SIXTEEN
CROIS
When he showedup at Harmony’s door the morning of the wedding, he held a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
This was, after all, a date.
Albeit an unconventional one when they hadn’t even kissed yet.
He’d always had a rather laissez-faire attitude toward kissing.
He’d chalked it up to his upbringing where kissing amongst family was easy and expected. When his family got together it was not odd or unexpected to have cheeks covered in light smudges of lipstick before greeting everyone at the event.
Kissing women he was attracted to as a teen and adult?
He’d hardly given it a thought.
But Harmony?
He hadn’t kissed her yet, but it wasn’t because he didn’t want to.
He wanted to make sure that she was right there with him.
That she wouldn’t think twice about it. Or feel uncomfortable or rushed.
Sure, she said she wanted to be pushed in some instances, but this was different.
He knew it would be for her.
It definitely was for him.
He’d seen her looking at his lips from time to time.
He’d seen the curious look in her eyes and hoped he’d also seen wonder.
And today, as his date for his partner’s wedding, he hoped that she might lean in at some point and invite his kiss.
With a slow in drawn breath to steady his nerves, he reached up and knocked on the door.
When he was done, he stepped back and waited.
He looked down and saw his feet were shoulder width apart as if he was ‘at ease.’
Which for him it meant he was anything but.
He swallowed hoping that it would ease his dry mouth and throat, but there wasn’t time.
The door opened and Harmony cracked the door and peeked out.
Her hair was half up and half down. One side was curly and the other… was something.
She had on a tank top and sweatpants. Barefoot.
She looked out at him with a wide-eyed and harried look on her face.
“Am I late?”
He couldn’t help but smile.
