Page 43 of Falling Like This

“Because I don’t want anyone to see it yet.”

“I’m not anyone,” he says, voice low and sexy. He gives me a little smolder and I want to tackle him. Tell him I love him. Tell him not to go to the dance with Caity. All of it. But I’m not sure I’m ready for what might happen if I did that.

“I know you aren’t,” I say quietly, suddenly feeling stupid.

I might as well show him the damn dress. It doesn’t matter, anyway. We aren’t going together.

“Fine if you want to see it, you can,” I say, rising from the bed, but he reaches out and grabs my hand, sending an electric shock coursing through me. A jolt so sudden I almost rip my hand away. I look down at my hand in his. He follows my gaze and releases me.

“You don’t have to. I can wait. I’d rather see it on you, anyway.” His eyes roll down my body like he’s imagining what I might look likewithoutthe dress.

I swallow hard and plop down next to him again.

I stare at the book. Read. Just read. But I’m starting to sweat.

“Rae,” he says, turning his head toward me. “Why didn’t you tell me you and Joel were going to the dance together?”

I turn to him and shrug. “I didn’t think it was a big deal. I definitely didn’t think you’d think Joel and I were together.” I elbow him.

He rolls his eyes. “I know I overreacted.”

“Definitely. Never in a million years would I date Joel. I mean, Jesse…” I laugh a little, but he doesn’t. “What? I’m kidding. Jesse and I would kill each other.”

“You didn’t have a problem hooking up with him,” he says, jaw tight.

“I didn’t. We kissed.”

“But you would have.” He looks back at his book, but I put my hand over the page, forcing him to look at me.

I narrow my eyes at him. “You don’t know that. And either way, hooking up and dating are two very different things. Jesse and I have physical chemistry, but romantic chemistry, the kind of touch that makes me feel—” I stop short.

“Feel what?” he asks, eyes filled with curiosity.

I shake my head. “Nothing.”Not nothing.But I can’t say that until I’m sure I’m ready. I sigh and look at him. “For the record, I wish you were my fake boyfriend. Last time was…” I shake my head. “Anyway, it’s more fun with you.”

He looks at me, eyes serious. He doesn’t say anything but his eyes are intense, the way they were the night I broke up with Davey, like he’s trying to share something in his soul with mine.

Finally, he breaks our gaze and looks back at the book. “I guess we better finish this fuckin’ chapter.”

I nod and look back at the book, but I can’t help but notice how strong my feelings for him have become. When I wasn’t around him much for a month, they faded. But now all doors are open again, and though I intended to take things slow, I’m not sure that’s possible. I need to figure out what I’m ready for—and either way, I think I need to talk to him. I’m not going to rush, but I have to figure out where I want us to go.

Because I don’t want to lose him.

I don’t want to miss my chance. A chance at us.

Chapter five

Beer and Horny-mones

Rae

“Youlookgorgeous,Raebaby. That dress is perfect. A is going to be drooling,” Sarah says with an eyebrow wiggle.

“He has a date,” I say, wishing I could numb how much that hurts. The intensity of my feelings hit me like a whirlwind. Now, I wish I had the answer about how to handle it.

It’s only a date,I keep telling myself. I’ll play it by ear and see how the night goes. I’d rather take my time and be completely sure. But if I have to say something tonight, I will. I just don’t know what I’ll say.

Enough of this. I’m going to have fun with Joel.

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