Page 33 of Ten Kisses

I dug in my purse as soon as I had locked the door.

I smiled at the sight of Salem's text from a few minutes ago. I read it again, and I had to hold in excited laughter. He was texting me about the contract, and I could not wait to see him. It had been far too long since I was alone with him.

I wondered if my sister was right about the preacher's daughter marrying someone else. I felt a warm current of hope and happiness coursing through me. It was a pleasant feeling, and I thought it was true, that it might just mean something for me. I hoped it was true.

I did a ten-second search of Isabel's social media, but I didn't see anything. I quickly closed that and texted Salem.

Me:

Hey, sorry, I'm just getting back. I'm at my brother's for another fifteen minutes, and then I'm going by my apartment to change. I think I can be at your house in an hour or so.

I waited for a minute, but I didn't hear back from him, so I stashed the phone and went to talk to my family.

I was at John-Michael's for almost an hour. Sadie made a cup of coffee, and I felt bad leaving when others were staying around. I was in such a huge hurry in my heart that I made myself slow down and act casual.

As I left, I read a text from Salem saying that he was excited to see me when I got there. Rather than reply to it, I called him back while I was driving.

"Where are you, get over here," was how he answered the phone.

I knew he was messing with me and being playful, but his voice was deep and perfect, and it made me lose my breath.

"I am," I said with a smile. "I'm coming. I'm on my way. Sorry. I just have to stop at my house for two seconds and I'll be there."

"I was so far from you at that restaurant," he said. "It's bad that I didn't get to sit next to you."

"I know it was bad," I said. "I wanted to sit next to you, too. I was trying to get over to you."

"How are you ever going to repay me for not making it?"

"How am I ever going to repay you?" I asked, pretending to be offended. "I thought I was the one collecting on this contract. It's my contract, and you owe me."

"I seem to remember the contract being for ten, and I also remember it happening ten times already."

"That's because some of those clearly didn't count," I said.

"Oh, oh, oh… clearly" he said, mumbling and smiling. "Well, I don't like to owe debts to people," he continued.

"That's right," I agreed. "You can't go and owe debts. You wouldn't want to do that."

"So, I guess you need to stop by and finish this contract. I would love it if you come by, Molly. Are you coming?" There was a smile in his voice, and I could imagine what he looked like. I couldn’t wait to get to him.

"I haven't seen you," I said.

"I know. I was thinking about that."

"I'm finally done with school. What about you? Are you working right now?"

"Yes, but it's my own stuff, little stuff. I'll stop what I'm doing when you come by."

"Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can. It'll be thirty minutes or so by the time I change and turn around."

"All right, I'll see you in a few."

I hung up the phone with Salem, and the first thing that crossed my mind was little Ethan and how he accidently exposed us in the car.

I thought about Sara, too, and I couldn't help but smile at her. She wasn't trying to be mean to me or control me. She was honestly scared out of her wits that if I ended up with Salem she would find no one.

I actually felt a little bad for her.

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