“I guess it is.” Just then, his own phone buzzed. While he looked at it, I was silently cursing Jenna. I couldn’t tell him how I felt. It had been too long now, and I didn’t feel like being rejected at the moment.
“Want the usual, you two?” Hilda interrupted us as she placed some waters on the table.
“Of course, Hilda.” Blake grinned at her. “And maybe some extra breadsticks for your favorite customers.” He fluttered his eyelashes at her. I choked back on a laugh as Hilda shook her head and smiled.
“All right, but only for you two.” With that, she walked away to put in the order.
“So, how is work?” I asked.
“Eh, same old. But thanks to someone with Liam’s company, we are going to start building another hotel soon, over on Staten Island.”
“That’s great, Blake! Is your dad going to let you take charge of it?”
“Yeah, he is. He was so impressed with the one we did a month ago that he is letting me do this one too.” He smiled at me. “How about you? Anything new?”
“Not really. I think in two weeks I have to go to Miami and help do a photo shoot for Victoria’s Secret, but at least Julie will be there too.”
“Not fair! You get to see girls in bikinis all the time,” he whined, like a little kid.
“Yeah, I am so lucky,” I replied sarcastically. There was a lull in conversation as we both stared at each other.
“So, Lenn, I need to tell you something,” Blake started, his tone getting serious. Concerned, I leaned forward and rested my hands on the table.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. I just need to tell you something. It is something I should have said a long time ago…” He took a deep breath, almost like he was giving himself a pep talk in his head. The longer he was quiet, the more concerned I became. I had never seen him so serious or nervous before.
“Blake, what is going on?”
“Liam has told me I’ve needed to tell you this since forever, but since I haven’t had the balls to, I haven’t. Now Jenna is telling me to, along with Grayson, but I don’t know what to say or how to do it,” he ranted, fiddling with his fingers.
“Blake?” I interrupted. A small amount of hope was starting to build inside of me. Maybe, just maybe he would say what I wanted him to.
“Lennon, for years now I have…Blake, you can do this,” I heard him mutter to himself. I was trying hard to not jump across the table and make tell me whatever he wanted to say. “Lenn, for years now I have…I have…I really like you!” he finally blurted out. I froze.
“W-what?” I stuttered.
“I-I like you. A lot, actually.” I watched as his cheeks started to turn a little bit red. His blue eyes were staring at me, and he was obviously waiting for me to say something.
“You like me?” I asked in a daze. For seven years I had wanted to hear him say those words. For six years I had been pining after him, and finally he said he liked me.
“I do. I have liked you since high school. I should have said something when I first realized that I liked you, but you were with that dick Adam our senior year. I realized then that you didn’t like me like I liked you. And if you still don’t feel that way toward me, then I totally get it,” he said, ranting again. Blake had liked me since senior year. Six years. Six years of never telling me he liked me. I stared at him in complete shock.
“Lennon, please say something,” Blake pleaded with me. What do you say to the guy you had been madly in love with since you were sixteen, who finally told you he likes you back?
“For six years you have liked me? And you never said anything?” I looked at him, still trying to let the new info sink in.
“There wasn’t a good time.” He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “You were either dating someone or busy with work. Or same with me. But the entire time I was with other girls, I could only think of you.” His eyes pleaded for me to forgive him. Forgive him for what? I’m not mad that he didn’t tell me. I never told him my feelings either. There is no way I could be mad at him.
“Blake, I’m not mad at you. In fact, I’m happy.” A smile was forming on my face.
“You are?” He sounded optimistic.
“Yes, I am. Blake, I haven’t been truthful either…I have liked you since we were in high school too.” I blushed.
“You have?” I nodded. “You like me back?”
“I do.” I sat there staring at him, hoping I didn’t spook him. Suddenly, a grin spread across his face.
“She likes me!” he suddenly shouted to the practically empty room, standing up. “You like me!” Something inside of me snapped, making me jump up as well and stand in front of him. Maybe it was the excitement that was radiating off of him or the feeling coming from me since I finally knew that he liked me back.
Before I could even say anything, his muscular arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me up and to his chest. Automatically my arms wrapped themselves around his neck. Our heads came closer, his minty breath fanning my face. His free hand came up grabbing the back of my head, pressing his lips against mine. Mentally I sighed, finally kissing Blake.
His lips were firm against mine, yet soft. My hands moved up into his thick hair and gripped it, kissing him back harder. I was getting what I’d wanted for six years, and I was not going to waste it. Not caring that the few people were watching, I pressed my body against his. After a few minutes we both let go, coming up for air.
“You like me,” he said quietly, leaning his forehead against mine.
“You like me too.” Grinning at him, I closed my eyes and breathed in his scent.
Blake Williams liked me back!