I scuff. “You’re taking this whole fake dating thing a little too seriously.”
“I’m serious, Mads.”
I look at him, and something shifts in my chest.
“Well,” I say softly as we reach the porch steps, “that’s easy for you to say.”
“Why?”
“You’ve never been in a relationship.”
Ryan shrugs one shoulder. “I don’t have to be an expert to see he never deserved you.”
We stop near the door and I tilt my head slightly as I look up at him. “So… you’ve never been completely smitten with someone?” I ask.
“I mean I’ve dated girls before,” he says. “Just never anything serious.”
“No middle school soulmate?” I continue. “No dramatic high school crush?”
“Nothing,” he says easily and I study him for a second. “So you’venever everbeen in love?”
“Nope.” Ryan meets my eyes, steady. “Not yet.”
The words hang between us for a moment and I notice he’s looking at me in a way he’s never looked at me before. Without really thinking about it, I take a small step closer. Ryan doesn’t move away. Instead he shifts slightly, one hand coming to rest against the wall beside the door, next to my face. And I suddenly become very aware of how tall he is. And how close we’re standing. And how his gaze drops to my lips, then back to my eyes. My heart kicks once in my chest.
Neither of us moves and the space between us feels smaller every second. Ryan’s hand shifts slightly, brushing against my waist for the briefest moment, and my stomach flips. But then I snap out of it.
I clear my throat, stepping back before my brain has time to process any of it.
“Well,” I say quickly, trying to sound casual, “you should probably head home before the birds get you and I have to save your ass.”
Ryan huffs out a quiet laugh and leans back again. “Yeah,” he says. “We definitely don’t want that.”
Before I can react, he steps closer one last time and presses a quick, gentle kiss to my forehead. My knees go instantly weak.
Ryan pulls back, already turning toward the steps. “Night, Mads.”
I watch him walk down the path for a second before I call out, “Ryan.”
He turns around.
“Thank you,” I say softly. “For tonight.”
A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Anytime.”
Then he turns again and disappears down the sidewalk while I step inside, closing the door quietly behind me.
Did he just kiss my forehead? Why did he kiss my forehead? There was no one around. Or did someone walk by when he did it? I didn’t see anyone. So did he just want to?
This man is seriously messing with my head. Because that kiss did not feel fake at all.
Oh boy, I’m in trouble.
24
MADDY
To chaos, hairspray, and lots of dancing
