Page 44 of Aftershock

I sat down in the same seat I had been earlier during takeoff.

“Why would she be embarrassed about Lexi liking her? That's the best compliment ever!”

“No, that’s not what I meant! Lexi will be embarrassed.” Lilly rolled her eyes.

“Lexi does not embarrass easily, and I think it's pretty obvious to everyone with eyes that Lexi likes Autumn.” Ashley wiggled her eyebrows.

Right on cue, Lexi emerged from her bedroom, using a towel to wring out her still-dripping hair. “Well, thanks for that. I thought I was being subtle,” she mumbled.

Lexi was wearing black jeans and an oversized QUEEN t-shirt that hung loosely off one shoulder. Her hair clung to her face. Ashley and Lilly immediately sobered up.

“Don't worry, I still missed all the signs,” I laughed.

Lexi walked toward the flight attendants, then stopped directly in front of Ashley. She reached out and grabbed Ashley’s hands, placing both of them facing upward as she dropped the wet towel for her to catch. She glared at Ashley, refusing to blink. Both flight attendants scurried away with their heads hanging in shame. Brian and Andrew shared a knowing glance before the two of them buried themselves in a book.

“Soooo you have a crush on me?” I smirked at Lexi as she sat next to me.

“Maybe. Do you have a crush on me?”

“Like you didn’t already know that?” I put my knuckles on her forehead and knocked a few times.

She swatted my arm away. “I just need to hear you say it.”

I couldn't tell if she was just teasing me or if she was genuinely being sincere. Regardless, this finally gave me the opportunity to tell her how I felt.

“Alexandra Michelle Harlow, you are not just a celebrity crush, or a girl crush, or a brief infatuation. I like you very much.”

She smiled and licked her lips. “So I’m not your celebrity crush?”

“That's what you got from everything I said?” I shook my head at her. “No, you used to be.” She cocked her eyebrow and listened as I continued, “But now you're more than just a celebrity crush. Before, you were just an idea of a person—someone I only ever saw through a lens. Now, I have a crush on the real you, and not just the celebrity version of you.”

Lexi lifted her hand to cup my face as she moved her thumb across my jawline. “Autumn Kennedy Blake, I like you too.”

“Well, I would hope so, or I just made a complete fool of myself.”

Lexi grinned at me. “By the way, I kinda figured from the beginning that you liked me.”

Are. You. Kidding. Me.

“Then why did you make me tell you how I felt first?” I cried.

“More fun that way,” Lexi said smugly. I didn't get a chance to tell her how unfair that logic was because, almost instantly, she pulled my face toward hers, and for the second time that day, we kissed. This time, it was faster. More chaotic. Our lips moved together as I leaned in closer, desperate to taste more. I wrapped my hand around her neck, clawing at it with every movement. Not once throughout the kiss did she stop stroking my face with her thumb. Only when I couldn’t breathe anymore did I pull away. “So, am I your celebrity crush again, now?” Lexi asked.

“Oh, shut up,” I blushed, pushing her hand off my face. “I can pretend like I never said you were my real crush and we can go back to you being my superficial celebrity crush if you want?”

“No!” She replied a little too fast. I smirked as she cleared her throat and deepened her voice. “Uhh, I mean…no, we’re good, bro.”

“Bro?” I howled. “You're pushing your luck, Alexandra.”

“I like it when you say my full name.”

“Then I just might have to say it more often.”

“You're such a tease.”

I winked at her.

Lexi softly smiled as she looked down at my lap and reached for my hand.

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