Page 36 of One Little Kiss
I rarely call Elijah dude but today it feels important that I remind myself, and maybe Elijah, that we are buddies. Pals.
That all almost-kisses aside, we are nothing more than friends.
I bob my head, feeling like I can seriously put all this ridiculousness behind me…
Until Elijah has to go and ask, “So who are you gonna kiss?”
This time I’m the one who stumbles and he didn’t so much as touch me. “What?”
“For the scavenger hunt.”
Of course. Of course with the stupid scavenger hunt. I’d quit if I wasn’t so opposed to, you know…quitting.
Thankfully, the gymnasium door is just ahead, so I can avoid answering his question as we walk into the crowded space.
And I’m instantly overwhelmed.
My heart starts beating too fast. My chest is too tight. I’m out of place here. I look around at the smiling faces behind these foldout tables, at all the brochures and all the options, and…
I don’t belong here.
My dad’s right. My mom’s right.
“Want to start over there and work our way to the end?” Elijah looks down at me.
“Hmm?” I glance up, then blink and force a smile. “Oh, yeah sure.”
We don’t stop and talk to many people. I think maybe Elijah’s just as freaked out by the happily chatting people as I am, and besides each one already has a line of high schoolers waiting.
“You’re quiet,” Elijah points out when we finish our first lap with only a handful of randomly snatched up brochures to show for it.
“Just thinking about…”
His gaze is on me as he opens the door, and I feel like crying. Again.
But there’s no way I’m doing that. It’s humiliating enough that he’s seen me lose it once. I look behind me at the couples who are talking to college reps together and my mind latches onto the first thing I can think of.
“The scavenger hunt,” I blurt as I duck out the door. “The kiss.”
What am I doing? Why am I bringing this up?
Because it’s not about college!
I look over my shoulder and…that’s a mistake. The door swings shut behind Elijah and he stands there staring at me.
Yeah, talking about kissing is a really big mistake.
Looking up and finding him staring at my lips?
Even worse.
I back up a step and hear an “oomph” as I slam into someone. Spinning around, I find Dominic and he’s nicely reaching out to steady me.
“Sorry.” He gives me one of his sweet grins—all kindness with just a hint of bashfulness tinging his cheeks.
“No, it’s my bad,” I say, my voice sounding stupidly breathy.
My heart’s racing still at the way Elijah had been looking at me.
