Page 112 of Sparks
“Yes, we’re a good match.” He ran his fingers up and down my arm, then my waist and hip until I shivered.
“So, does this mean…” I started, then felt silly.
“What?” he asked. “Say it.”
“That I’m your girlfriend?”
“Aw.” His smile was immediate.
I blushed, groaning and laying my cheek to his chest. “That sounds so stupid.”
“Harlow.” I begrudgingly turned my face to see his eyes again. “You’re my girlfriend and I’m your boyfriend.”
I giggled as his words lit up my soul. And then I kissed him. He took my chin.
“One request,” Silas said.
“Anything.” I went up on my elbow to face him fully as he rolled onto his side, mirroring my pose.
“Get rid of that app. I want it gone.” His face looked a teensy bit lethal at that moment and I realized just how much he hated me being on there. It sent a sizzling rush of satisfaction through me.
“Consider it done.” I kissed Silas and he kissed me back, bringing both his arms around my shoulders to embrace me and pull me closer.
I had all the real-life sparks I needed now, thank you very much.
Ihad pressed the last thumbtack into the crayon banner that went around my corkboard when I heard a knock and looked up. Silas stood at my classroom door in his uniform, and I ran to him with an excited squeal. We hugged, and he kept one arm around my shoulder as he looked around the room appraisingly.
“Wow. Look at this. Miss Robinson’s second grade classroom.”
I covered my mouth against the huge smile and he kissed my forehead.
“I’m proud of you,” he said. “It looks great in here.” He pointed to the reading corner with its plush carpet and handful of beanbags. “No fair. I want an area like that.”
I laughed. It was Friday morning. School would start on Monday. Each of the twenty kids’ names were written in stars on my classroom door. I was fit to burst. Under the board was a long bookshelf, specially made by Silas because I couldn’t find anything online with the exact specifications I needed. He was my hero.
Silas kissed my forehead. “I’m heading out on my two-nighter, but I’ll be back in time for your first day. I was thinking…” He put a hand in his pocket and pulled out a key. “If you need somewhere quiet to get any work done this weekend, you’re welcome to pop over to my place.”
I took it and held it to my heart, questions in my eyes as I looked at him. “That’s…very kind of you. I think I’ll take you up on it.” Drunken butterflies were swooping around inside of me at the seriousness in his eyes.
“And maybe,” he said, “you should keep that key in case there are other times you need to come over.”
“Oh, other times,” I said, nodding. “Yes. There might be other times.”
“Good. And if some of your things started to make their way over during those other times…” He spread out his hands and shrugged. My breathing sputtered and I calmed myself.
“Silas.”
“Yes, babe?”
“Are you…? Never mind.” I looked down and took his hand.
“Yes, I’m asking you to move in with me,” he clarified, making my heart jump. “At your pace. I’m ready when you are.”
I pressed my lips together as the urge to smile like a fool came over me.
“I’d like that.”
He smiled, and I smiled back. Silas stroked my cheek. “I love you, Harlow.” It never got old hearing him say that. The first time I told him had been on a napkin. He now had that one in his wallet along with the first one.
