AllFreeNovel
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I wonder if he remembers it's my birthday? They always passed out cupcakes for me at the kiddie camp each year, so he did know when it was at one point in time…
After I finish my turn wakeboarding, I pull myself into the boat on my own. In the back of my head, I chastise myself for doing that. I forgot it’s apparently not cute when a girl is stronger than all the guys. I wished I could look like my sister Addie. She’s lanky and delicate. But I’m a pairs skater. I need muscles.
One of his hockey buds named Trevor is making fun of me.
I feel my face turning bright red.
But Duke is calm. Duke’s not laughing. Duke shoves Trevor into the water.
“My girl is stronger than you, ya wuss,” he calls out to Trevor who’s flailing in the water…
I stop breathing… Duke called mehis girlin front of everyone…
I hesitantly look at him, and he gives me a shy smile.
“Fireworks at midnight!” Max calls out while running past us, breaking our connection. He shoves Duke in the water.
I immediately look over the edge of the boat. He resurfaces and shakes his hair out before smoothing it back. He’s still smiling at me.
After dinner, someone grabs my hand. I turn and see Duke.
“Wanna sit at the end of the dock with me?” He sucks in his lower lip, and he looks kinda sheepish, like he’s nervous. I’ve never seen him look nervous before.
I stare at him in the dark. His sharp cheekbones and jaw line are outlined by the light from the tiki-torches. I jump as the first firework pops in the air with a huge boom.
He laughs at my reaction and interlaces his rough, long fingers with mine.
I cannot believe he’s holding my hand. I want to hold onto this moment forever.
He’s pulling me toward the empty dock, and my heart is pounding with so many questions. Did we finally figure it out? Is it finally okay that we like each other?
We sit there together, just watching each firework explode above us. He’s tapping on the dock next to us, and I chuckle to myself. He’s always moving. He can’t stop.
He looks around to make sure no one is watching us, then turns back to me.
“Can I kiss you?” he asks in a husky voice.
I bite my lip and look at his rosy ones. I nod.
He leans forward, and his soft lips meet mine. I feel the boom in my chest, and I don’t know if it’s only from the fireworks or from how happy I am. My first kiss.
He smiles wryly at me when he pulls back. “Happy Birthday, Kessel.”
We stay up until 3am laying out on the dock under the stars talking to each other about everything.
I think we’re finally going to be together.
I’d finally have a friend. I’d finally wear his sweatshirt. I’d finally be asked to a school dance. For once in my life, someone was choosing me.
At one point he rolls me onto his chest and pushes my hair behind my ears as he’s telling me a story about his sister and her friends.
I struggle to keep up with the story because I just love when he touches me. I never want him to stop touching me.
I could stare at his long eyelash-rimmed, brown eyes forever.
This is special.
The next morning, Duke isn’t at the rink.
