Page 6 of Kiss Me, Maybe

“You know, a couple months back, I saw this other girl on TikTok who had never been kissed,” Krystal starts, pushing a stray curl behind her shoulder. I almost miss what she’s saying because I’m too distracted, daydreaming about doing just that. Of reaching out, curling my fingers around her hair, pushing it back from her face. “She was so busy focusing on other stuff up until she turned twenty-four and realized she’d been putting her love life on the back burner. So, she had a couple guys apply to be her first kiss and picked the best candidate.”

“Apply?” I ask. “What, like ajob?”

“With a Google Form.” She smirks. “It worked for her. I think she may have even asked for references.”

“That’s so unromantic,” I scoff. “There’s nothing special about a Google Form. It’s so…clinical.”

“I think it’s kinda sweet.” I let out another scoff, and she laughs this time. “People put too much pressure on themselves when it comes to this stuff. She got her first kiss the way she wanted. There’s something commendable about that.”

“That may be true, but ‘sweet’ is not the word I’d use. I don’t want to put my first kiss on a checklist. That’s the last way I would ever imagine being kissed for the first time.”

“You may have a point there.” She laughs. “Plus, you’d probably want it to be with someone you know rather than a stranger.”

I’m about to agree, but then I think about it. “Actually, I don’t think that part bothers me as much.”

“Really?” She looks at me curiously.

“If they’re not a stranger, chances are they’re a friend and that comes with its own set of problems. If I meet someone at abar, they’re still a stranger before I decide to go on a date with them. But dating apps?” I shudder from the mere thought.

“That’s a resounding no, huh?” Krystal crosses her arms over her chest. “What’s so bad about them?”

“It’s like the girl with the Google Form. At the end of the day, you’re just choosing between the least offensive matches.”

“I never thought about it that way. But if you’re on them long enough, they can turn you into a cynic. Believe me.”

“I’m not a cynic, and I’ve never used a dating app. But I’m not gonna start now just because I’m desperate to be kissed for the first time.”

As soon as the words are out, I know they’re a mistake. Krystal’s mouth quirks up, eyes glittering. Heat crawls up my cheeks, my entire face, truth be told, the longer she looks at me like that, but I refuse to back down.

“Yeah, I said it. I’mdesperate to be kissed. So what?” I try to shrug nonchalantly, and if my shoulders weren’t so stiff, it would’ve worked. “You would be, too, if you’d gone twenty-seven years without having the ever-living shit kissed out of you.”

“I didn’t say a thing, but it was low-hanging fruit, anyway.” She chuckles. “So, no dating apps and no Google Forms. Got it. What would you have done instead if you were her?”

I tap my nails on the glass, thinking. When an idea pops into my head, an excited gasp leaves my lips. Krystal leans toward me, intrigued. “I’d turn it into a scavenger hunt.”

Her brows scrunch together. “Explain.”

“A scavenger hunt where each clue would be centered around aspects of my personality. The last would lead directlyto me, and it’d be something like…” I purse my lips, thinking. “Find me in a house painted blue, where the smell of aging paper envelops you and books line every wall.”

“Cheever’s,” she guesses right away.

I fight the smile threatening to take up my entire face. “Maybe that one was too easy.”

“So the first person to solve all the clues wins… you?” Her smirk turns sly.

“That’s the general idea.” I nod. “Or at the very least, the honor of becoming my first kiss. Ideally, whoever wins would be someone I’m most compatible with. If we have the same interests, they’re bound to solve the clues quicker. If the kiss is any good, we could start dating?”

“Is that a question?” She grins so I know she’s teasing. “That’s… not a bad idea.”

A noise that sounds suspiciously like a huff leaves my lips. “And here I thought you’d be impressed. I just came up with this on the spot, you know.”

“I am.” Her smirk is nothing short of amused. “You are very impressive.”

Her tone is dry, but that doesn’t stop me from taking it as the compliment it is.

“Totally better than a Google Form, right?”

“You got me there.” She laughs. “But how would you get people to participate? Would you use your newfound viral fame?”

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