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The dreamy wonder in her voice makes me swallow hard. Is she speaking from experience? The thought makes my stomach feel queasy.
I wait until we stop at a red light before I say anything.
“How do you know so much about kisses, Apollo?” I ask casually even though my heart has stopped beating while I wait for her to answer.
“I read romance novels,” she says brightly, and my heart starts beating again. “There’s no one around to kiss, except for Rick.”
I shoot her a dark glance and don’t hide the surge of annoyance her words send through me. “Has he tried to kiss you?”
She slaps my shoulder and rolls her eyes. “Oh my God, Graham. Don’t be gross. Of course not. I was just saying that I don’t really spend time with anyone else. Besides, I want you to be my first kiss.” I turn and stare at her wide-eyed. She blinks back at me innocently like she didn’t just drop a bomb in my lap.
This girl is going to be the death of me.
The honk of a horn beside me gets my attention, and I look up to see the light is green. I wave in apology as I pull away.
“You shouldn’t say stuff like that, Apollo,” I admonish her.
“Why not? You’re my best friend. It should be you.”
“You’re too young.”
“I’m not!” she snaps.
I nearly sag with relief when I pull into the parking lot of Vons. I can’t get out of the car fast enough. I run around and open the door for her.
“Let’s go,” I say with a bow as I offer her my hand.
She slips her small hand into mine and slides down from the truck’s cab.
When I force myself to let go of her
hand and walk beside her into the grocery store, I can still feel the heat of her palm against mine.
Promises
Graham
Two years later
LONDON, England
“So, what did you think?” I ask as we step out of the London Eye capsule we’ve spent the last hour in.
“It was amazing,” she sings in a dreamy voice.
This trip is an early eighteenth birthday present for Apollo. It’s still a couple of months away, but when school starts again, I know I won’t have the time to bring her.
“Whoa,” I nearly lose my balance when Apollo spins around and throws her arms around my waist, all without breaking her stride. “Sunshine, you’re gonna fall and take me with you.” I wrap my arms around her and move my feet so they’re outside of hers and try to keep us upright.
“Not a chance you’d ever let me fall,” she says giddily.
I mutter apologies left and right while Apollo twirls us around like we’re on the dance floor by ourselves.
“Why did I give you my champagne?” I mutter.
“Because.” She smirks mischievously and gives a coy glance. “I’m your favorite.”
She snuggles her head against my chest and laughs. It’s so carefree and … so fucking pretty. And, as always, she’s right. She is my favorite person. But it’s not just because she’s amazing. It’s how she makes me feel. Her faith in me. The way she trusts me to keep her safe. The rest of my life feels like a fucking struggle, but when I’m with Apollo, I always feel like I’m the king of the world.
