Page 48 of Ten Kisses

I took off toward their bedroom, and he called after me to let me know he would be there in a minute. I felt like I was being chased—like I needed to hurry, couldn't get it done fast enough. I worked so quickly that I had most of the clothes in their new place by the time he came in there again. I had been a part of this family for a year. I had to remind myself of that. I thought for sure I was misunderstanding his intentions.

"It's going quick," I said, still hanging and straightening clothes.

He laughed. "It seems to go quicker when I'm not in here. Maybe I slow you down."

I laughed along with him, but I kept right on hanging and sorting. His shirts were ironed and starched, and I moved carefully but quickly.

I brought up the subject of the commercials. My oldest sister's husband, Lev, had made a name for himself directing commercials, and it was an interesting topic that I now brought up when I couldn't think of anything else to say. It was the most neutral subject that I could think of in a pinch, and I was thrown off at the moment.

I kept thinking of different commercials Lev had directed and bringing them up one after another. I was talkative the whole time so as to not give Darren any opportunity to interject. I was nervous and unaware of the time, but it took me a little while to get his clothes sorted and hung in their places.

I don't even remember what I said to him when I left. I pretended to just notice the time and say goodbye in a hurry like I was late for something. I didn't lie to him, exactly, or give specific details, but I did suddenly pretend to be in a hurry after I asked him the time.

Chapter 17

A week or so later

"Hey," I said, picking up my phone once I saw that it was Kat calling.

"Hey," she said. "I would've texted but I'm driving."

"It's fine. I have you on speakerphone while I'm working. I'm finishing wrapping these right now, and then I have nothing scheduled for three days. Are you still coming to my parents'?"

"Yes, that's why I'm calling. What time are you leaving to head up there?"

"In an hour or so."

"I might follow you up," she said.

"Oh, good. Did you get off early?"

"Yeah, I’m driving to make a deposit at the bank for my manager, and then I'm off. I'm stuck in traffic right now, but soon, I'll be pretty much ready to go. I packed to spend the night. Are you sure your parents don't mind? Do they have room for me to stay in their house?"

"Of course. Normally, they could put you up in one of their cabins, but those are full right now. But even still, they have enough room for you in the main house. They have this big bunk room, game room thing. You and I will probably both sleep in there. We have options, honestly. I know you don't mind sleeping on the couch."

"I don't," she said. "I'm excited to see your parents' camp. I've heard you tell stories but it's hard to imagine. I'm hoping to meet my soulmate at the campfire."

"There's an honest-to-goodness chance you will," I said, laughing. "Seriously, though. There's going to be a lot of people out there this weekend, so you never know. I'm definitely hoping my sister finds someone. That way, I can finally tell her about me and Salem. By the way, don't forget to not mention it this weekend, please."

"I won't. I definitely wouldn't. I know you're keeping it from your family."

"Uh, I hate even hearing you say that. I hate keeping stuff from them. Everybody's been so busy this summer that I've been able to get away with it with no one realizing it. But they'll notice we're together tonight. I'm nervous about it. The longer it goes, the more awkward I feel about telling her. Salem and I are already so comfortable with each other. She's going to feel hurt when she finds out how long I've been keeping it from her."

"She forced your hand, though," Kat said. "You can't forbid someone to be with someone else. What's she thinking? What is this, Romeo and Juliet?"

I laughed because it felt good for someone to agree with me that my sister was being unreasonable. "Oh, I agree with you but she didn't put it like she was forbidding it, she just asked me nicely, please-oh-please, do not start dating him."

"I get it, Molly, but that's not something she can do."

"I know. I just feel bad for her. She puts a lot of pressure on herself. I think she reads too many romance novels and thinks some perfect guy has to come out of the woodwork at her perfect timing."

"Which is basically before you."

"Yeah. But out of fear, not spite."

"The motivation doesn't matter. The action does. Do you feel like you want to be with Salem?"

"Yes, I do," I said

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