Page 15
My heart stutters, and not in a good way. “You never mention her.”
He blinks, his mouth forming a little O. “I guess I’ve never really talked to her one-on-one until this year. I don’t think we’ve ever been put near each other in class before.”
I look away from him, chewing my bottom lip. My brain won’t shut up, replaying my run-ins with Sienna this week. One moment in particular stands out, making my pulse skyrocket: the day she tracked him as he approached my locker, asking a question about practice he probably should have texted.
My stomach twists. I know exactly why she was asking about me. She wants to get close to him, and pretending to be my friend is step one.
“You’re freaking me out,” Michael mutters.
Holding my breath, I turn to inspect him. I don’t know what to say. Sienna and I aren’t friends, but we aren’t enemies either. I don’t think I can bring myself to tell him my theory, because I don’t think I can explain why her sudden attention on him bothers me. At least, not without basically telling him I like him.
So, I swallow the bitterness that fills my mouth. “I don’t really know her anymore, that’s all.”
“Think you could give her a chance if she does approach you?” He ducks his head so our eyes are level. “Who knows? Maybe she’s your future bestie.”
“Who knows.” I lift my shoulder and pick up my mug, avoiding his gaze.
Laughter filters in from the terrace, cutting our conversation short. Below, my parents sit beside Uncle Colt. Dad has his arm wrapped around Mom, and she’s resting her head on his shoulder. Warmth spreads through my body at the sight, filling me with tenderness. I love them so much.
“Our parents are so lovey-dovey,” Michael comments.
“Not just our parents.” I chuckle, my mood improving.
He shudders. “Yeah, Clay and Layla are just as bad. So are Drake and Angie, and Roman and Nevaeh. None of them can keep their hands to themselves.”
“I think it’s sweet,” I argue. “They’re all so in love, it makes everyone around them happy.”
He grunts. “But all this kissing… Ew.”
I snort. “They love each other. What do you expect? And it’s not like they do anything more than give each other a peck on the lips.” I lower my voice, heat creeping onto the back of my neck. “Can you imagine kissing someone and then regretting it because it was so bad?”
Michael peers at me, one eyebrow raised. “Why are you so interested in kissing?”
The heat spreads, crawling up my cheeks. Shifting, I silently curse myself. Why did I bring any of this up in the first place? “I’m not. I’m just telling you there’s nothing wrong with what they do.”
“Maybe not.” He shrugs, resting his forearms on his knees. “I guess I’ve never really thought about my first kiss.”
“You’ve never worried you might regret it?” I tilt my head to the side.
“Not really.” He gives me a thoughtful frown. “Are you worried about it?”
“A little.” My words catch, nerves bubbling up inside me. “I think the first kiss should be with someone you trust. With someone you like.”
He shifts so he’s fully facing me. “When do you want it to happen?”
A laugh bursts out of me. “It’s not like I can plan it.”
“But if you could, when?”
“Maybe…” My heart pounds loudly in my ears. “At sixteen?”
He looks up at the sky, like he’s thinking. Then, he focuses on me. “How about a little pact?”
I set down my mug, my hands sweaty once again. “Pact?”
“Yup.” He dips his chin. “How about when we’re both sixteen, if neither of us has ever kissed anyone, we’ll be each other’s first kiss?”
I blanch. “You’re not serious.”
