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Her breath hitches in her throat. “Yeah. It’s irritating.”
“You’re irritating,” I counter.
“Only because you irritate me to the point that I need to become irritating.”
“I like to irritate you.”
“I know. That’s what’s so irritating about you.”
“How many times are we going to say the word irritating before we kiss?”
Her brow quirks, that coy redhead biting her lip. “Waiting for you. It’s irritating.”
Cheeky girl. I grip her neck and bring her lips to mine. They’re soft and welcoming, like they’ve been waiting for me all this time. I don’t know how to describe it, she just feels so…cozy. Like I’m right where I’m supposed to be every time I’m kissing her. I’ve honestly lived through my twenties not knowing if I’d ever feel this way about a person, and now here she is, in my arms after appearing out of thin air. The last thing I ever want to do is let her go.
Vivi tugs on my shorts. “You guys kissin’ again?” She holds her palms up in a confused, innocent shrug. “I fink we was habin’ pizza.”
I snort a laugh. She’s the cutest kid I’ve ever met, and her bluntness is oddly endearing. “I’ll get right to it, princess.”
Claire puts the Frozen soundtrack on the TV, videos included, and Vivi dances around the living room while I make the pizza dough. While it’s rising, Claire leans her elbows on the counter, watching me cut up an assortment of different toppings.
“I didn’t know you could cook.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” I wink. “Maybe you’ll give me the chance to show you.”
Her cheeks flush, nose scrunching with her smile. “How can I help?”
“Um…” I purse my lips side-to-side, eying the ball of fresh mozzarella. “Wanna shred the cheese?”
Straightening off the counter, she laces her fingers together, stretching out her hands. “Big job. Think I can handle it?”
“Smartass,” I quip with a smile and a peck on her cheek. Both cheeks warm under my lips before her gaze falls to the floor. “Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Blush and look away every time I kiss you when you’re not expecting it.”
Yup, there she goes. Her cheeks flame red as she trains her gaze on her pretty pink toes. I tip her chin up, forcing her to look at me. I want an answer.
“I don’t know. It just…catches me off guard, maybe?” She doesn’t even know why.
“Then maybe you should just expect it always from now on, so you’re never caught off-guard,” I suggest. Because I want to kiss you always, every time I see you. I want you to be mine, Claire. I’m so close to saying the words, but I’ve got to be honest: I’m a little scared. I’ve never been scared before, not in this respect, and it’s not a feeling I’m comfortable with. I’m still trying to navigate through the newness of these feelings, what this could mean for me, for us.
For the first time in a long time, I feel like I have something to lose, and that’s simply unthinkable when it comes to Claire. Sure, the speed with which she tore into my life, took over my brain, carved a direct path to my heart is confusing, but now she’s there, and the thought of this not working out is just kind of…terrifying. Plain and simple.
While the pizzas are in the oven, I get a front row seat to Vivi’s dance recital. It’s…interesting. And hilarious. Claire’s seen it a thousand times, so her eyes are trained on my face, watching my reaction. I’m smiling so hard my cheeks hurt, and I have to rub at my eyes to keep the tears from leaking. Claire’s sitting there grinning like a goofy, beautiful idiot while she watches me watch Vivi.
“Good, isn’t it?”
“I’m not sure there’s an appropriate word to describe this,” I admit. “I need to show your brother.” I pat my shorts down, looking for my phone.
“Oh,” Claire murmurs, suddenly all bashful, twirling a wave around her finger. “You left it on the counter when you went to get Sully.”
I haul my ass off the couch and retrieve my phone all while wondering why talking about my phone has Claire shy right now. And then I see the text message from my mom on my locked screen, sent over an hour ago.
Mom: Care to tell me why your sister got to meet Claire before your own mother did?!?! What have I ever done to deserve this? I BIRTHED you!
I glance up at Claire who immediately looks away, twirling a loose wave around her finger, telltale sign that she’s seen this message. Oddly enough, I don’t give a shit. Harper already ratted me out this morning. Maybe if Claire knows I’ve talked to my mom and sister about her, she’ll finally understand that I want something more with her.
