AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do you take anything seriously?”
“I reserve my seriousness for skate practice and school. The rest of life needs a good dose of who gives a fuck.”
I’m disappointed when we reach the T-intersection, but instead of pulling over, he turns down the road. “You should stop here.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t stop in front of your place.”
My anxiety makes my throat tight as we pass my driveway. “What are you doing?”
“This road is a dead end. Only people who live down here pass your driveway, and if your dad is coming or going, he won’t see me from up the road.” He passes the Kingstons’ and the Winslows’ and starts back toward my place, but stops at the bottom of the hill so we’re still out of sight. Then he cuts the engine and his lights.
“Can I finish my story now?” At my questioning look, he smiles and taps his temple. “About how that whole almost-kiss was supposed to unravel.”
“Right.” I hide my smile behind my fingertips. “I can’t believe I forgot about that.”
His hand goes to his chest. “Ow. That’s all I’ve been able to think about since it almost happened, and you’re telling me you didn’t think about it once?”
“That’s not what I said. And the whole emotional-boner part is pretty unforgettable.”
He cringes. “Not my best invented phrase, although it is accurate.”
God, I like him. Probably too much for my own good, and far too quickly. “Are you gonna tell me the story now or what?”
“Do you remember where I left off?”
“We were going to have fun on the ice, and every time I smiled you’d get an emotional boner.” I shift in my seat. The sun has dipped below the trees and shadows dance across his face.
“And that happened, which was awesome. I must be psychic or something.” He stretches his arm along the back of my seat, hand close to my shoulder but not touching. “We’d share those fritters, which also happened. And I kind of love how you savor everything, and you make these little contented noises when you’re eating something you enjoy.”
“I do not make noises when I eat!” My ears and cheeks heat.
“You totally do, and it’s fucking adorable. Anyway, as I was saying, we’d eat fritters and have that ice cream date I was hoping for. Except I didn’t plan for it to be in the staff room, which is incredibly lacking in romance and ambiance. Although it meant we could heat up the fritters, and they’re way better warm with ice cream.”
“You’re making me hungry again.”
“Sorry, I’m meandering. I’ll get back on track. So I’d convince you to go to that practice, which you did, and I’d wait for you, which I did.” He runs the hand that isn’t slung over the back of my seat over his thigh, like maybe he’s nervous. “And then I’d drive you home, but I’d park far enough away that you wouldn’t worry about getting caught with the tattooed bad boy from the other side of the lake—as an aside, I’m not a bad boy at all, and most of the time I’m in bed by eleven at the latest.”
“How much longer is this story?”
“Not much. I’m getting to the climax. I promise.”
When I don’t say anything, he takes it as his cue to continue. I consider shoving my tongue in his mouth to hurry things along.
“So, we’d end up here.” He motions to our surroundings. “And then I’d ask if you’re still interested in skating with me tomorrow afternoon.”
I hold up a hand. “I have a question.”
“Do you not wanna wait for the end of the story before you ask it?”
“Actually, it’s not a question.”
“I see. And it can’t wait until I’m done with the story?”
“This story better end with one hell of an amazing kiss.”
“Are you saying you want me to kiss you?”
“Well, yeah, obviously. Otherwise I wouldn’t still be sitting here listening to this endless fucking story. I’m over here waiting for something to happen, and you just keep talking and talking and talking.”
