Page 142 of Friends Like This

It feels like I could lie here forever kissing him.

But as I think that, he gently pulls away and looks at me. No awkwardness. No uncertainty. Actually, the look in his eyes is different from any I’ve ever seen before. It’s smooth. It’s confident. And it’s very, well,hungry eyes.

He gives me a wink and then he runs off to hug his parents, leaving me sitting on the hood of his truck wondering,what the hell?

Is he crushing on me, too? Are we finally letting that potential slip out? What is happening?What are we doing?My heart is pounding in a combination of excitement and nerves, and I still can’t take my eyes off him.

I sit there staring at him for too long before I realize I’m sitting alone, breathless, on the hood of his truck.

I slide down and smooth my shirt out. Actually, it’s Aaron’s shirt. An Ida Warriors baseball tee with his name on the back that I have knotted in the front and paired with denim shorts. I wore it on purpose, partly to support him, and partly because of whatever this crush I have is. But now, the fact that his name is on the back of the shirt I’m wearing is inescapable.

I try to collect myself and start walking toward the soccer field when I hear an exaggerated cough come from behind me.

Crap.

I mentally prepare myself to have to explain to Joel or Miles or maybe Trevor what they saw, but when I turn around, I see it’s Jesse.

He’s staring at me with his signature smirk, and I instantly relax.

He walks over and slings his arm around my shoulders. “So, what the hell was that?”

I let out a long sigh and shake my head. “I have no idea, J.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “I think you do. What happened since I last… saw you?” he asks, staring right at my boobs.

I shove his shoulder hard, so he falls a step away from me.

He laughs, then falls back in step with me.

I stop and look at him. “We danced and talked that night. And it felt… electric. It was insane. I forgot that anyone or anything else existed. And I’ve maybe got a crush or something on him. I thought he looked crazy sexy tonight, and we shared a moment after the game. We’ve both been flirty. But that—that kiss was—”

He’s staring at me wide-eyed. “Wow, this has you all kinds of twisted up, doesn’t it?”

“The things I felt in that kiss are probably illegal somewhere. They were so intense. That kiss was…” I bring my fingers up to my lips in disbelief.

Jesse chuckles and guides me over toward the soccer field, where there are booths with food and games.

“You should talk to him,” he says.

I nod, and he continues on ahead.

Seeing Aaron a few booths down, laughing with Trevor and Greg, I suck in a sharp breath.

But before I can summon the courage to march over to him, Sarah runs over and grabs my hand. “Rae baby! There you are. Come on, let’s go have some fun!”

She drags me off to where Mackie is waiting at one of the game booths.

I play some games with the girls and then, as we’re walking toward the lemonade stand, the boys step in front of us with cotton candy.

“For you, Beautiful,” Aaron says, holding it out to me with the most adorable grin on his face.

I smile brightly, but struggle to get out any words. I’m dazed. Lost in his presence.

What is happening to me?

“Thank you,” I finally choke out.

I’m trying to find some words. Something. Anything. Maybe ask him to go for a walk andtalk. And I wouldn’t mind kissing him again. But before I can, Mackie, Miles, and Sarah decide we need to go to the go-karts.

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