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“Will do. Now, can you help me?” I peek out the window facing the lake and spot Adrian jogging up toward his back deck, right on time. “Hurry, please.”
“You can’t rush an expert.” I roll my eyes. “I know you just rolled your eyes at me, but you’re calling me for help so that makes me an expert.”
“No, it makes you my only friend.”
“Semantics.” I laugh at her brushing me off. “My advice–condensed down for your weird time crunch–is that you should be bold. If he shows any indication of wanting to kiss you, just go for it.”
“What if I misread him?”
“When have you ever misread someone?” I bite my lip. She has a good point, but I don’t know that my spidey senses–as Caroline lovingly refers to them–are as reliable as she thinks. I’m not a superhero or a wizard, just someone who had to learn to be observant.
“It could go wrong and I’d lose the first friend I’ve made since moving here. His family was wonderful to me too. I think I could be friends with his sister, but not if I’m the weirdo who tried to kiss him.”
“Or it could be amazing and his sister becomes your sister when you marry him.”
Adrian jogs up his back steps, glancing over at my deck, where I’m supposed to be. My heart warms at the sight of him looking for me. I imagine a life of him kissing me good morning after his run, having tea together and watching the sunrise, and going and visiting his family. I’d talk about plants with MJ and laugh at his brothers’ antics. For once in my life I’d be a part of a family that loves and wants to be around each other. Maybe the reward is worth the risk.
“If he gives me a sign, I’ll do it. I’ll lean in.” My stomach drops at the thought.
“Good. Now go see him. I’m going to go back inside and turn on all my lights in case someone is hiding in my house. Say a prayer that I don’t wake Josh up again.”
Caroline loves true crime documentaries and podcasts, but they always end up making her lose even more sleep than she already does. Since we were kids she’s been a night owl, but on the nights when we watched Investigation Discovery she’d keep me up talking about theories and then make me walk with her to the bathroom. Now that she lives with her husband Josh, he has to deal with her nocturnal habits. I feel bad for the guy.
“Why do you watch those shows if they freak you out?”
“I like to live on the edge.”
I laugh and shake my head even though she can’t see me. “Try to get some sleep, Care. I’ll update you if anything happens.”
“You better. I love you, J.”
“Love you too.”
I hang up, then inhale a shaky breath.You can do this.And then, when those feeble words don’t work:Maybe he won’t even give you a sign to go off of.I can’t decide if I want him to give me a sign or not. If he doesn’t, then I don’t have to make a move myself. But that also means I was wrong and he doesn’t see me as more than a friend.
The cold handle of my sliding glass door shocks my skin as I push it to the side. I just have to go out there and talk to him. He might not even come over to see me. We could share a few words across the yard and then go about our days, no risks to be taken. No limbs to walk out on.
“Ah!” I squeak when I find Adrian standing on my porch. “You scared me,” I breathe out, placing a hand on my chest over my pounding heart. I was already worked up before this, but now even more so.
“Sorry, I was coming to check on you.”
“What if I was sleeping in?”
He scratches the back of his neck, looking–dare I say–sheepish. The expression makes me smile. There’s something here between us, I’m sure of it. Maybe if I lean into it, quite literally, then we can cross that line together. It’s clear Adrian would make an amazing boyfriend, an amazing husband, actually. He’s protective, caring, honest, and unbearably gorgeous.
“I would have woken you up by knocking, I suppose.”
“I probably wouldn’t have gotten too mad, since you cared enough to check on me. Sorry for making you concerned though.”
He nods in understanding, letting his eyes travel first over the porch, then over me. Heat bathes my skin at the feeling of his blue eyes drinking me in. I’m wearing an oversized sweater and leggings, but he makes me feel like I’m on a red carpet. I take a brave step toward him, spurred on by the desire burning in his gaze.
“I meant to say thank you for inviting me to hang out with your family.” I look up at him, willing myself to be confident. My experience in romance is limited, but I’ve been reading people’s emotions my entire life. Surely I can’t be mistaking the tension between us.
“I’m happy you came. They all loved you.”
His words break up my nerves.His family loves me, maybe he can too.Maybe he’s already on his way there like I am for him. With another deep breath of cold air, I step so I’m toe to toe with him.
“And how doyoufeel about me?” My question is bold and his eyes widen a touch. But then they drop down to my mouth. And when my lips part I see his pupils dilate.He wants to kiss me.
