Page 51 of One Happy Summer

“And I’d like that, very much.” He reaches up and fusses with his hair. I’ve noticed he does that when he doesn’t have his glasses on to fidget with when he gets nervous.

“Yeah,” I say. “But it’s probably not the best idea.”

Briggs stares at me now, and I can see his mind racing with thoughts. “I . . . maybe . . .” He stops and runs his fingers through his hair again. “Maybe not.”

“Briggs Barnaby Dalton,” I say, leaning toward him, grabbing ahold of the white T-shirt he’s wearing. “Why do you have to be so sensible?”

“It’s a curse,” he says. “Also, Barnaby is not it.”

“Crap,” I say.

He chuckles as he pulls me into a hug, wrapping his arms around me. I lean fully into him, my face against his chest.

I pull back and look up at him. “Maybe just one more kiss, like one last one.”

His answer is to lean in and kiss me softly, our lips locking together.

“Hmm,” I say, pretending to ponder after we pull away. “I think I might need one more.”

This time I go up on my tiptoes and touch my lips to his a little longer than before.

I pull out of his embrace and take a step back. “Today gets a nine point five.”

“Ouch,” he says, mimicking being stabbed in the heart. “That hurts.”

I smile. “It was a perfect ten until you went and got all sensible on me.”

He runs a hand through his hair. “Can I take it back?”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “It’s too late.”

He hangs his head in mock shame.

“Okay.” I turn toward the entrance to the resort, begrudgingly. “I’m going to actually leave now.”

“Okay,” he says. “Good night, Presley.”

“Good night, Briggs Augustus Dalton.” I give him hopeful eyes.

He shakes his head. “Nope.”

I make a growling sound. “I’m going to figure it out.”

“I believe you.”

I turn and walk toward the resort on a lighted pathway beneath my flip-flop-clad feet, looking back over my shoulder at Briggs every few steps.

Just as I’m nearing the entrance, I hear footsteps behind me, getting closer.

“Presley, wait,” Briggs says, and I turn to see him drop his bag, and then, wrapping his arms around me, he lifts me off the ground and kisses me again. I hold on to his shoulders and let him, our lips moving over each other’s like they were always meant to.

He sets me back down and inhales deeply.

“Okay. That’s it, then.”

“Okay,” I say, a little breathless. I almost want to ask him if he’s absolutely positive about this, but then he says goodbye and walks away for real this time.

Briggs

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