Page 55 of Just One Season
“Holy, that is so good,” I say as I bite into the dense, rich crumbs.
“Right?” Kellen pops the entire piece into his mouth, then casually lays his hand on the table, palm up. “Should we hold hands?”
“That was quite the transition.”
He grins. “Rip the Band-Aid off, I suppose.”
“Makes sense.” I move my hand towards his, and my body seems to go in slow motion. The sounds of the coffee shop fade around us, and all I can focus on is reaching across the table.
The feel of our hands touching is a lot to take in. He slowly entwines his warm and rough fingers with mine, like he’s taking his time, learning the shape of me.
My heartbeat has not slowed down one bit.
I’m going to have to pull it together, or I’ll blow this whole thing, for me and for Kellen.
“Tell me a story while we wait. Distract me.” Kellen’s voice has the slightest shake, like he’s nervous too. Which I must be imagining, because would one fake kiss really make Kellen nervous?
“Okay.” I try to think, hard, but I keep losing my train of thought as I look into Kellen’s blue eyes. The dark swoops of hair on his forehead. The way his thumb is slowly moving on the back of my hand. Does he know he’s doing it?
“I’m not a great soccer player.”
Kellen laughs. “Really?”
“Yeah. Really. I got on all the good soccer teams growing up because of my father. I’d be on this top team and clearly the weakest player.” The memories of those games are not great. I truly loved being with the team but always felt a degree of shame at not carrying my weight on the field. I would’ve been much happier on a lower team. Richard took that opportunity away from me by giving me what he thought of as a better one.
“Oh no.”
“It finally ended after high school. I refused to even try to play college soccer. Not that I would’ve been able to. Dad was so disappointed. I know everything about the game, and I loved working for a soccer team. I like to watch. Coach kids. Not play.”
“What about Atticus? Did he ever play?”
“He was a great soccer player. But he loved hockey far more. Pissed our father off. To this day, Richard is not supportive of Atticus, which I know you know.” I shake my head.
There were so many fights growing up. Atticus and our father never got along.
“So by being here, you’re basically taking Atticus’s side.”
“I guess.” I glance down at our hands. I can’t ignore the sensation of us touching, and the way his thumb is still gently moving against my skin. It feels warm and comforting. Natural.
“They’re here.” Kellen looks over my shoulder at the door.
“Okay.”
Time slows and I take a deep breath. We lock eyes and everything fades away, including Paul and Savannah’s presence.
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah.” I nod and swallow.
“Alright, Lucy. I’m going to kiss you now.”
My name out of his mouth washes over me like that first step into a hot tub. I nod.
Kellen reaches his other hand over and slides it along my jaw and behind my head, so gently. Tingles burst from where he’s touching me, and I melt into his palm.
I glance down at his mouth as he closes the distance between us. I think my heart is going to beat right out of my chest and explode in the middle of this cafe.
Then our lips touch.
