Page 35 of Keep My Heart
I smile. ‘I do love Maury’s pancakes. But my mom will want me to have breakfast with her.’
‘We’ll bring her with.’
‘On a date?’
‘This is a date?’
‘Isn’t it?’
‘I thought it was just breakfast, but okay, sure. It’s a date.’
‘You said you’d pretend to date me. Tonight wasn’t enough.’ I throw my hands in the air. ‘I haven’t dated in years! I need some serious help here!’
He laughs. ‘There’s that excitement again. See? The old Lyndsay is coming back.’
‘That wasn’t excitement. That was panic. Just the idea of dating is making me feel sick.’ I sigh. ‘Nick, I don’t know if I can do this. I’m so out of practice. Everything’s changed.’
‘Okay, how about this? We go on a few more fake dates until I leave on Monday, and after that, we work together over the phone and online.’
‘What do you mean by work together?’
‘I’ll be your tutor again, but this time I’ll tutor you on dating instead of algebra.’
‘Really? Or is this a joke?’
‘I’m serious. I’m not an expert on dating, but I definitely got a lot of experience the past 15 years. You can ask me questions.We can do practice dates over the computer. Whatever you want.’
‘Oh, Nick, you’re amazing!’ I say, hugging him. ‘I can’t thank you enough for doing this.’ I pull back. ‘But are you sure you’ll have time? You must work like 100 hours a week.’
‘I’ll make time.’ He takes my hand. ‘Let’s go sit down. We have a lot to catch up on.’
We talk until three in the morning. I would’ve talked longer if I wasn’t staying with my mom. I texted her and told her Diane and I were having a girls’ night and that I wouldn’t be home until late and not to wait up for me.
‘You’re way past curfew,’ Nick kids as he walks me to the door.
My mom left the porch light on. I wouldn’t be surprised if she slept in the chair in the living room, just so she’d know when I got home. I wish she’d treat me like an adult instead of like I’m 16.
‘I’ll probably get grounded,’ I say.
‘Not if you tell her you were with me. Your mom loves me for helping you pass math.’
‘You’re right, she does,’ I say, smiling. ‘Well, goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow, or I guess in a few hours for breakfast.’ I turn to the door.
‘Lyndsay.’
‘Yeah?’ I turn back.
Nick steps up to me and wraps his hands around my face. He kisses me, like he did earlier, a soft, gentle kiss that makes me feel like I’m melting inside. He doesn’t use tongue this time, just his lips, but it’s still making sparks go off inside me.
He slowly back away. ‘I’ll see you at breakfast.’
Then he walks off, back to his car.
I remain on the porch. I feel like I can’t move, my legs weakfrom that incredible kiss. How does he do it? How does he get me so worked up from just a kiss?
He’s in the car now but hasn’t left. He’s waiting for me to go inside. That’s Nick, caring about my safety. He’s such a nice guy, but also a really hot, bold, confident guy that I can’t believe is the same guy who tutored me in high school.
When I go in the house, the lamp is on but my mom’s not in her chair. I sneak upstairs to my room and realize I don’t have my suitcase. I left it at Diane’s house. Oh well, I’ll get it tomorrow.
