Page 919 of One More Kiss

Daniel

We layin the grass under the shade of a tree. Tate was cuddled into my side as I stroked her back. Everything felt right in the world. It was the first time in a long time I’d felt this way. I knew the feeling wouldn’t last; I’d learned to live with that. It sucked, but it was my life.

My mind raced with how my life had changed since Tate had come into it. We had a connection beyond a sexual one; she understood me. There was so much of me I still hadn’t shown her—the light and dark alike. It was so hard to be real around the people in my life, but after what we just had shared, I felt closer to her than anyone else, and I knew we’d get there—one day.

Tate pushed up on my chest and looked at me. “I added another song to our playlist.”

“What is it?”

She smiled. “It’s called ‘One Day.’ Listen to it sometime when we’re not together.”

My brow furrowed. “Why not now?”

“Because I said so.”

I leaned up and kissed her nose. “Whatever you want, baby girl.”

“You know you still never told me how you knew my name.”

I shook my head. “You don’t remember? I’m offended. We’ve met before.

She reeled back and cocked a brow. “What?”

“Yep. Last year on campus. I was fucking around with my friends, Nate and Luca. We were running through the halls. I came around a corner and ran into you. I almost knocked you over. I’m surprised you don’t remember.”

“I get run over a lot,” she murmured. “It’s like there really are perks of being a wallf—”

“Stop.” I laughed. “I’m not done. So, I grabbed your arm to make sure you didn’t fall, and I apologized. I had just opened my mouth to talk to you, but you just jerked away, catching me off guard. Then your friend called your name down the hall. You shot me a glare, called me a prick, and stormed off.”

She covered her face. “Oh my God. I did?”

“You did.”

She giggled. She clearly didn’t remember. “I’m sorry.” Her face was flushed with embarrassment.

God, she was cute.

“It’s okay. I found your venomous personality to be charming.”

Tate rolled her eyes, then she squeezed my side. I laughed, pulling her hand away so she’d stop tickling me.

“I’m serious. I thought you were cute. Anyway. I am kind of a prick.”

“No, you’re not.”

I cocked a brow. “Oh, but I am. That’s why people make assumptions about me. It’s not just a stereotype.”

Tate sat up, looking down at me. “You get onto me about being so down on myself. That shit is a two-way street.”

I shrugged. “I guess.”

“I mean it, Daniel. You shouldn’t talk about yourself like that.”

Apparently, I’d struck a nerve. “And you can talk?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She was defensive now, too.

“You never say a single good thing about yourself. I make one observation about myself and you tear it apart. It’s kind of hypocritical, really. It’s not like I tear myself down twenty-four-seven like you do. I don’t think you’ve said one positive thing about yourself since we’ve started hanging out.” I shouldn’t have said it. But I felt it. So, I did.

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