Suddenly, I feel like I’ve said too much about how dad’s auto business might not be doing so well after all, without even having to say it.
Still, there’s more to me living at home than just my dad looking out for me.
It’s not Los Angeles out here, and only so many people need their cars tuned in a week.
“I thought Dad would have mentioned it,” I probe Brandon, but he shakes his head, looking serious.
“How is the mechanical business?” he asks gravely, and I think he’s kidding around for a second until I remind myself that this is my dad’s lifelong and best friend.
“Uh…things have been pretty tight for a few months now. Busy this week, which is ironic. The week you come to visit,” I add, but Brandon looks disappointed.
“Is it something I said?” I ask, worried when he goes quiet.
“I’m glad you told me, May,” he says in a low tone. “I always just assumed…,” he says before snapping himself out of his serious mood.
“Anyway, I’m just glad I told you how I feel about us. Glad you feel the same way,” he smiles, pecking my lips, which turns into another long and even more powerful kiss than the last.
I might have just let on a little too much about my dad’s business affairs, but I don’t think Brandon and I could keep anything from each other. Except, maybe just one little thing I haven’t mentioned yet. I’ll keep that one to myself, too, for now.
Two little things, if I include his ‘big surprise.’
“Can’t you tell me what this big surprise is?” I whine before he goes, but Brandon’s determined to keep it as a surprise until tonight.
I see him out and catch him watching me as he pulls away, knowing he’s watching me as long as he can before I go inside again.
I lock the door behind me, leaning back against it with a dramatic sigh.
My whole life feels like it’s been turned upside down in under a few hours.
But the funny thing is, this upside-down feeling?
It’s the best feeling in the whole world.
So great that I’m not even worried about the absolute nuclear shit storm that’s going to be detonated when my dad does find out about Brandon and me.
But, as he said, we’ll take it slow. And we’ll make sure to let dad in on it when we’re both certain it’s what we want and when dad’s gonna be able to deal with the news.
And if our first few minutes alone together were ‘slow,’ I’m pretty sure it’s not going to be long before neither of us can keep our secret.
But I’ll try.
I’ll do whatever it takes to make Brandon happy but also not hurt dad’s feelings too much in the process.
Hugging my elbows and smiling like a lunatic, I make a face at the pile of tutoring papers stacked up on my desk next to my backpack and fall back onto my unmade bed instead.
Gripping a pillow with both hands, I hold it over my face, squealing and screaming with excitement.
The way I wanted to after Brandon kissed me, the moment he told me that he actually fuckingwantsme.
Oh my fucking god.
I squeal and laugh again, wriggling my toes and kicking my legs as I lie flat on my back.
A literal fit of excitement knowing I haven’t just fallen for my dad’s best friend.
I think I’m actually, no, I’mdefinitelyhead over heels in love with him.
And what’s not to love?