Page 14 of Born to Make You Smile

Me:Haha.

Gavin:Maybe the song is a sign!

Me:What do you mean?

Gavin:That you should believe in miracles :) :) :)

Me:Hehe. We'll see.

Gavin:Have a great night, Grace.

Me:Thanks, you too! :)

Following dinner and the comedy show, Ethan and I found ourselves parked in my driveway. I shifted my body closer, hoping he would kiss me this time.

Ethan gazed into my eyes. “I had a great time tonight.”

My heart raced with anticipation.

He leaned in, closing the space between us, and put his lips on mine. His kiss started calm and delicate, then he picked up the pace, and his motions became more hurried. The coarse feel of his scruff rubbing against my skin was new and interesting. He moved his tongue into my mouth to stroke mine. Then he slowed, pulling away.

The kiss was really great. Definitely the best kiss I’d ever had. Not that I had much to compare it to. While it didn’t set off grand fireworks, it felt pleasant and satisfying. And I was open to doing it again.

As I lay in bed that evening, I thought about the date with Ethan and our kiss. It had been a romantic and sweet kiss. Not too heavy nor too tame. Perfect, really.

For some reason, my mind wandered back to the passionate kiss I’d observed between Gavin and Michelle. The flashbacks of it caused unexpected pulses of blood to rush between my thighs.

Maybe it was the act of secretly watching them that got me going.

Was I a closet voyeur or something?

Then I thought about Gavin's lips on me instead. Kissing me. The fantasy was quick, but throbbing heat struck my lower body with such ferocity the intensity caught me by surprise.

Oh no. Whatever spark was lit the day I’d witnessed that kiss had to be extinguished. I tried to focus on a childhood memory involving Gavin instead.

Losing my front tooth!

I was eight, and I had finally lost my left central incisor. With my favorite Beanie Baby in hand, I ran over to the fence and yelled at Gavin, who was in his backyard raking leaves. He came closer, and I told him the news with great excitement, showing off the huge gap in my teeth.

“The tooth fairy will pay you a visit tonight,” he’d said happily.

I wasn’t really sure about this tooth fairy business. She supposedly took an old, useless tooth and paid you for it? It didn’t sound like a good deal at all. A little too good to be true.

“I’m not sure I believe in the tooth fairy anymore,” I’d said.

“Ahh.” He nodded. “But you know, if you don’t believe, she may no longer bring you money.”

“Well. That’s no good.” My braided pigtails swayed side to side as I shook my head. “I could use that extra cash. Then I can buy more Beanie Babies to add to my collection. I wanna fill up my whole room so I can swim in them!”

I held up Avalanche, my husky Beanie, so Gavin could see her.

He put a hand on his chest and laughed. “Oh, Grace, love. You are a delight. You never cease to make me smile.”

However, as my mind came back to the present, I couldn’t help but think about other ways I could make Gavin smile. My thoughts ventured well beyond a kiss on the lips.

I groaned, knowing I had to find a way to make these renegade feelings stop before they barrelled out of control.

SIX

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