Page 102 of It Couldn't Be You
“This is the second time she’s slid in, too. Look.” He scrolled for me to see.
I read her messages. “She could’ve at least pretended she was just wanting to check on London.”
“She does ask how he’s doing. But I can’t blame her for shooting her shot.”
“Are you going to reply?” I wiggled my eyebrows.
“Should I?”
“That is up to you. And London, honestly.” I drop his phone back into his hands.
“Truth or dare?”
“Truth feels the safer option.”
“You’re wanting a safe question, eh?” He flexed his jaw.
I shrugged. “I’m not wanting to saunter down the aisles, is what I’m saying.”
“I’ve always wondered,” he leaned his head closer to mine, “have we ever kissed, or anything, in your dreams?”
My throat felt impossibly dry. “In my dreams?”
“Yeah, dream Emma. Is she kissing me?” His eyes gleam with mischief.
“Yeah.” I swallowed. “Maybe a couple of times.”
I was highly aware of our knees bumping into each other, our arms touching on the shared arm seat, and his mouth still only breaths apart from my own.
“Dare,” he said, looking in my eyes before I ever asked.
“Dare,” I repeated, mindlessly. All I could think about was kissing Gabe.
I’m sure the airplane was loud with the engine roar, with babies crying, with movies playing, with flight attendants attending, but I could still hear my pulse throbbing, hear him swallow.
I could dare him to kiss me. It felt like he was daring me to dare him to kiss me.
Finally, I said, without breaking eye contact, “I dare you to post a picture of me on your Instagram story, saying you have to finally admit that I am the superior writer, thinker, and person overall.”
He leaned in close and whispered against my ear, “I didn’t have it in me to pay for inflight Wi-Fi.”
We both broke into laughter. Body shaking, tears forming, laughter. But we never lost touch, for even a second.
Thirty-Six
Katie
Sorry I couldn’t make it for the trip. Thanks for understanding. Hope Gabe doesn’t annoy you too much, ha ha
We booked a ride from the airport since it was almost an hour’s drive to our hotel in Cambria. The driver was a chatty older man who talked with us about the times he’d visited Texas. Gabe and he got along well while I checked in with work.
The hotel was airy and laid back. They advertised excitedly that they had wine and beer on tap from the moment we walked in. The front doors were open, and I could feel the ocean breeze all crisp and cool on my skin, smelling like seaweed and hyacinths.
When we got our room cards, the woman at the front desk was trying to hide her apparent confusion that this couple traveling together was checking in separately and staying in different rooms. While walking down the hall, we realized our rooms were side by side.
“I guess I can just pound on the wall if I need you?” Gabe joked as he rolled his bag through his door. “Text me when you’re ready to head out.”
“I will.” I gave a little wave and slipped into my own room.
