My head in his lap. Oh, man. That is so not going to help me relax.
“Um, okay.” I lay my head in his lap, my hair fanning out over his legs. He ran his finger down the side of my face and smiled down at me, twirling my hair around his fingers. It felt so good when he ran his fingers through my hair. It tickled throughout my body, like a feather was fluttering just beneath my skin. My muscles felt like jelly, and my eyes grew heavy.
I’ll close them just for a minute. Then we’ll get up.
Chay continued running his hand through my hair and down the side of my face. My body felt weightless, like we were floating away. Just him and I. As I snuggled closer, he pulled me to him until there was no space between us, just a beautiful sensation of perfumed peacefulness. It pulled me to it. I heard Chay’s warm voice urging me to go, and with a contented sigh, I gave in.
Opening my eyes, I blinked a few times. I looked around before looking up at Chay. He was leaning back on his elbows, looking into the distance, my head still in his lap.
I pushed my hair out of my face. “I fell asleep. I’m so sorry. How long have I been sleeping?”
And, ohmigosh, did I snore or drool?
“About an hour or so, not too long.” He sat up and looked down at me. “Feel better?”
“Yeah, but I’m sorry I made you sit here.” I started to sit up, but Chay pushed my shoulders down, keeping me in place.
“You didn’t make me do anything. I’m right where I want to be.” He framed the side of my face with his hand. “What do you want to do now? Do you feel like doing something or should I take you home?”
I covered his hand with mine. “I don’t want to go home.”
“Then what do you want to do? We’ll do whatever you want.”
“How about the gardens?” I sat up. Chay’s hand followed me, never leaving my hair.
“Whatever you want.” He wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me to him. His lips were firm, moist, and molded to mine perfectly. The kiss was soft and slow. He lifted his head, and his gaze held mine. “You’re beautiful.” I felt a blush heat my cheeks. I looked at the ground, turning my face from him. He cupped my cheeks and pulled my face back to his. “Why do you do that? Why do you look away?”
“It’s, um… I’m not…” I dropped my gaze from his.
No one’s ever told me I was beautiful except family and they don’t count, and you’re… like… uh, freakin’ amazing. How could I ever be beautiful standing next to you?
“Look at me, Milayna.” I lifted my gaze to his. “You’re beautiful.” He kissed me gently.
“Thank you,” I whispered around the lump squeezing my throat closed. I remembered back to when Muriel and I called Chay the hottie. It definitely fit. He was a stone-cold fox. I couldn’t figure out how I measured up. It wasn’t like I was a hag, but I didn’t look in the mirror and see someone beautiful looking back at me.
“Let’s go find these gardens you want to see.”
***
We strolled through the gardens hand in hand for the rest of the afternoon until it was too dark to see and we were forced to go home.
“It’s almost tomorrow,” he murmured against my ear as we swayed in the swing in my backyard, watching the stars glimmer against the velvety black sky.
“I know.”
“Think your mom and dad would let me bring you back the day after tomorrow?”
I smiled. “Somehow, I doubt it. Besides, aren’t you tired of me yet?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever be tired of spending time with you.” He ran his finger down the side of my face, across my jaw and to my lips.
My body instantly reacted to his touch. I could feel myself being drawn into him, like an invisible string was pulling me. His lips replaced his finger, moving softly over them. I leaned farther into him, urging him to take the kiss deeper. The air around us grew heated. My heart thundered in my chest. My breath came in small gasps when his mouth moved from mine to travel along my neck and across my collarbone. I sighed.
A ball Ben left in the yard jumped in the air, bouncing against the side of the house.
Chay lifted his head and grinned. “Telekinesis.”
“Yeah. Kiss me again and let’s see what else we can make bounce around.”
He laughed and lowered his lips to mine.
Two weeks, two days until my birthday.
Sunday morning at nine o’clock, I dialed the phone. I listened to the ringing on the other end, tapping my fingernails on my bedside table.
“‘ello,” Chay answered, his voice gravelly.
“Rise and shine,” I chirped.
“What time is it?” I could hear his blankets rustling through the phone.
“About an hour later than you let me sleep yesterday,” I told him.
“Don’t you know weekends are for sleeping in?” Chay asked.
“I want to see you.” I held out my hand and looked at my freshly painted fingernails.
“Isn’t that my line?” he said and yawned.
“Yeah, but it works both ways. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
He laughed. “Okay, if I have to.”
“You do.”