Page 103 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
Phoenix
I practically have to beg my boyfriend to come to my house Sunday afternoon. He’s terrified to meet my parents. Yeah, they’re old fashioned and my dad can be a bit—okay a lot—overprotective, but I know they’ll love him.
I mean, Mom’s been obsessed with the football team ever since she went to school at Mayburn High, so he already has points in her book.
Our hands are clasped as we leave his house. We haven’t been able to let go of each other since we got together.
“Whatever happened to that girl you were texting at the museum?” I ask.
“Charlotte? She wanted to try long distance, but I told her I didn’t love her anymore. I had feelings for someone else.”
I rub my chin. “I wonder who.”
Ethan gazes into my eyes, tugging me close to him. “I think you know.”
“You rejected her because of me?”
He nods. “I told you I couldn’t stop thinking about you since the night I gave you a ride. Speaking of which…” He nods toward his bike in his driveway.
My eyes bug out. “You want to ride that thing to my house?”
With a teasing smile, he nods.
I frown at it, remembering how close we were the last time, how he refused to move until I was securely latched onto him. “I don’t know…”
His face falls, though he’s trying really hard to mask it with a smile. “That’s fine. Maybe another time?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m just kidding. Of course I want to ride on that thing with you.”
He frowns. “Don’t call it ‘that thing’. I saved up a lot for it.”
“Sorry. Note to self: Never get between a man and his motorcycle. I swear you love that thing more than me.”
His face grows serious. “Never.”
A silent moment passes. Did we just admit that we love each other? But that’s impossible. We don’t know each otherthatwell and we only got together a few days ago. But I guess we feel so strongly about one another, like we’ve known each other for years.
With a warm smile, he holds out his hand. “Can I give you a ride on my royal chariot?”
Laughing like a goof, I place my hand in his and let him lead me to his bike. I forgot how huge it is.
Wrapping his hands around my waist, Ethan hoists me in the air like I’m weightless and gently positions me on the bike.
“You good?” he asks.
“Perfect.”
He takes a second helmet and places it on my head. We stare into each other’s eyes as he fastens the clasp under my chin. Then he pushes some hair out of my face. “I never told you how beautiful you are, Phoenix.”
I wave my hand.
“I mean it.” He bends close and lightly pecks my lips. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I push myself closer to him, kissing him deeply, like I can’t get enough. Which is so weird because this guy was my enemy. Now I really, really like him. Love him…
We kiss for a long time, and I swear there’s an audience cheering and clapping in my mind. When we finally break free, I laugh.
“What?” Ethan asks, tucking some hair into my helmet.
I laugh again as I sweep his bangs out of his eyes. “If someone would tell me a month ago that we’d end up like this, I’d think he was crazy.”
