I shook my head but was too embarrassed to look at Michelle. She got down on the ground and kneeled in front of me. “Do youwantto?”
I lifted my eyes to meet hers. “Of course Iwantto.”
“Are youscared?”
“Of course, I’mscared.”
“Even though you just performed in front of a bunch of people at TheImperial?”
“At least I knew what I wasdoingthen.”
“I’m going to kiss you, Rainier. And this time you’re not going torunoff.”
Tap,tap,tap.
I licked my lips unsure of how to answer. Michelle Matthews was on the ground in front of me and had just said she was going to kiss me. Her mouth curved into a smile as she grabbed my hand and steadied my fingers. I was holding my breath again and forced a shakyexhale.
I closed my eyes andwaited.
When her lips first touched mine, I flinched but didn’t move. I tried to relax as she kissed me, but knew I was as stiff and awkward as I’deverbeen.
Michelle didn’tlaugh.
She also didn’t stop. Eventually, I kissed her back, not entirely sure of what I wasdoing.
Still, she didn’tlaugh.
I got braver as we deepened our kiss. I put my hands in Michelle's hair and didn’t shy away as she planted hers firmly on my cheeks. I never wanted to stop, and for a long time, wedidn't.
Even so, when Michelle pulled away, it was much sooner than Ihoped.
“So, what do you think?” sheasked.
“I think I’m ready for round two,” I answered, pulling her closer and kissing heragain.
ChapterTwenty-One
Michelle
IwishedI could say Rainier was a natural. Fortunately, what he lacked in experience, he made up in enthusiasm. The boy was a quick learner, and before I knew what was happening, he was taking the lead and my breathalongsideit.
Rainier and I spent about an hour discovering each other before his phone buzzed with a text from one of his bandmates. He apologetically left, but the timing was perfect because my dad came home soon after. He wasn’t overprotective or anything, but that didn’t mean I wanted him walking in on me making out with one of his employees. I could just imagine the falloutfromthat.
I could barely sleep that night, and when I woke up the next morning, I was still in a daze. I didn't think I'd ever felt this way after kissing a boy. With no plans for the day, I wandered from room to room before eventually settling down on the couch in the living room. The same place I'd spent the day before withRainier.
I turned on the TV to one of my favorite shows but had a hard time focusing on what was going on. I couldn’t keep my mind from what had happened earlier. My lips were still raw from the stubble above his lips, and I touched my fingers to them trying to remember what it felt like to have his mouth pressedagainstmine.
My phone started ringing, and I stopped to enjoy my current ringtone. I had changed it to one of the songs Rainier and the Go-Aways had played the first night Rainier sang for them. It was the first song he’d ever sung for them, and I knew it would always make me happy. Even though I hadn’t realized how special it was atthetime.
Unfortunately, when I flipped my phone over to look at the screen, any giddiness left my body. My mom was calling me. Again. It was the third time this week. For someone who never spoke to her daughter, it had to be a worldrecord.
“What?” I said, answeringthecall.
“Is that any way to greet yourmother?”
“Oh, are you pretending to be my momagain?”
“Really, Michelle, why do you act this way. I just wanted to let you know that Daniel and I just finished setting up a room for you in the house. I’ll text you apicwhen–”
