Page 74 of Feels Like Home

I don’t release Christineyet.

Instead, I trail the tip of my nose along her jawline and suck gently on the skin right below herear.

“This is far fromfinished.”

She shudders andnods.

We walk around a little while, her arm wrapped around my waist and her fingers slide into the back pocket of my jeans while my arm is draped over hershoulder.

The possessive nature of her hold on me has my heart beating hard in mychest.

When I hear music filtering through the air, I stop, looking around for where it’s coming from. There’s a makeshift stage and bar set up toward the back of the carnival, a few high tables scattered around and a DJ booth placed off to theside.

“Just thinking out loud here,” I tease and she giggles, her body shaking against my own. “But, I think we need todance.”

“Here?” she asks like she’s horrified, but the bright smile on her face tells me that she’s not theleastbit horrified. “You gonna take me into your loving arms, areyou?”

“Yup. Maybe even kiss you under the lights of a thousandstars.”

I drop the panda on the empty chair closest to us and pull her back into myarms.

I twirl her out, arm extending, then spin her back to me. She throws her head back in laughter before shifting her body to align better with mine, fitting together like — corny as it may sound — two pieces of a puzzle. I keep hold of her hand on my chest, her other around my neck and fiddling with my hair. Something I’m learning she loves to do. Our bodies move side to side. “Mmm. I like the sound ofthat.”

I lean in, kiss her on the lips and wrap a hand around her ponytail.

“Will you still be with me when my memory fades?” I whisper into herear.

* * *

Christine

Igasp.

Not sure if he means what he just said in response to the words filtering through the speakers, but a large part of me hopes hedid.

When I told him I wasn’t nervous about tonight, I meantit.

I was jittery, yes. I was afraid Bri was going to slap me earlier. I was ready for our date hours early, anxious to get itstarted.

“Mom! Stop. You’re driving mecrazy.”

“I can’t help it! I just want it to be 5:00already!”

“Well, calmdown.”

I glare ather.

“Need I remind you how whacky you were before your first date withGrady?”

“I’mgood.”

“Ha! Right. Don’t throw stones,girl.”

“Whatever. Still, you’re acting like a crazyperson.”

“I can’t helpit!”

“It’s Andy, Mom! You guys have practically been dating for monthsnow.”

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