Not that that’s new.
Misha kissed her.
And did a lot more than that.
I feel like I have to compete with him, but I know I could never keep up. I even left my hair wild today, trying to mimic Misha’s effortless style, hoping she’ll like me more for it.
I know I’m overthinking, but I can’t help it. I need her to want me at least as much as she wants him.
“This is going to be fine,” I reassure myself, ringing her doorbell. “Just be cool.”
Sure, because being cool comesso effortlessly to me.
A few heartbeats later, Amelia opens the door, and she’s stunning, wearing dark gray jeans and a light-gray knitted sweater. Her long brown hair falls down her back in waves, her lips tinted a little darker than usual.
She did this for me?
“Hey,” she murmurs. Stepping closer, she places her hand on my shoulder and rises on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. “Happy Birthday.”
I think my heart just flew out of my chest.
God, she smells amazing.
“Thank you, you look… b-beautiful,” I manage to stutter when she steps back.
So much for being cool.
Amelia blushes, a lovely pink tint spreading across her cheeks. “You look pretty handsome yourself,” she replies, and I glance down at my dark green shirt and beige pants, suddenly self-conscious. She leans back into her apartment to grab a green-wrapped gift with a white bow, holding it out to me. “It’s just something small. I’ll need a little more notice next year, please.”
Next year.
The words echo in my mind, filling me with hope.
My hands are sweaty as I take the gift, but I manage to give her a small smile. “I told you I don’t need anything else but your time today.”
“True, but I wanted to. Open it?”
I carefully unwrap the present and laugh when I see what’s inside.
Silly socks.
One black pair with coding and a blue pair with yellow rubber ducks on them.
My eyes meet hers, and she looks nervous. Leaning in, I kiss her cheek and notice how her breath hitches while my lips touch her skin. “I love them, thank you.”
“What are you wearing today?”
I pull up my pant leg to show her my socks. They’re blue with red hearts on them. She covers her mouth to laugh, then pulls up her pant leg to reveal yellow socks with smiley faces and heart-shaped eyes.
“Looks like we’re matching,” I say with a grin.
“Definitely,” she agrees, her grin widening.
“Should we go?” I reach out a hand, and she takes it, making my heart almost beat out of my chest.
“Sure.” She takes the socks from my other hand and puts them back inside. “You can get them when we come back.”
We walk to the elevator, and just as we reach it, the door opens. Amelia’s coworker steps out. “Hey, Stanley, you going out?”
