Page 51 of Better Than Gelato
He smiles at me and when I smile back, he pulls me into his chair and wraps his arms around me. “I’m sorry if this makes things weird. Maybe now you can stop feeling bad when I pay for dinner.”
“I know that should make it better,” I say “but now it feels like I’m a spoiled girlfriend whose rich boyfriend buys her everything. Nobody wants to be that girl.”
Jake coughs. “Actually, lots of people want to be that girl. I’ve had the misfortune of dating that girl a time or two.”
“Well, I don’t want to be that girl,” I say firmly.
“Wait, what are you saying?” His eyes fill with hurt.
I backtrack immediately. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. I love being with you. I just got freaked out about the money thing, which is something that happens when you don’t grow up with it. But I’ll adjust.”
I take another deep breath. “And I probably need to apologize to Carmen. Otherwise, sharing a bed tonight is going to be super awkward.”
“You could apologize…or you could sneak into my bed.” He gives me dramatic eyebrow raises like a cartoon character.
I laugh and give him a kiss. I expect to see him smiling, but his face suddenly looks serious.
“There’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about,” he says.
My hands start sweating.What does he want to talk to me about? About sneaking into his bed? Was he serious about that?I climb off his lap and move back to my own chair.
“I never know when to have this conversation,” he starts. “And this is probably too early, but …”
What’s early? What’s he talking about??
Jake runs a hand through his hair. “Remember when we were walking, and you told me about your first kiss?”
“Yes...”Spin the bottle, seventh grade, Andy Bowers.
“And I told you about my first kiss?”Michelle Terry. Mistletoe. Eighth grade.
I nod my head, still unsure where this is going.
“Well, that was my only first. There haven’t been any other firsts.”
“You haven’t kissed anyone since eighth grade?”
That’s weird, right?
“No, there have been other kisses,” he says. He looks up at the ceiling. “But no, um, other first times.” He tries to meet my gaze but doesn’t quite make it there. His cheeks are pink.
“So you’ve never…?”
He shakes his head. “No.” He risks a quick glance in my direction. “It’s not a big deal. I don’t have any judgments toward people who do things differently. I just have my own plan. One that involves a really great wedding night.”
Oh.
“This is probably more information than you needed at this point,” Jake says, running his hands down his thighs to his knees. “I just wanted to get on the same page.”
I debate a second and then say, “I don’t think it will be an issue. I’m not necessarily waiting until marriage, but I do have certain expectations for who and when, etcetera, and so far they haven’t been met. So…I’m in your same boat.”
“You’re in my same boat?” Jake finally makes eye contact with me.
“I am.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” He rubs one hand down his face.
I laugh. “Have you been afraid of me trying to seduce you?”
