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He pushes a loose hair behind my ear, and then he is kissing me and while our first kiss had been chaste, our second kiss is not. His hands tangle into my hair as he pulls me flush to him. I drop the cherry as my hands settled on his hips, fingers hooked in his belt loops, keeping him perfectly anchored to me as I return his kiss. This kiss was the more I had wanted on the ferris wheel. Everywhere we touch, there is sensation, dizzying tingling and heat.
“How’s that for tongue tied?” Will asks with a cocky smirk as he pulls away and I give him with a breathless smile. That was the best kiss of my life. I really want to go back to kissing him again, but the poor teenager whose job it is to clean up this area is sweeping five tables over while pretending not to see us make out on the table.
Will grabs my hand and together we walk back through the main street of the carnival. He wraps an arm around my shoulder, and I snuggle close to his chest as we exit the fair. Bending over, until his lips are pressed against my ear, he whispers so only I can hear, “When I get you back to the car, I’m going to kiss you senseless.” And he does.
Chapter 17
There is a period in a relationship between flirting and official status, where neither individual is sure what the relationship is. Will and I were there. Were we dating, boyfriend and girlfriend, or a casual hookup? I don’t know. All I know is that I like him and sometimes he seems to like me too, but that really isn’t the kind of answer I can give my dad.
It is a fine answer for Lilli, who gasps so hard when I tell her that I am afraid she may have passed out, but soon enough she is rapidly firing questions, so I know she is just fine.
“So, you and Will, are you dating?” Dad asks me over dinner a couple of nights after the carnival. It is just me and him, as Will is busy writing.
“I guess so. We’ve only really been on one date, though.” I feel uncomfortable with my answer. It’s not easy to be forced to evaluate the uncertainties of your relationship.
“He is different from the boys you dated before.” Dad comments, giving me a curious look.
“Well, I only dated boys from home, so I imagine he would be.” Of course, Will is different, as he is the first boy I’ve dated that I haven’t known since birth.
“I guess that is true, but just be careful, sweetheart. Will is a nice boy, but you two don’t exactly see the world the same way and I don’t want to watch either of you get hurt because you misunderstood each other.” Dad explains, and I can tell from the tense set of his shoulders that he is worried about me.
“Don’t worry dad. Will and I aren’t serious, and I don’t think we will be.” I say with a sigh and I’m not sure if I’m disappointed or resigned to the fact that Will and I end with this road trip. Maybe a bit of both.
“That doesn’t make me feel all warm and fuzzy either, but as long as that is what you want, then I will be okay.”
“Thanks Dad.” We both go back to finishing our dinner. When we’ve put dinner away, he turns on an old Western on the TV and we settle onto the couch and watch. It’s then I realize that it doesn’t take much to feel like home.
The next morning, I resolve to define whatever is between Will and me. If I know what it is, then I can set proper expectations and hopefully not end this road trip crying my eyes out or punching Will in the face, or most likely both. Dressed simply in jeans and a plain shirt, I knock on Will’s door, donuts from the café in the lobby in hand.
Will opens the door, and it is obvious he has just rolled out of bed with his chest bare, hair mussed, and sweats hang low across his hips. My face heats as I take him in, but I force my eyes to stay on his face, which isn’t really a chore, considering how ridiculously attractive it is.
“Can I come in? I brought donuts.” I raise the bag in my hand.
“Of course. What’s up?” Will answers as he swings the door wider to let me in and then after closing it, sits down at the small table in the room. I join him, placing the donuts on the table and sliding into the other chair.
“I just want to know what’s going on with us, so I have a straight answer to tell my dad and so I don’t end up hating you at the end of this road trip.” I manage to get the words out, but inside I’m a ball of nerves. What if the kisses didn’t mean to him what they meant to me?
“That seems reasonable. I would like to not have you go full Carrie Underwood on me at the end of this trip.” Will chuckles as he tears off a piece of the donut he grabbed from the bag.
“And how do you know it won’t be you that goes full crazy?” I raise an eyebrow at him.
“Good point. I wouldn’t put it past me to give you a scathing character assessment in my book if this ends badly.” Will mockingly threatens.
“As if you haven’t already.” I think of his first character assessment of me. It was one word, but I wondered how it might have changed.
“Not yet. Right now, it just says, ‘She is hot, but basic.’” Will jokes.
“A whole five words now. Such high praise.” I deadpan.
“Well, what do you think we are, Hannah?” Will gives me a serious look as if trying to read me.
“Dysfunctional.” I quip, before getting serious as well. “Honestly, I don’t know what we are, Will.” I sigh and look away.
“Come here.” Will grabs my hand and pulls me around the table into his lap. With his chest pressed into my back and his head resting over my shoulder, he presses a kiss into the corner of my jaw and all at once, the tension and awkwardness leaves me. “I like you, Hannah. I’m not ready for a serious relationship and probably won’t be for a long time, but if you are okay with that, then I want this summer with you.” My heart stutters within my chest. That was far from a proclamation of love, but I can’t help myself.
“Are you proposing a no strings attached relationship?” I ask as I process his words. I’m honestly kind of offended he thinks I would go for that.
“No, no, no. I’m not letting anyone else swoop in on you, STG, at least not until this road trip is over. I’m proposing more of a fixed term relationship. We are together until the end of this road trip, a summer fling of sorts.” Will explains, and disappointment still lingers inside me.
