He stalks round to my side, golden boy grin on his face, with his hands shoved in his pockets. “Tonight was fun.”
“It was, your family's restaurant was great, and the food—”
His grin widens, and he nods, interrupting me. “Yeah, my mom knows how to cook.”
I twiddle with my thumbs, wishing I was better at this. He’s been nothing but nice since the day I met him, which is why I don’t want to lead him on. I don’t want to crush his feelings either, though after tonight, I’m not entirely sure that’ll be an issue.
The sound of metal cogs whirring fills the silence as the gate to the Saint household opens, and I spot Finley's pearly white Lamborghini rolling through it. He and Maverick look over in our direction as the car rolls forward, windows down, and Raleigh moves closer to me.
He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me against him. My hands press on his chest; but before I can say another word, his lips are on mine. Shock has me paralyzed for a moment before I pull away. He looks over his shoulder, grinning at Finley and Maverick, who glare in our direction. Maverick says something to Finley that I can’t hear despite how close they are, and Finley shakes his head once, his knuckles turning white on the steering wheel before the car speeds away from us.
Did he actually just try to claim me in front of them? With the world's most underwhelming, no fireworks kiss at that? That’s not exactly how I pictured my first kiss with him going, though I hadn’t pictured kissing him at all. That should probably have been my first warning sign. I pull myself out of his grasp, and he frowns as I quickly dash through the gate and close it.
“We should do this again,” he calls out, and I try not to grimace.
How the fuck am I going to do this right? “Yeah, maybe. I’m tired, so I’m going to head to bed.”
“Yeah okay.” He grins at me like he can’t tell how grossed out I am by him right now.
I turn to head up the driveway, calling out a ‘night’ when I realize he’s still standing there, watching me.
“Night,” he shouts back, and I hear the slam of his door before the engine starts and he drives off into the night.
I run a hand down my face and pull my phone from my pocket, clicking on the message thread with Indi.
Me: I’m home, alive and well… Just wanted to check in with you. Hope you’re having a good night with J.
Indi: I will require all of the details, but yes, having an awesome night.
I smile at her message, glad that one of us is having a successful night, and repocket my phone before entering the house. I need a shower to wash the night off of me.
If this is how actual dating works, I’m not sure I’m a fan.
* * *
I groan as I roll over in bed and stare up at the ceiling. Last night was… Well, it wasn't great.
I tossed and turned most of the night trying to decide what to do, but I’m convinced that Raleigh’s going to go strictly into the friend zone. The more I think about that kiss, the more disappointed I am.
There were no fireworks, it was underwhelming, and the whole claiming thing skeeved me out.
It was a weird fucking night. I was extra glad that the press wasn’t camped out at the house again. I guess Smithy’s legal threats finally hit home with people. At least that’s one less thing to worry about now.
My phone buzzes on the bedside table, so I grab it and groan when I see Raleigh’s name on my screen.
Raleigh: Morning beautiful. Last night was great, we should do it again. You have anything planned for the weekend?
Apparently the eager beaver thought last night went much better than I did. Now I have to work out how to walk us back to being friends because this isn’t going to work for me. I should have trusted my instincts and cancelled the date.
Me: Hey, I’ve got some shit to do this weekend, but I’ll see you at school on Monday?
My phone buzzes again almost as soon as the message is sent.
Raleigh: Well that sucks, but it’s cool. Yeah, I’ll see you Monday. Have a good weekend.
The sulkiness that comes through with his message is unreal, and I groan again as I run a hand down my face. This was a mistake, a huge one. I hope he takes the ‘let’s be just friends’ talk okay.
I take a deep breath and decide to start the day off with a run. It’s been too long, and I swear my blood feels itchy under my skin with the need to pound pavement and escape the world. I pull up my thread to Indi and smile at the picture of her and Jackson down at the beach that she sent me last night.