“Yeah, something like that.” I chuckle because I more than like this girl. I’m pretty sure I’ve loved her since last summer.
All day at the shop, my thoughts stay on her. The smell of her hair and the way her soft skin feels on my fingertips. I brutally count the minutes until I’m finished.
I finally clock out and impatiently wait for her outside. When she arrives, we head up to my apartment.
Standing inside the doorway, she rocks back on her heels. “So…”
“Alright.” I grab her hand and drag her to the couch. “Don’t be fucking weird now.”
She giggles, plopping down next to me.
“What’re we watching?” I ask, my gaze drifting to her bare thighs in those tiny denim shorts.
I jerk my eyes away.
Stop being a creep.
She shrugs. “Whatever you want.”
“Hmmm, what about something scary?”
“Sure!” She grins.
Ash has the cutest fucking smile. It’s wide and bright, and her teeth are just a little crowded. Like just imperfect enough to convince you she’s real.
“It won’t give you nightmares?”
Rolling her eyes, she shoves my shoulder. “Oh, fuck off.”
I click on a movie and grab her legs, pulling them across my lap. She relaxes into the couch and turns her head, attempting to cover a grin.
The first jump scare, she about leaps on top of me.
I laugh, throw an arm around her, and pull her to my chest. “You okay? I thought you weren’t gonna be scared?”
“Shut up!” She swats me.
I catch her hand, pinning it against my chest, right over my heart. Our eyes lock. The air goes still, and the TV fades into the background as my heart pounds against her palm.
I’m drowning in her gray-blue eyes.
My eyes slip to her pink lips that shine with that fucking strawberry lip gloss. They part.
Fuck me.
I think strawberry’s my new favorite flavor.
I’ve already done this. Twice actually. So, why does it feel like crossing a line to kiss her right now. One very fine line.
“Gabriel…”
I cross that line with a leap and press my lips to hers. It’s soft and brief, a question.
Is this okay?
She draws her hand out from where I clasped it to my chest, and my heart sinks.
Way to go, Gabe. You fucked it up again.
