Page 132 of Falling Like This

We look down the hall and see Aaron signing his name. Then he looks over at me and smirks.

Joel throws an arm around me and we walk back to my locker, where Jamie is signing his name. Miles and Mackie wander over.

Aaron wraps an arm around me and gives me a little squeeze.

“Hey. Happy birthday, Rae,” Jamie says. I give him a big hug. Jamie is truly one of the sweetest people I know.

Some junior girl walks over and whispers something in his ear that makes him smile, then blush.

Insanely sweet and somehow gets more girls than Miles.

Trevor and Nick walk over and take a look at Aaron and me.

“Oh, thank God,” Nick says. “I was hoping we wouldn’t have to endure your bullshit for much longer.” He looks pointedly at Aaron, who rolls his eyes.

I lean in and whisper. “Thanks for having my back.” He gives me a little wink.

Hyla, Jenny, and Greg walk up as Joel declares, “We need a picture of this.”

We all crowd in front of my locker and take a group picture as the warning bell rings. Aaron gives me a little kiss on the cheek and tells me he’ll see me next period.

Trevor throws an arm around my shoulder as he, Mackie, Nick, and I take the short walk to English together.

“Nice necklace,” Trev says, poking at the charm. “Wonder who gave you that.” He exchanges a glance with Mackie since he obviously already knows the answer.

“The nicest boy ever,” I whisper to myself.

Even though I know that’s notexactlytrue. I know Aaron has messed up. He’s hurt me and I’ve hurt him back. But what I do know is that through it all, we always loved each other, always wanted to fix us, always wanted to find our way. I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen, but I do know that he loves me, and I love him, and that’s the only reason we need to fight for each other.

Chapter fourteen

It Was Always Yes

Rae

“Goodmorning,Beautiful.”Aaron’ssmooth voice pulls me from the last threads of sleep I was hanging onto.

I sit up, rubbing my eyes. “Morning, Ace.”

He extends a tumbler of coffee to me and kisses my forehead. “I think you sleep a little later every day.”

“Maybe I like it when you wake me up,” I flirt.

Then I stare at him, dreamy-eyed.

In the last six weeks since we made up, things have been good.Really good.We’ve spent lots of time together reconnecting. There have also been plenty of little hand touches, swoony moments, and some good kissing. But more than anything, it’s felt like us. But a new, better version of us. I think we’re finally ready. Well, I know I am. Ready to be his girlfriend, ready to be with him. It’s still a little scary, because I know if we’re doing this, it means more than dating. It meansforever. But as scary as it is, I want it. I really freaking want it.

Aaron gives me a flirty smirk and leans down to give me a kiss. I grab at his shirt and pull him into bed with me, quickly deepening our kiss. His hand slides into my hair while I run my hands under his shirt. We’re hot and heavy, making out when I feel a certain hard muscle.Oh my.

He slowly pulls away. “We have to stop.”

I run my hand over the front of his shorts as his eyes go wide. “What if I don’t want to stop?”

He shakes his head and pins my hands up above my head. “I’m not going to let our first time doing things be like this be rushed, before school, when we aren’t even officially dating yet.”

“Well, maybe you should ask me to be your girlfriend then.”

He gives me a blazing smile. “Well, I was going to ask you on a date for tonight, but you stuck your tongue in my mouth and I lost my train of thought.”

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