Page 51 of Here's to Tomorrow

14

Rae

My knees stop working like knees should and I have to catch myself on my car.

What in the actual fuck just happened?

I just experienced the most intimate and sensual kiss I’veeverreceived in my entire life, and it was on the fucking cheek!

Truth be told, I’m not even mad he didn’t kiss me for real, because that kiss? That wasincredible.

Do I want to feel his lips on mine? Of course—who in their right mind wouldn’t?—but I’m okay with waiting, especially if his cheek-kisses dothatto me.

This man…he’s doing something to me, and I don’t mind one bit.

* * *

“Hey, you’re back!”

I scream. “Holy fuck! You scared the shit out of me, Hales!”

I flip a light on. She’s curled up on the couch in those damn lime green sweats again with all the lights off, reading on her e-reader.

“Sorry, Rae,” she says in a way that tells me she really isn’t. “How’d it go? Did you get you some D?”

I laugh and flop down happily on the other end of the couch. “You really think I’m going to put out on our first real date?”

She shrugs. “I would.”

“True, but that’s not me. I did get kissed, though.”

“WHAT!” she screeches. “Details!”

I recount the best kiss I’ve ever experienced, and Haley has this look on her face that says I’m officially crazy.

“He kissed you on thecheekand you’rehappyabout this?”

“Extremely.”

“You’re fucking high!” She’s suddenly off the couch, waving her arms around manically.

I laugh hard because she totally just quotedStep Brothersunintentionally.

“Why are you laughing? Is this a joke, Rae?” she says in a motherly tone, her hands finding her hips.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. You just quotedStep Brothersand it’s funny because that’s the movie we watched tonight.” Her face screws up. “Hey lady! Don’t knock it until you’ve actually stayed awake through it.”

“Whatever. That’s not even the point of this. The cheek, Rae! You’re happy about a cheek-kiss on what is kind of your third date. You two should have already rounded third base by now! Your next date is home, Rae. HOME PLATE!”

She’s way off track. That’s not even close to what this is about. Everything about Hudson is…more.

“Haley,” I say seriously, looking her directly in the eyes because she knows my eye thing too. “It’s more than that. So much more. I know we’ve only been on one real date, but I can tell he’s something special, and I like him a lot. So, I’m perfectly okay with a cheek-kiss.”

A look of understanding falls over her face. She sits back down.

“Wow.”

“Yeah, wow.”

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