I chuckled. “I bet that went over well.”
“I think she’s still choking on the air she gasped in,” she said giggling.
“I’m glad you came tonight,” I said, dragging her closer to me.
“Me too, but I have to go,” she said, pulling out her cell phone to check the time.
“I know,” I said disappointed. “Can I see you tomorrow?”
She hesitated for a moment. I held my breath waiting for her response. I knew she had a whole inner-turmoil thing going on over us seeing each other, and I was afraid the opposing side would win. “Sure,” she finally answered after a moment. I released my breath with a whoosh, making her hair stir up in my face. The smell of her shampoo enticed my senses, making me want to drag her off with me, caveman-style.
“How about a movie?” I asked, trying to distract myself from what I was really thinking. Right about now, I was thankful that I wore baggy jeans.
She shook her head. “I don’t want to run into anyone I know,” she answered.
“Oh, right, I get it,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment.
She turned in my arms so she could face me. “It’s not you. I just don’t feel like dealing with everyone’s crap and their opinions,” she said, reading my thoughts.
“Okay then. If you could do anything, what would it be?”
“I’d go to a park,” she said. “It’s been years since I’ve gone to one. I’d take Megan, but that was kind of her thing with my dad.”
“Done,” I said, blowing on her hair so it would tickle my chin and senses again.
“Oh, sorry, is my hair in your way,” she said, sweeping her hair together in one hand and pulling it off her neck.
I was going to stop her until I spotted the creamy skin of her slender neck. It was all I could do to hold myself back from leaning down to see if it tasted as good as it looked.
“What time should I pick you up?” I asked, trying to play it cool.
“Um, how about I meet you?” she said, fidgeting slightly in my arms.
I had to hide my frustration. I knew it was selfish, but I wanted her on my terms, not everyone else’s, which was pretty ballsy of me since a few hours ago I didn’t think I stood a chance with her.
“Which park?” I asked.
“How about Freemont?” she asked, sounding relieved that I didn’t pitch a fit.
“What time?”
“Anytime after school sounds fine with me,” she said, shooting me a smile as she stood up and dusted off her butt.
“How about four, is that cool?
“That sounds good. I’ll need to run it by my mom to make sure she doesn’t need me,” she said, twirling one of the long blonde locks that caressed her shoulder.
I took one last whiff before we headed to our cars. I hated to let her go, and only the knowledge that I would be with her again in less than twenty four hours kept me from hauling her back in my arms. I wasn't used to feeling this way, but Kassandra wasn’t just some other girl, and I wasn’t going to blow it.
With that resolve in mind, I kept the kiss I gave her short and sweet.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, shutting her door for her. I watched her pull away, making sure she was well out of site before celebrating how well the night had gone. "Yes!" I yelled, knowing no one was close enough to hear me. I climbed in my car, still able to taste her lips on mine, and the image of her closed eyes, just before giving herself to me, burned in my memory.
Mom was waiting up for me when I let myself in the front door. “How was your night?” she asked, placing her book on the granite topped coffee table in front of her.
“It was fun.”
“It must have been. I can’t remember the last time you looked so happy.”