“Katie, I’m not the boy I usedtobe.”
“I know that.” Sheanswered.
“I don’t think you’re the girl who lefteither.”
Another sigh and then, “No,I’mnot.”
I sat up a little, essentially pushing her back off my chest and willed her to look at me. “Katie, you have me. I can’t explain it. I don’t even understand it. But I think there’s something inside of us that recognizes each other, our souls maybe? I don’t know. But it’s there. You have me even if we aren’t the kidswewere.”
She shook her head and smiled. “Oh, that’s smooth, JulianAlvarado.”
“I’m not trying to be smooth. I’mserious.”
“I hope so,” she said closing her eyes. “Because that little speech of yours? I feelittoo.”
“I’m really glad you said that because I’m about to kiss you and I need to know I’m not the only oneinthis.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth popped open just a bit in shock. “You are?” Her voice was barelyaudible.
I cupped her cheek. “I am.” Iwhisperedback.
Then I kissed her. She sighed and responded to my lips almost immediately, tilting her head to give me easier access to her mouth. It was perfect. As Katie’s arms wrapped around my shoulders, I eased our bodies back onto the trampoline. She didn’t stop me as I ran my hands though her hair, holding her face closertome.
Her kiss was dangerous. I knew I needed to stop before it was too late. I wanted to keep this moment sweet, not taint it by taking it too far when we were still getting to know the new versions of us. Using every ounce of willpower in me, I pulled away and lookedather.
Her eyes were still closed and her mouth formed a pout. I chuckled at the sight. I couldn’thelpit.
“What’s sofunny?”
“The last time I kissed a girl out here, it was an awkward peck with a girlwithoutfear.”
“Oh, yeah? And how did Istackup?”
“I’d say you’ve gotten better.” I said with a grin. “A lotbetter.”
She flopped on her back and put her hands over her face. “Oh my goodness. How embarrassing! I still cannot believe how lovesickIwas.”
“Yeah, you were pretty much obsessedwithme.”
She groaned, refusing to let me seeherface.
“I don’t blame you,” I addedplayfully.
“Could this get anyworse?”
“Well, I could admit I’m pretty much obsessed with you now. I think that would makeuseven.”
“Seriously, Rico Suave? You’d better be, because I don’t give trampoline kisses to justanyboy.”
“I’m kinda hoping I’ll be theonlyboy.”
She sat up. “What exactly do you mean by that,Julian?”
WhatdidI mean by that? I had a lot of shit going on, I didn’t have time for a girlfriend. Or at least that’s what I had told myself a few months ago. But for some reason, I didn’t feel the weight of everything when I was around Katie. I found myself more free to joke around and feel like an eighteen-year-oldagain.
“Honestly, I don’t really know.” I answered not wanting to make promises I couldn’t keep. “I’ve got a lot going on right now. But I’d like to explore what we have here. I want us to figure it out while beingexclusive.”
“I’dlikethat.”
