Her words are like a bucket of ice water over my head. Completely killing my good mood.
“I’m guessing that you mean with my dad? Yeah, um everything was fine…he was in bed by the time I got home. He’d been on night shift.” I clear my throat and try to hide the disappointment of her rejection in my voice. “Look, you don’t need to worry or feel sorry for me or shit like that. I don—”
“I can’t pretend not to be concerned about you, Ethan. I don’t pity you if that’s what you're thinking. I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” she says, eyeing the floor. “I care.”
Her words slide over me like a warm blanket. I care. I know about the list from her friend and she knows about my dad; we’ve shared secrets and yet never shared a kiss. I need to remedy that. I feel like I’ll die right here and now if I don’t. I take a step closer to her and lift her chin with my finger so she’s looking up at me. The atmosphere around us is cracking with electricity and our surroundings fade as I watch her eyes widen, realizing my intention.
She inhales a sharp breath; I angle my face and move slowly closer to hers, my gaze zeroing in on her lips. I can feel her breath fan across me and there are barely millimeters between our mouths. Adrenaline is pumping through my veins and my whole body feels like it’s on fire. My hearts slamming against my chest as her eyes drift shut. I’m about to press my lips against hers, finally taste her kisses…then the bell sounds for first period and her eyes snap open. She moves back and my hand drops from her face. She looks startled and a little disappointed. Just like that, the moments lost. I want to fucking scream at how badly I want to kiss this girl. Instead I take a step back, flash her my best ‘I’m a fucking boss’ smile and tell her, “To be continued Princess,” before winking and then turning away, walking as fast as I can to class while holding my jacket in front of me to hide my goddamn semi.
“GIRL, YOU’D BETTER spill it before Brie has a breakdown!” Casey says, linking her left arm with mine. I don’t have a chance to even think of responding before Brie has ambushed me on my right side and linked arms too. I’m being escorted to the cafeteria for interrogation and I’m starting to panic.
“Before anything else, you need to tell me if you’re dating Ethan Jamison,” Brie says, marching me through the halls as fast as she can.
“Um, no. Why would you think I’m dating him?”
Both girls come to an abrupt stop and I’m jerked backwards as though on a giant bungee.
“Kellie told Tammy, who saw Lacey in second period, who said that Ethan and you were spotted making out in the halls before class. Can you confirm or deny?”
“Jeez, Brie, you’re too much. No, we weren’t making out. No, we are not dating and no, Brie, before you ask, I’m not gonna try to hook you up,” I say, laughing as I attempt to start walking again. They don’t follow and again I’m snapped back into place between them. Casey leans over and narrows her eyes at me.
“You like him though, right?”
I can feel the heat spread across my cheeks and the memory of him pressed against me as we almost kissed has my heart rate kicking up a notch.
“It’s Ethan Freaking Jamison, who doesn’t like him?” I say, feigning nonchalance. “Can we go to lunch now, guys? I’m starving!”
I refused point blank to sit at the douche table with the rest of the jocks and the cheer squad, so we’re all sitting out in the quad, the sun’s beating down on my face and I’m enjoying the light breeze that’s providing relief from the heat.
A phone beeps and all three of us pull out our cells.
“Mine,” I chime, looking down at the screen seeing a new message from Ethan. I can’t help but smile.
From: Ethan
So, considering how you turned me down for lunch and completely deflated my ego, how about meeting me after my piano practice? I need to go over some things from Hillman’s class and we could grab a milkshake?
Ethan.
I type my reply while Casey and Brie stare expectantly at me.
To: Ethan
Hey,
It's a pretty big ego, I’m sure I can’t have made that much of a dent. My mom’s working late today, you could come over after your practice and study at my house.
I happen to make the world’s best Oreo shakes ;)
B.
His reply is instant.
From: Ethan
You had me at Oreo! See u Later.
Ethan.
I put my cell away and turn to the girls. “What’s with you two?”
Casey laughs. “Us two? Girl, you look like you swallowed a coat hanger, your grin is so wide. That text didn’t happen to be from a certain sexy ass guitarist did it?” She wiggles her eyebrows at me. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say your ass has been put on Ethan Jamison’s hook ‘em an fuck ‘em radar.”
I’m mid-sip into my water and promptly choke like a moron, coughing and spluttering, trying to regain my composure.