Page 73 of Glad You Exist

“That you kissed her.” She looks away, suppressing a smile, “Twice.”

“Kimberly.” I’m hoping the warning in my voice is enough for her to heed it.

Rolling her eyes, she slaps her knees. “Fine. But it never came from me, okay? And I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised.”

Now it was my turn to raise an eyebrow.Oh?

I wait for her to continue, stifling the urge to tap my fingers impatiently on my thighs.

“I think she’s just really stuck on the whole six years thing.” She shoots me an apologetic smile, “Which is my fault because we all know that when Liz overthinks, it can be hard to get through to her. I think underneath all that, she acknowledges that she has feelings for you too that she didn’t even realize were there.”

I can’t help the wide grin that forms on my face despite the situation we’re in right now.

Kim matches my grin and nudges me. “I think you two have been skating around that fact for a while now and you were just quicker to figure it out.”

I nod. I’ve been thinking the same thing too.

I may have panicked a bit at first but last night as I lay in bed, I replayed the weekend over in my head. All I could see was Liz.

Liz kissing me back. Liz looking back at me without hesitation.

And that look in her eyes every time she did?

I’d bet my trust fund it matches the one in mine when I look at her.

The facts are there.

Liz didn’t stop me.

She let me kiss her. She kissed me back. Both times.

She let me hold her. She held me back.

She let me in.

She didn’t shy away or hide afterwards either.

I just need to give her time to catch up. To figure it out. I just hope she doesn’t ask for space to do so because all I’ve been able to think about is kissing and holding her again.

Kim clears her throat.

Lost in my thoughts, I missed her waving a hand in front of me and the twinkle in her eye tells me she knows exactly what I’m thinking.

“I’m glad were friends again, Kimmy.”

Her head bobs in agreement, “Me too.”

Kim’s phone buzzes and she heaves another sigh as she furiously taps away on in her messaging app.

"Who are you texting so angrily?"

"My mom. She wants me to come home so we can go get a tree. And I'm trying to explain to her why I can't but she's being a—"

She is interrupted when the door swings open and we both look up just in time to see Coach Wilde walk out of the principal’s office. He’s followed by Hunter and an older blonde woman who bears such a striking resemblance to him she must be his mom.

Kyle follows them out and finally Mom walks out with Liz bringing up the rear.

Coach Wilde heads straight out the door leading to the track and fieldhouse. Kyle sees us out of the corner of his eye and quickly sprints to us, giving Kim a peck on the cheek.

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