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His hands wrap around my waist. “What has you so stunned? Oh God, please tell me you didn’t step on a jelly.”
“A jelly?” I finally find my voice. “Are you nicknaming the jellyfish now?”
“It took less time to say, and I wanted to use my mouth for other nefarious purposes.”
I smile up at him and wrap my arms around his neck. “So, you want to use your mouth for…”
“On. If we’re being specific.” His smile could not be more sexy. My hair whips around my face from the wind on the beach, it’s not exactly warm the closer we get to the ocean, but he is, so I press closer to him.
When I lean up on my tiptoes he leans down, I think he’s going to kiss me, instead he dodges my mouth and rests his chin on my shoulder and hugs me tight.
I have no clue why it feels more romantic than a kiss or why I can’t seem to let go of him, even though I barely know him and am probably jumping into this without thinking.
“Favorite color?” he asks.
“Blue.” I cling to his shirt.
“Favorite movie?”
“Gladiator.”
“I approve.”
“I was looking for validation today.” My hands tug at his shirt while my face presses against his warm chest.
“Favorite moment?” he whispers against the wind, his face still on my shoulder.
I want to say this one, but I’m not sure I’m brave enough, but it’s almost like my silence is answer enough as I stand there and hold him tight.
“This.” I finally get one word out.
He squeezes me tighter, then kisses the top of my head. “Good, you pass—for now.”
I shove him playfully as he pulls away laughing, reaching for my hand and holding it tight.
It could have been seconds or hours, I have no concept of time with him, all I know is by the time we make it back to the boardwalk it’s really dark out and I need to go home.
I’ve never been the type to jump into relationships nor have I been the type to invite myself to people’s houses—I’ve never had a one-night stand drunken or sober, I’ve never done what I did today or even taken a chance for fear I’d be used or labeled a slut.
But things change quickly when you’re faced with giants in your life.
I never thought I’d meet mine at eighteen.
I don’t realize I’ve stopped walking until Quinn pulls me toward a park bench and onto his lap. “Why so sad?”
“What?” His warm arms wrap around me.
“I said, why so sad? You just froze back there, I mean it could be the wind, my overall impressiveness, exhaustion, but you just stared straight ahead, so I’m assuming something’s wrong and also assuming that you might possibly be sad because the night is over.”
I relax against him. “It doesn’t have to be.”
This time he freezes. “What?”
“My parents aren’t home and my sister won’t say anything.” I feel all the blood rushing to my face in embarrassment. “I mean never mind, it’s fine it’s—“
He lightly pushes me off his lap and holds out his hand. “Lead the way.”
I don’t think anyone could have prepared me for the journey we’d take after this. I often wonder what would have happened if I didn’t take that outstretched hand and I daily question myself.
