“Oh…um…” Why hadn’t I thought of that? “I’ll just call someone to get me,” I say. “No big deal.”
“Absolutely not,” Caleb says. He bops me on the nose with his finger. “Let’s go.”
Then he takes my hand and leads me through the arcade. I get this thrill of nerves in my stomach at the feeling of his hand on mine. Besides a few hand touches on my back, this is all the attention I’ve gotten from him tonight. We round the corner of a large video game and suddenly he’s pulling me into a darkened area that leads to the employee breakroom.
“Been meaning to do this all night,” he says, grabbing my face in his hands.
“Do what?” I say stupidly.
That’s when he kisses me.
Chapter 17
Caleb’s lips are soft and taste like the Dr. Pepper he drank earlier. There’s a hint of stubble on his jaw that scratches against my cheek as he kisses me. I feel it prickling my skin in this delightful way and I’m partially wondering why my brain thinks all these things during my first kiss with the guy I like, and I’m partially freaking out because Caleb Brown is kissing me.
He’s a rough kisser, pressing his lips to mine as if he’s determined to prove something. I close my eyes and kiss him back, using my limited knowledge on how to do this. His hands are on my sides, and then my back presses against the wall that smells a little like cotton candy.
When he pulls back for air, he gives me this devilish grin. “I’ve waited all night to do that.”
I’m still stunned from the kiss, so I don’t say anything.
Caleb’s tongue flicks across his bottom lip and then he leans forward, slowly moving toward me. My stomach flutters at his nearness, and then his lips are on mine, soft this time. His hand slides down my waist and stays there, resting just above the waistband of my jeans. “You want to go back to my house for a little bit? My parents aren’t home.”
My breath hitches. I’m not an idiot and I know what he means. As much as I like him, I definitely want to keep making out behind a wall of arcade games. But I don’t want to go back to his house with him alone…and do the things that boys expect when you’re alone.
“Um,” I say, suddenly more nervous than I’ve ever been in my life. If I say no, he won’t like me anymore.
“Dude!” Jeremiah shoves Caleb’s shoulder. “There you are! Shit, man, I’ve been looking everywhere.”
“What’s up, man?” Caleb asks, straightening and dropping his hold on me.
“I need a ride home,” Jeremiah says, looking at his cell phone. “Like, now. My mom’s pissed about some shit, I don’t know.”
Caleb looks at me and frowns. “Looks like we have to leave anyway.”
Saved by the drunken jock, I think as I look at the time on my watch. “Actually, I should probably get back too.”
“Okay,” he says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I breathe a sigh of relief because he doesn’t seem upset that I’ve managed to slip out of his offer to go back to his house.
Jeremiah reeks of alcohol which flows up from the backseat of Caleb’s truck and stings my nose. He spends the whole time talking about how he’s a better air hockey player than anyone at the arcade. Caleb says that my house is closer, so he takes me home first, and I’m kind of grateful for it. This whole night has been one confusing weird mess. First, Caleb ignores me all week and then he ignores me most of the night until he randomly decides to kiss me. I don’t know what to make of that. I kind of can’t wait to get into my bed and process everything that’s happened.
When he pulls into my driveway, he leans over and kisses me on the lips. “Have a good night,” he says, winking at me.
“You too.” I smile and then get out of the car. He backs out of my driveway before I’ve made it to the door and I tell myself I don’t care that he’s not exactly a polite gentleman who walks me to my door. I’m pretty sure guys don’t even do that stuff anymore.
I guess I should know better by now, but it’s a little disappointing when he doesn’t text me for the rest of the night. As the weekend comes and goes, I spend all of my time at The Magpie trying to drum up customers between staring at my phone hoping for a text. But I’m starting to think that Caleb Brown is just the kind of guy who never uses a cell phone. Or maybe he just doesn’t use it to talk to me.
***
My Monday morning walk to first period is a blur. I’m purposely trying not to pay attention to the faces in the hallway. Caleb hasn’t texted me or otherwise acknowledged that I exist in any way, so I’d prefer to do the same for him. I don’t want to look for him. I don’t want to think about him.
When someone walks up a little too close to me, I’m about to ignore them as well until I recognize the soapy scent of Jonah.
“Good morning,” he says, flashing me a smile.
“Hey.” I hate that he’s giving me that cute smile when we’re supposed to just be friends. It makes me think of those few days when I thought I had a crush on him.
“Just came by to wish you good luck on your history exam.”
