“No, it’s good. What’s a little bit of truth between friends?” The moment thatFword is out of my mouth, I want to jump into the ether and bring it back. Things were going so well, we’re literally sitting here holding hands at sunset, and now it sounds like I’m trying to friendzone him. What the fuck is wrong with me?
Unaware of my mental meltdown and mortification, Beck squeezes my hand as a little bit of excitement dances in his eyes. “The truth will set us free.”
Thinking there might be something to that, I ask, “Are there two of each? Like, can we both have one at the same time and get the same effect?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what Lucille packed in here. She must’ve thought ahead. We’ll do each one together.”
“Together.” This word sounds much better and not friendzony at all. I reach into the bag and grab two of the squishy purple candies. “Ready?”
“Good choice for our first one.” Beck takes his purple candy from my open palm, and we bump them together in a toast before popping them in our mouths at the same time.
It tastes like a normal sweet candy, but soon little tingles erupt along my scalp. I forget to look at my own hair as I stare up at Beck, his silvery-blond hair transforming into a chocolate-brown hue right in front of my eyes.
His upper lip curls back as his gaze flits all over me. “No. No, no, no. Please never dye your hair black.”
“Oh?” I scoop my hair forward over my shoulder and look at the midnight strands against my skin, kind of seeing his point. “It looks bad, doesn’t it?”
Beck’s entire face softens and he shakes his head. “I don’t think you can look bad if you tried, but I love the vibrant copper of your real hair. It looks like a fiery crown. It suits you much better than this black color.”
“Thank you. That means a lot to me. Brown looks good on you, though.”
The next candy we try is an orange triangle that has us giggling for a minute straight, my cheeks aching happily as I fall into Beck’s side. After that, the growing candy enlarges Beck’s feet a significant couple of sizes, while I add a few inches to my height. I stand up to walk around with my longer legs, wanting to experience the world from a higher point of view for a minute, before I sit down again and giggle at Beck’s clown feet.
Beck hands me a jelly swirl next, which I recognize as the lip candy I’ve wanted to try. We take them at the same time, and I watch transfixed as Beck’s lips transform into a blue pout. Slowly, he lifts his hand and reaches forward.
“This magenta color suits you, but then again, anything does,” Beck whispers as his thumb grazes along my bottom lip.
My mouth parts and I hold absolutely still as he traces the outline of my mouth with a featherlight touch. His eyes flick up to mine, and when I see the raw desire in his gaze, my breath catches.
Every hint of apprehension, every thread of doubt I had about our feelings for each other blows away on the next gust of wind.
Feeling brave, I say, “Let’s have those truth candies now.”
“Okay.” Confusion furrows Beck’s brow, but he follows my request and holds out the unassuming white star-shaped candies in his hand.
Our eyes stay locked as we chew on the sweet confection, and in my peripheral vision the sun melts into the ocean, the entire moment feeling suspended somewhere between a dream and reality.
Light flutters through my veins and a goofy grin pulls at my mouth. “Ask me, Beck.”
“Anything?”
“Anything.”
Beck’s tongue darts out to wet his lips. “Eleanor, can I kiss you?”
“I’d like nothing more.”
Gentle fingers lift my hand toward his mouth, and Beck presses his lips to my knuckles, working his way across my whole hand. My heart rate ratchets up as he turns my hand over and kisses the inside of my palm before grazing his nose along the sensitive skin and brushing his lips against my wrist, goose bumps scattering up my arm and down my spine as my breathing turns shallow.
Beck places my hand on his chest, right on top of his racing heart, as he cups my jaw, his eyes once more checking in with me before they lock on my lips.
“I’ve been wanting to do this,” Beck whispers as he lowers his head slowly and places the lightest of kisses on the corner of my mouth.
A breathy sound escapes me as I sink into his touch, my mouth parting for more. But Beck takes his time, savoring this moment, savoring me, like this is the most important kiss of his life and he doesn’t want it over anytime soon.
Beck presses another kiss to the other corner of my mouth, then meets my eyes again. I give him a small nod and rub my thumb across the hard scales forming under my touch, reassuring him I’m still very much consenting to all of his affection.
Reality ceases to exist as Beck finally brushes his mouth against mine.
