“Or,” she pulls it back. “I can take my trash out and you can keep the bag so it doesn’t fall apart in the car.”
She pulls the wrappings from her burger out of the bag, and I follow her to the trash can before walking to the car. We’re halfway to the parking lot when Amelia starts running. “What are you doing?”
“Racing you, duh. What does it look like?”
What the hell? “Aren’t you generally supposed to get a heads-up, or at least a countdown?”
She’s less than a yard from the car when she slows her pace. “I assumed me running was a pretty good indication.”
“I’m not a mind reader,” I laugh. “I thought something was chasing you.”
She reaches the car, and throws the door open. “What in the world could be chasing me? There’s literally nothing out here except the two of us.”
I finally reach the car, and get in as she closes her door. “I don’t know. A rabid squirrel, a snake. It could be anything. Just because we arein towndoesn’t mean there isn’t wildlife.”
“Good point,” she nods. “I’ll have to remember that the next time I beat you.”
“You didn’t beat me,” I huff. “If I had known it was a competition, I would have left you in my dust.”
Putting the car in drive, I glance over at her. She’s looking at me as if I’ve offended her. “Excuse me, I can beat you a hundred times over.”
“I guess we’ll have to have a rematch, then.” It shouldn’t be this much fun getting under her skin. She’s cute when she’s mad. Hell, she’s cute no matter what.
The drive back to her aunt and uncles doesn’t take long. The roads are vacant of other drivers, and Taylor Swift is singing about it being too soon on the radio. My fingers itch to change the station, but Amelia is silently mouthing the words and I don’t want to turn off something she obviously likes.
All the lights are off in her house, and the quiet is comforting. She gets out of the car and I follow suit since mine is still parked along the curb. She doesn’t go inside like I expect her to. Instead, she leans against her car looking up at me beneath her long lashes. “I’m sorry about freaking out earlier.”
“What?” I’m not sure what she’s talking about. It’s not like she spazzed out while getting her tattoo.
“About the kiss,” she whispers. “It was spur of the moment, and if you don’t want that to happen, I completely understand.”
The uneasiness in her voice pisses me off. That douchebag put doubt in her mind for any future boyfriends she may have. She’s beautiful, caring, and so much fun to be around. If he didn’t treasure her, that’s his loss. I’m going to take my opportunity now, and do what I told Sophie to do. “I’m going to kiss you now. Is that okay?”
She nods, and I don’t hesitate. Placing my hand on her cheek, I brush away the hair that’s fallen in her face, and lean in. Her lips are soft and hesitant. Uncertain if I’m doing this because I want it or because she wants it. Deepening the kiss, I wipe away any reservations she may have. Her tongue sweeps across my lips and I grant her entrance.
I’m not sure how long we stand against her car, kissing each other as if it’s the only way we’ll take our next breath. She pulls away. “That was,” she mumbles. “That was… wow.”
“I literally have no words.” And I don’t. Kissing Amelia is everything I hoped it would be, and so much more. This is where I belong. Most people don’t believe in love at first sight, but I knew the minute I saw her over Christmas break, I belong by her side.
“Goodnight, Randall,” she gives me a quick peck and rushes into the house.
My feet don’t move from their spot. She kissed me and dashed. I’m not sure that’s ever happened before and I don’t know what to make of it. Is it a good thing, or bad?
I get my answer as soon as I start my car. My phone pings with a text.
Amelia: I had fun tonight. Thank you for tagging along with me to get my first tattoo. ~ Your BFF, and hopefully girlfriend. ;)
There’s no hopefully about it. That’s all the confirmation I need to know that she feels the same way about me.
Eleven
Amelia
Did that seriously just happen?I press my fingers to my lips, and grin. The ghost of his kiss is still there, and it’s the only thing I’ll think of for the rest of the night. First… I need to call Tonya. The urge to tell someone is hard to ignore, and she’s the only person I want to tell right now. Who cares if it’s almost midnight? She’ll understand, I hope.
Digging through my purse, I search for my phone. The damn thing was just in my hands a few minutes ago. Ugh, I hope the text I sent him didn’t sound desperate. Worry forms in the pit of my stomach. Maybe it was too soon for thegirlfriendstatement. No. I will not let doubt and insecurities plague my thoughts. He likes me. I could feel it in the way he kissed me. He wasn’t doing it to make me feel better about leaning into him earlier. I have to believe that. There’s no way I could fall for two complete assholes in such a short amount of time. Is there?
Where is my phone? I could have sworn I put it in here. My fingers only graze candy wrappers, lip gloss, and hair ties. Setting my purse on the desk, I begin patting my pockets.