“Um yeah man. So I guess she likes you after all. Bummer, she would have been fun,” Xav says under his breath. I send him a glare but he’s already eye fucking Sam. She gives him a wink, and I call dibs on the back row with Cara. It’s a two seater and we can actually talk, maybe get to know each other better. Maybe share a few more of those kisses too. Honestly right now I’m just happy to sit next to her. I know from what the girls said Cara’s not very experienced and I don’t want her to feel pressured. Ever.
I run inside the store and grab a few snacks and drinks that I’ve noticed she likes.
I’ve known Carson Matthews for six years. I used to watch her during lunch and in some of the classes we shared, but until today we haven’t really said more than two words to each other. Hopefully I can change that. I pay for the items and move back to the van, slipping in the back. I hand her a drink with a smile. She hesitates then takes it from me with a beaming grin.
“Thank you. This is my favorite tea.”
“I know,” I blurt, then cringe.Way to play it cool, Con.I really am such an idiot. Especially when it comes to pretty girls. People would be shocked, but it’s true. The big town football star is bad with girls.Alert the media, folks.
A hand touches my arm, and Cara leans over to kiss my cheek. Nothing like the kisses we shared outside, but it still makes my heart skip a beat. My cheeks heat and I know I am about to embarrass myself by blushing. Six foot two, built like a MMA fighter and I blush like a prepubescent seeing his first tits. She sits back and looks at me from the corner of her eye. The van starts back up and Jay pulls out of the parking lot. I almost didn’t come today. I thought it would be awkward, but I’m glad I did.
We sit in silence for a while just listening to the music on the radio.Well this is thrilling. “Let’s play a game,” I suggest. She turns to me and her eyes light up.
“I love games. What one are you thinking?” she replies excitedly. I get lost in her gaze and she blushes looking down while playing with the ends of her hair. Right, a game.
“Twenty questions?” Someone snorts from the front, and I internally groan.That’s a lame game, isn’t it?She nods her head yes and replies, “Twenty questions sounds good,” I sigh in relief and watch as she sits sideways with her back against the window. She unscrews her tea and takes a small sip, catching a droplet on her bottom lip with her tongue. Someone up front changes the radio station and I internally cheer. They didn’t pick a country station. I may live in Kansas, but I’m not a huge country fan.
“Okay, question one. What’s your favorite color?” I ask and she looks down at her bikini top, my eyes trail with hers and I quickly look back up at her face. I don’t know who created bikini tops, but I owe them so much thanks. Cara is gorgeous in anything she wears, but I have always seen her in jean shorts and T- shirts or summer dresses. She’s never shown this much skin before and it’s doing things to me. In a bathing suit she’s a complete sin.
“I’ve always loved hot pink, or pale pink. I know I'm totally girly, huh?” she says with a soft giggle.
“Not at all. I happen to like the pink, too.” Xavier snorts in the seat in front of me, and I smack myself in the forehead, immediately looking down. “Gah I did not mean that, the way it came out.” Someone up front is also laughing, but I don’t dare look to see who. I’m embarrassed enough as is. I risk a glance at Cara. She probably thinks I’m a total perv now, but she just looks confused. “My favorite color is green. How about ice cream?” I rush out, hoping she doesn’t ask me to explain my faux pas. She pauses for a moment and I know I really did screw things up this time.I have bad foot in mouth syndrome.I go to apologize once more but she answers my question instead, blowing my mind.
“Oh I like strawberry cheesecake. How about you?”
I sigh and give her a smile. “That’s a good one, but I have to go with Pistachio.”
She crinkles her nose at that, and I laugh.
“Not a fan I take it?”
She laughs with me and shakes her head no. “I tried it once and it tasted too nutty for me.”
My mind immediately jumps to the gutter and I snap my mouth closed, preventing my thoughts from popping out again.
“Um, favorite song?” she asks, and I have to really think on this a moment.
“I think I have to go with ‘Bad Habits’ by Ed Sheeran. What about you?” She bites her lip while she thinks, and I can’t help the urge to bite it too. “Would it be totally cheesy if I chose one of Memphis’ songs?” I shake my head, but don’t respond. I should have figured that out for myself.
Xavier scoffs and turns around. “You guys are so boring. Twenty questions is so lame unless you spice it up.” He turns to Sam, waits until she faces him and shoots her a wink. “For example, Sam. What is your favorite position?” Sam's eyes get huge and Cara spits out some of her tea, coughing up a storm. I gently pat and rub her back until she can breathe again. Her face is flushed and bright red. I don’t know if it’s from the question or choking.
“Is that really what this game is about?” she asks me. I go to reply and Sam says, “No Cara it’s not. Xav is just being an ass.” Xavier huffs and mutters under his breath, “I was just trying to help.” Cara is quiet for a few minutes and I think the game is over, but she surprises me. Leaning closer she whispers, “So how long have you liked me?”
I freeze, my eyes going wide. I was not expecting that. Should I play it cool and say it's recent, or should I confess how much of a stalker I am and that I’ve been obsessed with her for three years now? She takes my silence as she made a mistake and gets nervous, stuttering her words.
“Um sorry. Th-ey said you liked m-. If you don't th-at's fine, if you do that’s totally fine too.” God she is so adorable with her rambling. I lean over and shut her up with my lips. She gasps, opening her mouth slightly, enough for me to get my first taste, and damn does she taste amazing. Like strawberries, and a hint of the sweet tea she’s drinking. She hesitates, but meets my tongue with hers, setting my blood to boiling. I kiss her harder, gently holding her neck. This time I’m not letting her back away until she's completely breathless. I don’t know how long we kiss for, but Xavier ruins the moment. “Now that's what I was talking about.”
I really want to hit him.
Cara giggles and leans back, pulling my lips from hers. I lick my mine still tasting her, then give in.
“I have had a crush on you for a really long time. Probably since you helped me sweep up the glass in Mr. Baker’s room after I dropped the beaker.”
She blinks a few times then laughs. “That was over three years ago. Why did you never talk to me?”
“Just shy,” I lie. Truth is she never seemed to notice guys existed when Memphis was in the picture. Even being a few years older, he would hang around, helping the football team and coaching during the summers. He’s a great guy, but I always wished he would leave, so I might have a shot with Carson, and now that he’s going to be her stepbrother I finally have a chance.
“Well for what it’s worth, I’m glad we’re talking now,” she says quietly. I give her a huge smile, “Me too.”