Chapter Twenty-Two
He was right. My world shifted. It shifted into his atmosphere. I wonder if it was on purpose.
Kiersten
Why did people always do that? Wave in front of your face to make sure you couldn’t see? I mean, I could still see the action of him waving. It was cute. And honestly, I needed a moment. After that kiss… I sighed and rocked back on my heels. His kisses didn’t give — they ruined. I wasn’t sure how any other kiss would ever compare. But I did know one thing. I didn’t want to experiment. I didn’t want to see. Yet it felt like he was just humoring me, because in those moments he always said “the guy who holds your heart,” and “the guy you marry…” Why the heck was he constantly taking himself out of the equation? The insecure part of myself made me assume it was because I wasn’t his type and I was young. And well, he was a popular football god, while I was just a freshman with an undeclared major. Wow, there was a reality check if I ever needed one.
“Ready?” His voice came from in front of me.
“I think so.” I tried not to sound nervous but I was. I mean, if he kissed me again I might just pass out and fall into the lake. Hopefully, he knew how to swim because I was probably going to drown.
“Open up your hands.”
“Please don’t be one of those guys that thinks it’s funny to put spiders or snakes in girls’ hands to hear them scream.”
A warm hand touched my face and then flicked my lower lip. “I can’t lie, Kiersten. I want to hear you scream, but not like that. Definitely, not like that.”
Was he saying what I thought he was saying? Regardless, I felt a hot blush rush cross my cheeks.
“You trust me?” Wes asked.
“Yes.”
“Then hold out your hands.”
I did.
He placed something kind of heavy in them. It was wrapped, so I couldn’t tell by feeling it what it was. A book maybe?
The blindfold was pulled from my face. I looked down at my hands. It was a book. At least I think it was.
“Open it,” he urged.
As I peeled back the layers of blue wrapping paper, Wes walked behind me and whispered in my ear.
“…It was painful, exceedingly painful, to know that they were under obligations to a person who could never receive a return…”
The paper fell. It was a limited edition of Pride and Prejudice. “You, you gave me—”
“Mr. Darcy,” Wes whispered in my ear. “As you can see, I also memorized some lines so that you’d swoon.”
“Should you recite them again and I’ll fall into your arms?” I asked breathlessly, still examining the beautifully bound book.
“It would help my pride.” He nipped my ear with his lips and then his hands moved to my neck, massaging my shoulders. “But then again it is called Pride and Prejudice for a reason.”
I turned in his arms and hugged him. “Thank you so much.”
“Best first date gift you’ve ever received?” he asked, pulling away.
“It’s the only first date gift I’ve had, so sure.” I giggled.
“Damn.” He tilted my chin and gazed into my eyes. “I’ll just have to do better.”
“Memorize the entire book and we’ll talk.”
“Really?” His mouth curved into a wicked smile. “You do know that I was a child prodigy right? With the piano? And music? As in, my father almost made me do music instead of football? Photographic memory. So don’t go challenging me to memorize Jane Austen, I may just get bored enough to do it.”
I laughed and hugged him again. I loved the way he smelled, the way he felt against my skin. I didn’t want to ever think about him graduating. It made me sick.
“And on to the rest of the date.” He grabbed my hand and led me back to the car. “You ready?”
“Sure.” I put the book on my lap, careful not to let it fall, and watched in disappointment as we made our way back to the school.
I was ready to jump out my own window when we pulled up to my dorm and Wes escorted me to the door. Had he changed his mind? Embarrassed, I told myself it was silly to feel so rejected, especially after everything he’d done. It was ridiculous! It wasn’t as if we were dating!
“So…” He braced my shoulders with his hands. “Your list said to make two real friends. Well, honestly, I think you have three right underneath your nose without even knowing it. Damn,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m good at this list thing.”
I laughed out loud just as the door opened revealing Gabe and Lisa. Lisa giggled and held open her arms. “Welcome to the rest of your date!”
“You knew?” I hugged my book to my chest and smiled.
“Of course!” Lisa pulled my arm, tugging me into the main room. “I didn’t fill Gabe in until after you left though, thus his haggard appearance.”
I gave Gabe a pitiful smile as he rolled his eyes from the couch. He still hadn’t changed out of his jeans and white t-shirt, whereas Lisa was wearing a killer dress.
“Okay, it’s time!” She clapped her hands and disappeared into the kitchen.
“So it’s like a double date?” I elbowed Wes who laughed and shot Gabe a humored look.
“Laugh it up guys.” Gabe cursed. “Why is it that I get a date with my cousin and you get her?” He pointed at me while he was talking to Wes.
“Just lucky I guess,” Wes answered.
“True.” Gabe winked in my direction. “Well, the good news is I don’t have to kill you.” He was talking to Wes again. “She seems unharmed.”
“Except for the kiss,” I said with as much seriousness as I could.
Gabe’s eyebrows arched as he examined me and then slowly turned to Wes.
“Thanks.” Wes nodded in my direction. “Throwing me under the bus for doing you a favor, nice.”
I smirked.
“It was on her list,” Wes explained. “One I’m helping her with.”
“You were on her list?”
“Ah…” I stepped between them and set my book down on the table, careful not to drop it too hard. “I believe I wrote, ‘kiss a hot guy’.”
“Hi.” Wes held out his hand “Hot guy. Now what’s that make you?”
Gabe shook his head and then burst out laughing. “Clearly not hot, but she did call me nice yesterday.”
“Ouch.” Wes winced.
“Right. It’s like cutting off a dog’s balls without putting him to sleep first. She didn’t even give me a warning, just a ‘hey, you’re nice’.”
“Still recovering?” Wes asked.
“I may whore around later this week to prove a point.” Gabe gave a half hazard shrug. “We’ll see.”
“Men are animals,” Lisa said coming back into the main room. “Alright, I’ve got chocolate, fruity drinks, and the movie. Anything else?”
“I think we’re good.” Wes wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close. I noticed Gabe watching us, but it wasn’t with jealousy. It was more like concern, which in turn made me want to feel concerned too.
Wes stumbled a bit as we made our way to the couch.
“Hey.” I steadied him. “You okay?”
“Fine.” But he was pale again. “I just… can I use your bathroom?”
“Sure,” Lisa spoke up. “You can go through either one of our rooms. We share a bathroom, so it doesn’t matter.”
“Cool, thanks.” He got up from the couch, still unsteady on his feet, and made his way to my room.
“He okay?” Lisa asked me.
“I’m sure he’s just tired,” I lied. Curious myself as to why a six-five, perfectly healthy quarterback would suddenly look like he’d been drinking all night long.
“Be right back.” Gabe shot up from his seat and went the same direction Wes had.
“Uh-oh,” Lisa murmured. “That can’t be good.