Page 89 of One Little Kiss
I lovehim…even when he’s driving me nuts.
“You can go to any school in the country, Elijah. You have the grades and your parents can afford it—”
“So?” he shoots back. “That doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want to go to any of those schools.”
Our knees touch as we glare at each other, both of us are sitting cross-legged on his bed.
We’d just finished playing a videogame when he hit me with the news that he’s decided where he’s applying next year…and it’s the community college that I’m going to.
The more I realize how serious he is, the more worried I become. “I mean it, Elijah. I don’t want you to give anything up for me.”
“Hey.” He grows serious, his tone soft and warm as he reaches out a hand and cups my cheek. “Don’t be upset, babe. I’m not giving up anything for you.”
I frown. I don’t believe him for a second.
“I’m doing it for me.” All hint of laughter fades in his eyes, and I reach up to hold his hand.
“Look, Noelle, I’ve watched my parents choose career and money over everything else my entire life. And…I don’t want to live like that.”
My heart squeezes at the earnestness in his gaze.
“What do you want then?” I ask. Because for the first time since this conversation started, I’m realizing that he’s not teasing and he’s actually given this some thought.
“You’ve got to know that you’re my family. You’re everything to me.”
My eyes well with tears before I can stop them and we both smile and laugh a little. Turns out being in love makes me kinda a sappy mess.
He brushes a tear away when it escapes. “I’m not making my parents’ mistakes,” he says. “I’m putting family first. I’m putting love first…”
“But your future,” I start.
“Is with you.” He says it with such decisiveness, such finality…
I can’t bring myself to argue. But I do voice my biggest fear. “I don’t want you to resent me. I don’t want to hold you back.”
“You’re not,” he says, his tone filled with passion. “You never could. You bring out the best in me, Noelle. And honestly…” He sighs as he looks away, searching for words. “Honestly, I don’t know what I want to do yet, career wise. I know I like playing around with apps, and I know I like gaming and stuff but…” His gaze returns to mine and it’s more serious than usual.
He really has been giving this some thought.
“I want to take some time to figure out what I do next. And there’s no rush, right?”
I nod. “Right.”
“But whatever I do, I want to make sure that you’re on board. That we take the next step together,” he says.
And…gah! He’s so sincere. So serious. How can I argue that?
“If you’re sure…” I start.
His lopsided grin is sudden and dazzling, but it’s the hard crushing kiss that follows that really steals my breath.
“I promise, this is what I want,” he says.
I can’t help but smile in turn. “Okay then. We’re both sticking around after graduation.”
He rests his forehead against mine with a sigh that sounds so satisfied I can’t help but laugh.
“You’re really happy about this plan, huh?”
