Page 173 of Save You
“Look,” he says, nodding toward the banister right in front of us.
Curiously, I peek between the wooden posts.
A smile spreads over my face.From up here, we have the bestview of the Boyd Hall lobby and can watch people without them seeing us.I doubt that anyone would even notice us if they looked up.This part of the gallery is too dark.
“You’re a genius,” I say with a grin.
Wren grins back.“I’ve never been called that before.”
“Well, in that case, I hereby bestow the title upon you.”I tap his shoulders as if I’m knighting him with a sword.At that moment, Wren catches my hand and holds it tight.His facial expression changes.Suddenly, his eyes are serious and there’s a meaning in them.It starts a tingling feeling that spreads from my stomach.
Nobody has ever looked at me like that before.Absolutely never.
There are no boys like Wren around where I grew up.To most people at school, I’m just Ember.I’ve known most of them since nursery school, and none of them think I’m anything special, or desirable.I’m actually struggling to breathe here.
Wren’s eyes wander from my lips to my eyes and back down again.He’s still holding my hand.With his other hand, he strokes a strand of hair from my face.His thumb brushes against my temple and a shudder runs through my body.
There’s chemistry between us, getting stronger by the second.I’ve never experienced anything like this.Every second—every breath—feels good and exciting and like we’re doing something wrong all at once.
“Sorry for vanishing on you like that earlier,” he says quietly.“Some people seem to think you need to be protected from me.”
“Why do they think that?”I whisper back.
He doesn’t take his eyes off my face.“Because they know me.”
That’s the only thing he says, then he comes closer and presses his lips onto mine.I squeak with surprise and Wren puts an arm around my back to pull me closer.His lips soften and open slightly.And then I taste it.
Alcohol.
I immediately push him away with both hands and budge a little over to one side.Then I shake my head.
“Wren.”
He looks confused.“What?”
My heart is pounding like crazy.That might have been the shortest kiss in human history, but I can still feel his mouth against mine.
“This isn’t how I imagined my first kiss,” I admit quietly.My hands are shaking.I fold them in my lap and turn my face away so as not to have to see Wren’s reaction to my words.I just keep looking down, through the banisters.There’s a young woman walking through the doors, her dark blue dress almost like the night sky.There are little shimmering specks in the train, catching the light with her every step.
“Your first kiss, hmm?”Wren’s voice is suddenly very gentle.
The man at the woman’s side puts his hand on her lower back and I watch them step into the hall together.“Yes.”
For a moment, he doesn’t speak.Then…“Sorry.”
The couple vanish into the crowd and I look back at Wren.
“I’ve had a pretty crap week.I thought we could cheer each other up a little bit.”
“I’m happy to talk about it, if you like,” I say.“But I’m not up for more than that.Especially not if you’re drunk.”
“I’m not drunk.Just a bit tipsy, maybe.So I know exactly whatI was just doing.And I’d want to do it again, without a drop of booze inside me,” he says, eyebrows furrowed.“Just so you know.”
“OK.”
Wren nods again and sinks back into the bench.He crosses his arms over his chest and looks up at the chandelier over the lobby.
“So why was it a bad week?”I ask after a while.
