Page 204 of Dark Love

“I would never dream of it. Have you figured out what you’re going to do next?”

Obviously, I haven’t, but I can’t let him know that. “Uh huh.”

“Do you think you might get on with it?”

“Nope. You can’t rush these things.” Especially when you’re stalling for time to figure out what’s next. I mean, I know what’s next. I’m going to kiss Vex. Assuming we don’t bump noses or any of the other millions of ways kids manage to ruin a kiss. “I never wore braces. Did you?”

“No, Dahl. I don’t do doctors.”

“You don’t? How is that possible? You have scars on your chest that looked like they needed to be stitched.” That makes it sound like I stared at his chest, which I kind of did, but I don’t want him to know that.

“Doctors aren’t the only ones that can give stitches.”

“They’re the only ones with drugs and a license. That means—”

“What it means is you’ll look for anything to distract you from the task at hand.”

That might be true too. “I don’t like the thought of you in pain.”

“Pain is a part of life.” He reaches out and cups my cheek. “But I’m not in pain right now.”

“I’m going to kiss you.”

“Yes, you are.”

“What if I do it wrong?”

“Ahh. That’s where the braces comment came from. You’re not going to do it wrong.”

“But what if I do? Why haven’t you kissed me?”

“Dahl, you’re hanging on to my tie tight enough to strangle a man if you tug the wrong way. I’m pretty sure you want to be the one to kiss me.”

Oopsie. I relax my hand just a tiny bit. “This would have been easier if you kissed me.”

“We’ll try that later.”

“You’re enjoying this. Watching me squirm.”

“Sure am.”

That’s wrong. So wrong. But a grin spreads across my face.

“Have you built up the courage yet?”

I shrug. Maybe. “Will I like kissing you?”

“Yes, Dahl.”

“Will you like me kissing you?”

His grin gets wider. “Yes, Dahl.”

“Will I want to kiss you again?”

“Yes, Dahl. Often.”

He isn’t going to think that once I kiss him… “That doesn’t mean I’m going to fall into bed with you. I mean, I am going to go to bed with you, but not like that. My mother would know if we slept together. She has some sixth sense about these things.”

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