Page 42 of Love Story

I should have let him go, but the warmth in Ben’s eyes and the lingering taste on my lips from our first kiss proved too tempting to resist.

“Can I kiss you again?”I asked.

Ben’s smile widened as he met me halfway.This time, there was no hesitation.He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close as our lips met again.I allowed myself to melt into it, savoring the warmth of his body against mine and the gentle caress of his fingers over the small of my back.

When we parted, both breathless, I couldn’t help but laugh.“You know,” I murmured, “this isn’t exactly how I imagined my day going when I woke up this morning.”

Ben blushed—his arms still around me.“You’d be surprised,” he muttered.

“Huh?”

“Nothing.”

I stepped back, aware that we needed to return to reality.“We should keep this professional, at least during your volunteering hours, and I won’t be able to… but I want to…” Was I making any sense?

He nodded, understanding in his eyes.“Me too… whatever this is.”

“‘Whateverthisis’,” I repeated, excitement and trepidation swirling in my chest.“We’ll figure it out.”

“We should go back down,” he murmured.“Your friends…”

I tugged him close, “One more kiss…”

Ben leaned in for one more quick, soft touch.It was gentle at first, but sweetness ignited into something more heated and urgent as our lips met.My fingers tangled in his hair as his arms tightened around me, drawing me flush against him.The world fell away until there was nothing but Ben, the warmth of his body, the taste of his lips.

A laugh from below jerked us back to reality.We separated, breaths unsteady, foreheads still pressed together.

“We really should go downstairs,” Ben said, his voice husky.

I nodded reluctantly, not trusting myself to speak.As we made our way back down, my mind raced.What did this mean for us?How would things change?Would what this kiss meant even last the insanity of the tapping season?When we reached downstairs, Haider was busy plating up crackers and cheese.Conor was trying to help but got his hand slapped for the audacity of messing with Haider’s circular display.

“There you two are,” Haider said, glancing up from his meticulous arrangement.“I wondered if you’d gotten lost up there, Joker.”

“Just, uh, showing Ben something.”I tilted my chin, daring anyone to say a word but feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

Haider snorted.“I bet youwereshowing him something.He made air quotes with his fingers, earning himself a swat from Conor.

“Leave them be,” Conor chided, but there was a knowing glint in his eye as he looked between Ben and me and shared a grin with Ryan.

“I hate you all,” I muttered, and then before I could second-guess myself, I took the books from Ben, placed them next to Haider’s display, and then sat on the small sofa, gesturing for Ben to sit with me.

Ben hesitated but sat with me, his thigh pressed against mine.His warmth was a constant reminder of what had happened upstairs.I could feel the others’ eyes on us, but I refused to acknowledge their knowing expressions.

“Is Joker your nickname?”he asked, confused.

“I was born on April Fool’s Day, hence Joker.”

“Oh.”

“Not that anyone calls me that.”I glared at my friends, who all grinned back at me.“Assholes.All of you.”

Haider cleared his throat, breaking the charged silence.“Well, now that everyone’s here, let’s dig in.I didn’t spend all this time arranging these crackers for nothing.”

As we reached for the snacks, the conversation picked up, and Ryan leaned back in his chair with a grin that spelled trouble.

“All right,” he said, his beer in hand, “I’ve got a story for you.My latest project?Let’s say it’s been… an adventure.”

Haider perked up, popping another chocolate into his mouth.“Do tell.I’m already intrigued if it’s like the rocking chair debacle.”

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