship this early on. Normally, it takes me about three months to figure out if the guy is worth sticking around for, and by then they’ve usually broken it off anyway, whichnowI think is absolutely fine.
I must’ve said that part out loud because Ellie mutters, “Ugh, you’re disgusting.”
“Don’t hate me ‘cause you ain’t me,” I sing, grinning as I hop into my jeans.
“Where’s he taking you tonight?” she asks, feigning indifference. But I know better. For someone who claims to be too buried in psych studies to date, she’s living for these conversations.
“No idea,” I hum, twisting in the mirror and tucking a curl behind my ear. “He said ‘something special,’ which could mean rooftop dinner, private jazz concert on a boat…”
Ellie snorts, but there’s a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as she ties her brown hair on the top of her head.
“Anyway,” I say, grabbing my purse and slipping into my shoes, “I’ve gotta go. Wish me luck.”
“With what? You’ve already won.”
And just like that, my heart does this fluttery, too-big-for-my-chest thing.
*****
Her words ping around in my head the entire car ride over to Steven’s house. House is a stretch, seeing as it’s a mobile home nestled at the back of campus. I trudge across the dirt, and before my knock even lands, the door swings open. Steven whisks me inside and presses me against the door, planting a kiss against my mouth so firm, so confident, it makes my stomach bottom out.
“Hi,” he says on a breath, kissing me again. It’s slow and intentional, like everything he does. “I missed you.”
“You saw me this morning.” I smile against his lips.
“That washoursago,” he grumbles between kisses. “How was your day?”
For some reason, that simple question sends a hot spiraling pain through my lungs. He asks me this every day, and there was nothing about this particular day to make the question bother me. His fingers press gently into my lower back, sending another jolt of pain through me.Take a breath, Emma.
“Are you alright?” He leans back, his hands still firmly in place.
I clear my throat. “I’m fine.”Do not tell this perfect man about your weird brain. “Now where are we going?”
He studies me for a moment before accepting I’m not saying anything else. “Well, I was thinking about this rooftop grill. They have the best mozzarella sticks.”
“Fried cheese, you really know how to woo a girl.”
“Hot and sizzlin’,” he whispers, grinning proudly as he kisses me again. The hot pain dies down as his lips linger against mine, the heat of his breath stealing my focus. Something happens in Steven’s mind, because suddenly his lips are trembling against mine. His entire body is now buzzing against me.
“Areyoualright?” I volley the question back at him.
“Yeah,” he croaks out, then, on an unsteady breath, he diverts. “No, actually. I need to…” Closing his eyes, he takes another breath. “I need to talk to you.”
“Oh yeah?” I look down at my nails, because apparently that’s how unbothered people look. I am the poster child for nonchalance right now. Nothing about the “needing to talk” terror spiral can be deciphered on my face right now. I am a steel trap. No emotions showing.
“Yes. It’s important.” He pulls me to his couch and sits me down. But he doesn’t sit. He stands there, facing me. Breathing at me. Like a wild animal.
The steel trap quickly collapses, and heat rumbles deep behind my chest bone. “Steven, what’s wrong?”
“I just have to get this out, okay?”
He shakes out his hands, pacing the floor now, but his eyes are still on me. Again, a wild animal, now stalking its prey.
“Steven, you’re kind of scaring me.” I gesture at his path across the shaggy carpet, and he stops himself.
