Turning the page there’s a picture of a guy in nothing but fighter shorts and boxing gloves holding a half-naked girl. They’re kissing, like really kissing. Something tingles in my abdomen, and I shift uncomfortably.
Peering under my lashes at Camden, he smiles as he looks over the page.
“What will your fancy wife think of you doing MMA?” I taunt, trying to break the awkward silence.
He shakes his head.
“I don’t want Felicia, I told you I was just bored.”
I scoff, looking back down at the couple kissing. “Yeah right.”
Suddenly my cheeks are squeezed and my head is turned. Camden smashes his lips against mine, and I melt into his hold.
Slowly opening my eyes, Camden’s eyes open at the same time. I panic.
“Ew!” I push him back, and he chuckles.
“You didn’t like it?” He looks shocked.
I look back down at the magazine. “I don’t know, kind of.” I glare at him. “But if you do that again, I’ll pummel you,” I threaten.
“No you won’t ,Tate.” He presses his lips into mine once more, and I inhale a large breath through my nose. I don’t feel like I’m in this tree right now. I feel like I’m floating.
Forgetting I’m in a tree I lose my balance and fall off the branch backwards.
Landing on my arm I scream when my arm makes a loud snap on impact.
“Oh fuck!” Camden jumps down from the tree. “Are you okay?”
“Get my Mom,” I croak in pain.
Two hours later I’m sitting in a hospital bed with my arm wrapped up like a gordita. At least I got to pick a blue cast instead of some ugly white one.
“You sure you’re okay honey?” Mom asks, her face wrinkled with concern.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” But my head keeps going back to that kiss. It was my first kiss, and it was amazing. It was just like the kind you see in the movies. Only not the falling out of a tree part.
“I’m going to call your dad now and let him know what happened.”
“You think he’ll be mad?” Worry flushes through me, but I’m more nervous my mom saw Camden kiss me and that she might tell Dad. When I fell she came flying out the door as if she was standing right there.
“Nah, these things happen.” She winks before leaving.
Just as I close my eyes Camden and his mom walk in.
My stomach does that weird twisty thing again seeing him. His white shirt is covered in dirt from helping my mom pick me up off the ground.
“Hey, Tatum. Camden was really worried so he wanted to come see you. I hope that’s alright?” Camden’s mom smiles apologetically.
“Yeah, that’s fine. I’m going home soon though.” I laugh.
Kelly’s phone rings in her purse. Looking at the screen, she holds her finger up to me and steps outside.
“How are you feeling?” Camden walks up to the bed. The tension is thick between us, and fear spins in my head that Camden’s and I friendship might be ruined.
“I can’t really feel anything right now. The doctor gave me some medicine.”
“It looks really cool.” He looks over my new blue cast.
“Thanks.” My cheeks are warming. My eyes fall to his lips, and my body tingles. I wonder if I was his first kiss? Will he want to do more than kiss? I know Felicia has gone to second base with a kid from another school. Oh god, I’m not sure I’m ready for more.
He gazes at the counter that holds cotton balls and gloves before turning. His mouth turning into a lazy grin. “Can I be your first?”
My eyes pop out of my head. My mind going every which way with that question.
“What?”
Dimples form in his cheeks as he points to the cast.
“Your cast…” He holds up a permanent marker. “I found it on the counter, can I sign your cast?”
“Oh, yeah.” Wow, I need to pull my head from the clouds and slow down.
Pulling the cap off with his teeth he draws on it.
“I’m going to say I have no choice but to be your boxing buddy now.” His eyes focused on what he’s drawing, he doesn’t look up.
“Why?”
“Because I broke your arm.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.” His blue eyes flick to mine, and butterflies hit my stomach so hard I feel them in my throat. I guess this means the kiss didn’t harm our friendship any. Placing the lid back on the pen, he tosses it on the counter.
Camden’s mother walks in, tucking her phone in her purse.
“Okay Camden, let’s get going and give Tatum some rest.”
“See you later boxing buddy.” Camden winks.
Looking down at my cast I see what he drew. It wasn’t his name, but two boxing gloves that if you turned your head just right… it kind of looks like hearts.
Chapter Seven
Tate
Chewing on my nails I walk up the street where my dad is watering the bushes out front. He’s got a tight grip on the green hose, his eyes squinted as the mist of water sprays about.
Stepping up behind him, I spit out a piece of nail and take a deep breath. This is going to go horrible, I know it.