Page 53 of Kissing is the Easy Part
What is this, poking at a bruise to make sure it still hurts?
I shouldn’t do this again. Next time she suggests dinner, I’ll head straight to a McDonald’s drive-through and toss her a Big Mac.
“Can I close my eyes for a bit?” Flora asks as we settle in my car. “I’m exhausted. I’ll get my car tomorrow.”
“No problem. I’ll wake you up when we get to your place.”
“Thanks. How do I lean the seat back?”
“There’s a handle to your right.”
She fumbles around and turns to me. “I can’t do it.”
“It’s the same as every car.”
“No, yours is stuck. Can you help?”
Her face is innocent, but I have a truckload of dirty thoughts. Adjusting the seat means reaching over and touching her. As I lean in to work the adjuster, we’re so close I can almost feel the warmth of her breath.
Flora is a Siren in Odysseus’s tale, and I have the self-control of a sailor with no wax in his ears.
“Better?” I ask, my voice coming out rough.
She hums, eyes already closed. “Much better. Thanks.”
I turn the music down and drive in silence. When we stop at a red light, I grab my jacket from the back seat and drape it over her.
She doesn’t stir. She’s so at ease beside me. When I pull up to her building, she’s still sleeping. I indulge myself in gazing at her for a few seconds more, memorizing the way she breathes, the way her lashes rest against her cheek. I’ll never have the chance again. She’s still the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, even though she broke my heart.
“I had fun tonight,” Flora murmurs, still not opening her eyes.
I tear my gaze away. “We’re here.”
She stretches, arms overhead, then straightens up and hands my jacket back. “Thanks. You’re very sweet.”
“No problem.”
“Well, see you tomorrow.”
Our eyes lock. My heart rate picks up again. Then, before opening the door, she leans over and gives my shoulder a squeeze.
It’s with the right amount of strength, playful enough to keep me guessing. She gets out of the car and heads up the stairs to her door.
Chapter Seventeen
Flora
The second I get home, I call Madison. “You’re never going to believe this.” I chuck my purse on the floor and flop onto my bed. “I was on a date with Sean!”
There’s a short pause, then, “Sean? SeanFoster? What were youthinking?”
Instant rage.
“We were going over the history project, and I asked him to grab a bite. It was nothing.”
“Right.”
I sigh, pressing my eyes shut. “But it wasfun.”
