Page 29 of The Way Home
He looked up at me with a big smile. “You’re glowing, Ri.”
“I can’t help it. Places like this just make me so happy. When I was young, we used to go to theCalifornia Science Centera lot. It was this huge museum, and most of it was free to go to, so we went regularly. It was the place that planted the seed for my love of science. Being here is just bringing all of that back to me.”
Jeremy smirked and pointed at my hoodie. “I actually meant your sweatshirt. Pluto is glowing.”
“Oh, sorry.” I laughed nervously. “I forgot it was glow-in-the-dark.”
He reached up and placed his hand on my cheek, drawing my gaze down to meet his. “Never be sorry for something you love. It makes me really happy to see you happy.”
His hand stayed on my cheek, and I couldn’t move. I stayed locked in on him, my head tilted down to hold his gaze with blue shadows cast over him. Hopped up on happy science feels and having him here with me, saying and doing all the right things, I was overcome with the need to do something to show him just how much this meant to me. I shifted on my feet slightly, staringat his lips, and his hand never left me, feeling like an anchor on an alien planet.
I lowered my voice and asked, “Jem?”
“Yeah?” Jeremy stared up at me.
I want to kiss you.The words pressed against the inside of my lips, aching to come out. Would it really matter in the big scheme of things if I did? Couldn’t I allow myself to get swept away in the moment, alone in the dark, just the two of us?
Jeremy’s thumb stroked lightly over my stubbled cheek. “You can, Ri. It’s okay.”
The permission was all I seemed to need to unlock my body. I bent over him and crashed my mouth into his. Stars burst behind my eyes at the taste of him. The kiss on the dock came rushing back along with the many we’d shared in the past. His lips moved against mine, and a moan crawled up my throat. My hands went to the sides of his skin-tight shirt, holding on for dear life. If I let go, I might spin off into outer space.
Jeremy stepped closer and probed my mouth open with his tongue. Fuck, it felt so good. And it was him. It was him. It was him. My mind was doing plenty of spinning of its own. But it felt so damn right. I wanted to sink into him and never come back out.
A throat cleared somewhere nearby, making us jump apart. “Shit!” Jeremy whisper-yelled.
We weren’t, in fact, alone on a planet of our own. We were in a children’s museum. I was grateful for the black lights in the maze, because my cheeks burned hot. Jeremy grabbed my hand and tugged me through the rest of the maze at record speed. At the end were two doors—one led back into the museum, and the other one toward the exit. A moment later, we were back in the gift shop, blinking to adjust to the brighter light.
The woman who greeted us earlier appeared. Her hands were behind her back, and she wore an amused expression. “I hope you enjoyed your time at Professor Photon’s.”
I was too stunned over the whole ordeal to answer. Luckily, Jeremy piped up. “Sure did. It was great. Thank you.”
Her smirk grew. “That’s great. I’m glad to hear it. For future reference, should you decide to return, it may interest you to know that we have cameras throughout the maze… for safety.”
My cheeks flared hot, and I clapped my hands over them. “Oh, God.”
Jeremy snorted and pushed me through the front door as the lady waved us out. Once we were outside, he burst into laughter.
I nudged his arm as the heat in my cheeks crawled down my throat. Hearing his beautiful laugh and seeing the joy on his face brought a smile to mine. “Stop it, it’s not funny.”
Jeremy looked at my face for a moment before bursting into another string of laughter. “Come on, Ri. We’re adults who got caught making out in achildren’s museum. It’s a little funny.”
Despite my mortification, his giggling was infectious, and I soon found myself joining him. He led me back to the parking lot, as we both continued to cackle. When we reached his car, and the laughter died down, I looked toward the building, “Damn, I really wanted to look around the gift shop, but I guess I can never show my face in there again.”
“Oh, it’ll be fine. I’m sure we’re not the first they’ve caught in there. We’ll come back and shop sometime.” His words made a warmth settle in my chest. It wasn’t the reassurance; it was the certainty that there would be asometimewith us. It was such a simple statement, and maybe he didn’t mean anything by it, but the idea of having him around long enough to make plans together… it was what I always wanted but never thought I could have.
Jeremy nodded at me. “You okay?”
I shook my head. “Yeah, yeah, I’m good. I think I’m just ready to eat.”
“Same. Who knew science could work up such an appetite?” He winked at me before getting in the car. I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway. As embarrassing as it was knowing we’d been caught, I still felt the kiss lingering on my lips. Jeremy started driving, and I had a strong urge to lean across the car and kiss him again. I was hungry, for sure, but not just for food.
Chill the fuck out, Riley.We got carried away for a moment, that was all.
“What? No way!” Jeremy barked out, pulling me out of my own head.
“What is it?”
“Look. Sal's Pizza is apparently now an Italian restaurant. Damn!”
