Page 65 of Emily: Hello Kitten

Adrian turns and kisses me, like we’ve done it a hundred times. I open my mouth to ask if he thinks we’ll be together when my birthday comes next semester, but that question feels too hard, too intense considering we just agreed that we’re doing more than sex.

“Is this a date, Adrian?” I mumble.

“Yes. So was last weekend,” he answers as if it’s obvious. “We’re dating, Emily. I won’t get in trouble and neither will you. Isn’t it obvious since Beth didn’t pick up on it when I was texting her?”

“People still can’t see us, though,” I murmur. “We’re still a secret.”

“For now,” he says ominously.

My forehead creases and he picks up the book. “You told me you wanted to work in publishing, but is that all?” he asks, and I swallow.

He shared so much, so now it’s my turn.

“My parents never supported my love for books,” I start, mustering the courage to come clean. “I would love to work in publishing, but I want to try something else too.”

“Like?” he asks, urging me on as I stare at the fake flames.

“Writing. I would love to write, share my mind with others, my imagination.” I sigh, relieved to have said it. Not even Beth knows this.

“I think you’ll be great at it,” he says so easily.

“You do?”

He shrugs. “Every paper, every assignment, you have me hooked from the first sentence. You have this way with words, this flow to your story. I can’t wait to read what you write next.”

My ribs tighten and my eyes prickle with tears. “You’re not just saying that?”

“I’ll never lie to you, Emily. Never.”

I gulp and slowly nod.

“Do you know which genre you want to write in?”

A smile creeps on my lips as I peek at him. “Can’t you guess?”

He laughs, his eyes glinting. “Now I truly can’t wait to read it,” he teases.

“I have enough inspiration because of you,” I taunt.

He shakes his head and the doorbell rings. I sit up, curl my legs under me as Adrian heads to the front door to open it.

The scents of burgers and fries wafts my way, and my stomach grumbles in return. I peel myself from the couch to head to the kitchen, and Adrian stops me with a quick shake of his head.

“Dinner by thefireplace,” he says, and I hurry back with a smile spread on my face.

I can’t even remember the last time I felt like this, so… happy. Is that the right word for it? To feel this at peace and all relaxed.

Adrian sets everything up on the coffee table and I edge closer.

“That hungry?” he taunts.

“Starving,” I joke and dig in as he sits beside me.

Every question I throw at him, he answers. I get to know more about him than I ever thought, and there is nothing he says that turns me off or pushes me away.

He never once brought up last night and still, I want more of him.

I take the last bite of my burger and a grin pulls on my face.

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