Page 115 of All the way home

But Kieran doesn’t seem abashed in the slightest. “What? I’m curious.”

Sagging against Kieran’s suitcase, Zach tips his head back and closes his eyes. “Boring answer anyway. I haven’t.”

“What do you mean?”

When Zach opens his eyes, Kieran glances away sharply. “I mean, I haven’t kissed anyone else.”

“Really?”

“It’s not like people have been falling over themselves for a chance to. And, like, I don’t really talk to people.”

“You’re talking to me,” Kieran points out.

“You started it.” Zach throws him a skeptical look. “And anyway, is it really so surprising?”

“Yes,” Kieran says immediately. Then he busies himself with straightening his half of the deck, eyes averted.

All at once, Zach feels too warm everywhere. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Voice light—rather unusually light, Zach thinks—Kieran says, “You’ve got that . . . you know.”

“I don’t know.”

“I mean, that sort of face. Draws you in. So yes, I’m surprised.” Kieran’s eyes dart toward him and away. Then he clears his throat. Leaning back on his arms, he straightens his legs and crosses them at the ankles. “Your turn. Ask me something.”

“Okay.” Zach summons every ounce of bravery he has to ask the question that’s been simmering all evening. “Why me?”

“What?”

Zach gestures around them at the gate. “You could have gone up to anyone.”

“I already answered this question!” Kieran’s smile is wide and unusually self-conscious. “You’re going to make me say it again?”

“You did not.”

“I did! I—you have the sort of face that—I don’t . . . what do you want me to say?”

Barely containing his incredulous grin, Zach nods. “Okay, okay. I’ll put you out of your misery. Because I have the kind of face that draws you in?”

Kieran huffs a loud, over-dramatic sigh and nods.

Zach grins.

When they flip cards again, Zach takes Kieran’s 10 with a jack. “I have another question.”

As if to invite him to continue, Kieran waves an arm.

“Was this always the plan, then? This whole evening?”

“No.” Kieran sucks in a breath and holds his gaze, just for a moment. “No, Zach Loren, it was not.”

Heat rushes to Zach’s face, prickling. “Then what was?”

“I don’t—I didn’t have one. Improvise some kind of opening strategy and go from there.”

Zach snorts a laugh.

“What?” Kieran chuckles.