Page 2 of Overdue Feelings
“You sure?” Zae looked at me. “I feel bad ditching, seeing how you’re wet because of me.”
“Yeah. I’m good.”
“We’re good. Go ahead. We’ll be right back,” Ares assured him, and Zae ran off to join his teammates without saying anything else.
“Let’s get going before you turn into an ice cube,” Ares said, and we headed to the clubhouse, my body shaking the entire way there as my shoes squeaked with every step. I said a small thanks to God that it wasn’t a far walk. It was just on the other side of the lake.
“I can’t believe this is the last time we’ll make this walk together,” I said quietly.
“Me neither.” His voice was low as I tried to swallow the lump in my throat.
“I’m proud of you, Ares. I mean it. High school is over, and you’re already chasing your dreams. I wish I had it all figured out already.”
He looked at me with the look he had reserved just for me, and my stomach twisted, making me quickly look away. This had been our thing lately. Stolen glances, longer hugs, and finding reasons to linger after group hangouts. Sometimes all I could think about was kissing him. I’d loved him since sophomore year. Maybe even longer. But I’d never said it. I think we both knew better than to act on or speak of anything we were feeling. It would throw off our balance, destroy our friendship, or worse, crack the trio, and that couldn’t happen because they were both my safe place.
“I wouldn’t have it all figured out without you and Zae. Especially you.”
“You would’ve,” I said, but it came out too soft.
“No.” He shook his head. “You kept me steady, C. My world broke when my grandma passed, but you were there, helping me get through it, Creek.”
Something about the way he said my name made my feet stop, and butterflies swirled in my belly. Ares stopped walking too and just stared at me.
“I’m scared,” I admitted. “Not just for you leaving. For what happens after.”
“Me too.”
We didn’t move for a moment. Just stood there searching each other’s eyes.
“I think I’ve been in love with you as more than a friend for a long time, C.” Ares’s words came out quietly, like a confession that was meant for only me, because it was. I blinked hard, trying to keep my tears at bay.
“I thought I was the only one,” I whispered before throwing my hand over my mouth.
“Never.”
I gasped. The tension between us had thickened, and I was unsure if our little confession had made things better or worse. Ares stepped closer to me slowly and brushed a wet curl off my cheek. His thumb lingered at the corner of my mouth.This is it. He is going to kiss me. I’ve wanted this for so long.
“Come on. Let’s get you warm.” His voice snapped us both back to reality as he grabbed my hand and lead me the rest of the way to the lifeguard tower. We didn’t say a word. The silence was speaking loud enough for the both of us.
When we finally reached the lifeguard tower, Ares stepped ahead and flicked on the small battery lantern tucked in the corner. A warm, golden glow lit up the room, casting soft shadows over the pile of old blankets and the crates we used to pretend were treasure chests.
“Every time we come here, I can’t help but to think about how much smaller it is now.”
“Same.” Ares cosigned, closing the door behind us. I walked over to the locker I kept my stuff in and entered the combinationbefore pulling my wet hoodie off and grabbing one of the backup shirts I had here. My hands shook as I peeled off my tank top and swapped it for the dry one. I’d changed in front of Ares and Zae a thousand times, so it was nothing, but when I turned around, he wasn’t covering his eyes like usual. He was staring at me, like a man who finally saw what he’d been waiting for.
I squealed. “You’re looking.”
“Sorry, it’s hard not to. You’re so pretty.”
I don’t know who moved first, but suddenly, we were in each other’s arms. His hands gripped my waist, and his lips pressed into mine. It was the kiss I’d waited for my entire teenage life. It was perfect, not rushed. The kiss deepened, slowed, and then we were lowering ourselves onto the blanket pile. Ares pulled the hoodie back over my head and cupped my breast. His hands roamed my body, and I never wanted any of it to stop.
“Let’s tie ourselves together forever,” I whispered.
“Are you sure?” He tucked my hair behind my ear. “We don’t have to.”
“I want to,” I said before I could overthink it. “I want my first time to be with someone who knows me. Who sees me. Who loves me. I want it to be you.”
His breath caught just slightly, and a pained expression appeared on his face. Ares wasn’t a virgin. He’d had a couple of girlfriends he’d been with throughout high school. That didn’t matter to me. I wanted this.
