Page 36 of My Favorite Girl

No.

Yes.

“I liked it. Too much,” I answer in a quiet voice, staring at my toast. “I feel guilty for liking it. I shouldn’t have done that with you. I shouldn’t do any of the things I do with you. It’s wrong.”

He doesn’t say anything. I look up at him, seeing the sentiment of my words reflected in his eyes. He feels it too, that what we’re doing is wrong. The only difference is there’s no guilt in his eyes.

“What’s in the envelope?” he asks.

“I don’t know. Probably an advertisement.”

“Open it.”

I do, welcoming the change in subject.

Dear Alexandra Hastings,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been chosen as the recipient for the DeLacroix scholarship.

My heart stops and I reread the opening line several times, not understanding the words that are so clearly spelt out for me.

“What is this?” I step off the bed and hand the letter to Dan. “Is this a prank or something? I didn’t apply for the scholarship.”

He reads the letter, his mouth slowly rising into a grin. “Fuck, you actually got the scholarship. Iknewyou’d get it. I applied for you.”

My hand claps to my mouth and I can feel my own smile forming. “I don’t understand. How?”

“I took a video of you playing the piano when you weren’t aware.”

A short laugh of disbelief escapes me. And then the reality of the acceptance letter sinks in and I scream, jumping on the spot and bursting with excitement. From the corner of my eyes, I see Dan watching me, laughing.

“I can’t believe you did this,” I squeal. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you.”

I jump on him with all my weight. He stumbles backward, his legs bumping into my bed frame, and the two of us fall onto the mattress. My forehead thumps against Dan’s as I land on top of him, and with it, the excitement of the moment shifts into something quiet when I realize I’m straddling him and how close our lips are. My hair forms a curtain down one side of our faces.

He’s looking up at me with such amazement, proud of me for receiving the scholarship. And I realize in this moment that I’m in love with Dan. Not the excitable love I shouted about a moment ago, but true, deep love.

I think I’ve always loved him. I’m only recognizing the feeling now after he’s done something so incredibly selfless for me. I love how supportive he is and how he believes in me. He takes time to learn about my interests. Socially, I’ve always struggled to fit in, but Dan has always liked who I am. He’s always made me feel seen. He’s my safe place.

Overall, he’s just a good person. Myfavoriteperson. I love everything about him.

“Fuck it,” Dan whispers, then presses up, his lips meeting mine for the first time ever.

The kiss is tender, catching me off guard and sending blissful sparks all through my body. I’ve been kissed before, once when I was younger, before meeting Dan. But I’d been tricked into thinking the guy liked me, later realizing the kiss had been a dare.

This, right now with Dan, feels like the first real kiss I’ve ever had, and it’s perfect.

I pull back, studying Dan’s eyes, confused as to how we’ve done so much together, yet a simple kiss can feel so magical and intimate. Despite everything I said a moment ago, about how we’re wrong, I want more. That’s the way it goes with Dan. I always want more, no matter how much I shouldn’t.

Between my legs, I feel how hard Dan is from the kiss. I grind against his dick, letting out a tiny moan at the tenderness I still have from last night, mixed with the pleasure that spreads within me.

Dan flips me on my back, getting me beneath him, and kisses me harder this time, pinning me to the mattress with his lips. His dick grinds against me, like he’s fucking me, and I move with him, sliding my tongue inside his mouth.

“Ally, baby, you have no idea how much I love?—”

“Honey?” Mom knocks on the door, the wall muffling her voice. “What happened? I heard you screaming.”

Dan and I push a part, right before the door opens and my mom steps inside. She looks at us, a mix of concern and curiosity in her eyes.

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