Page 74 of I'll Be the One

“Aw, Henry.”

He looks down at me, and the sudden intensity of his eyes takes my breath away like the observatory had just a few minutes ago. I’ve always thought Henry was hot, but now, with the LA skyline behind him and the white gold lights of the observatory shining on his face, he’s glowing like an angel. It’s ridiculous how someone can be this attractive.

I’m so busy staring at Henry that I don’t realize he’s staring at me too, until he looks away. That’s when I realize that he’sblushing. Henry Cho, the professional model. Blushing!

“What is it?”

“Sorry,” he says. “You’re just... so beautiful.”

Every day, I try my hardest to fight against the stereotype that fat kids have low self-esteem. Sure, I feel bad from time to time because of what Mom or other people say, and I did hate how I looked when I was younger. But nowadays, I never really think I’m ugly. I’m cute, and sometimes even beautiful, depending on what I’m going for on a given day. And I know it.

But even though IknowI’m beautiful and cute, the fact that Henry thinks I’m beautiful still makes me really happy. Because I’ve always thought he looked beautiful too.

“Skye,” he says, slowly and deliberately.

“Yeah?”

“I’ve been trying to say this for a while now, but I think I’m finally ready.”

“Ready for what?”

I’m so full of anticipation for what he might say that I’m almost afraid to breathe.

“I like you.”

The moment he says the words, I realize this is something I’ve known all along. Although itiskind of hard to believe that someone like Henry Cho would like a total nobody like me, it’s not like he was being subtle about the looks he’s given me ever since we met. Nor was he subtle about making grand gestures, like driving all the way down to Orange County and back again just to show me this view.

And just like some part of me has always known he likes me, some part of me has known how I feel about him for a long time.

“I like you too,” I say.

Henry closes his eyes with relief. That small gesture is so endearing. I’ve heard horror stories of how hot guys at our school are extremely stuck-up and just automatically assume that everyone likes them. Henry is more attractive and famous than all of them combined. Yet the fact that he was still scared that I didn’t like him back makes him so adorable that I want to kiss him, right here, right now.

“Can I kiss you?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.

Henry startles, but then slowly smiles. “Yeah, of course. Thanks for asking.”

He leans in, and our lips touch. Once, twice, until soon, we’re full-on kissing each other. Henry’s lips are soft and warm against mine, and all the while, I think,I can’t believe this is really happening.

Chapter Thirty-Two

WHEN WE FINALLY STOP, HENRY’S FLUSHED, LIKEhe’d been blushing the entire time we’ve been kissing.

I playfully slap him on the arm. “Why are you so cute?”

He blushes harder. I think about how he was so cocky when I was eyeing him in his tight shirt. That Henry couldn’t be more different from the bashful one in front of me now.

“I don’t get it,” I say. “You weren’t this shy before. What changed?”

Avoiding my gaze, he looks at the ground instead. “I mean, it’s different. I’m used to people thinking I’m hot. If that weren’t the case, I wouldn’t be able to make a living. But this... isn’t the same. Emotions and feelings are really overwhelming for me sometimes.”

“Well, I do think you’re really hot,” I admit. “But honestly, that just made me want tonotlike you even more. I thought you were a conceited jerk.”

“Well, I’m glad it wasn’t enough to completely stop you.”

“Yeah, whatever,” I say, rolling my eyes.

He snickers.

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