Page 21 of Told You So
“I’m on your turf now,” I tell him, and Anna Marie likes to know everyone’s business. Like, I know Nick has never had a serious girlfriend but he’s been seen at parties and games with girls. I know he’s flirty and makes friends everywhere he goes. I’m not sure what that means for me, though, sitting here with him. But I know he could be hanging out with anyone right now, but he’s not. “I hear a lot of things.”
“Too much, probably,” he admits.
I shrug. “Maybe, but it sounds like you’re pretty popular.”
He must like that observation because his grin widens. “So, you’ve been asking around about me, huh?”
I smile and roll my eyes. “No.” Yes—maybe a little.
He nudges me and leans in a bit closer. “Come on, you can tell me. It’s flattering, really. Is it my eyes that you like? I’ve been told they can see into a girl’s soul.” He flexes his bicep and lifts his chin. “Or is it my rugged exterior. I work out, you know? This throwing arm doesn’t just happen on its own.” He’s teasing, but it’s all true.
“You’re so full of yourselfandridiculous.” I nearly snort with laughter. “It’s embarrassing.”
“Yeah, but making you laugh is worth it.” His eyes are smoldering and my laughter dies away.
I know he’s had a couple beers, but maybe that’s a good thing. Part of me wishes I’d had more to drink so that I wasn’t sweating in places I’d rather not say, especially not now, of all times.
Nick’s eyes shift to my lips, and I feel brave again. His attention makes me feel like a pretty girl, and I want to know what it tastes like to kiss him. He’s sitting here with me, isn’t he? He’s flirting with me. “I wanted tonight to be epic,” I breathe, and the reminder comforts me. Without allowing myself to think any more about it, I do something for myself. My heart races and my skin tingles as I lean in and press my lips to his.
Everything seems to freeze in an instant. His mouth is hot and soft against mine, but he doesn’t kiss me back at first. My heart pounds and I briefly panic. When I start to pull away, he presses his lips harder against mine.
His kiss is more urgent, but I don’t stop him. It feels right and good, and I wish it would consume me so that I never have to think about anything else again.
The girls laugh on the couch across the room and the warm cocoon around me falls away. Reality seeps back through my mind-numbing haze, and I realize what I’m doing. I feel the girls’ eyes on us, and I question what I’ve just set into motion. I start to panic again.
Nick reaches for my side to pull me closer, but I pull away.
I breathe in deeply, uncertain if I should open my eyes.
Was I really just kissing Nick?Not a drawn-out peck on the lips like I’ve done before, but a tongue-in-my-mouth, hot-breath-against-mine sort of kiss, and it was with Nick. I’m not sure if I’m bubbling with glee or if my stomach is upset and I’m going to throw up.
“I’m—uh.” I rush to say words that don’t form in my brain. “I’ll be right back.”
He nods, but his eyes are hazy and round, and he’s breathing heavily. I can tell Nick wants to say something, that he’s confused. So am I, but the last thing I want to do is throw up on him.
Refraining from smashing my head against the wall, I exit the room. Nick’s going to think I’m crying again or running away. Or maybe he just thinks I’m pathetic, which I am.
Thankfully, the bathroom door is open, but Hilman stops me just as I’m about to go inside, his cocky-ass grin spread from ear to ear. “Haven’t seen you in a while, Beth.”
“There’s a reason, Steve,” I say with more bite than I mean to.
He smirks and lifts an eyebrow. “Whatever you say, but you know where to find me when you change your mind.”
I wave him away, too impatient to deal with him right now.
Once I get into the bathroom, I shut the door behind me and stare at my pathetic expression in the mirror. I’m a wreck. I lean in and fix the pink smudge of my lip gloss and imagine Nick’s mouth on mine again.He kissed me back.The realization is huge. Kissing him was a euphoric high and felt right, like it was a long time coming. He’s the only boy I’ve ever cared much about and, somehow, he’s sitting out there, waiting for me. It’s just a kiss, but I feel alive for the first time. I chock my nausea up to nerves, which seem to fade the more excited I get.
Giddy, I turn on my heels. I fling open the door and head back down the hallway, ready to laugh off my near-meltdown, when I hear Slinsky’s boisterous laugh. I pause outside the doorway.
“—you’re the mac! First Brenda and Rachel, now the hot freshman?” With each name my heart sinks a little. I don’t want to be a name on a list of other girls.
“And those are only the girls I know about,” Slinsky continues. “My man gets around.”
My chest tightens. Am I going to be a locker room conquest story?
“I want all the gory details.” Slinsky’s voice spins round and round in my head. “Come on, you can tell The Rodster all about it.”
“Yeah, sure, later,” Nick says and the backs of my eyes begin to burn. Nick’s voice replays through my mind.“Is it my eyes? I’ve been told they can see into a girl’s soul.”Mortification turns into white-hot anger and I let it consume me. I’m an idiot. I’ve been so busy fawning over Nick, I didn’t stop to think about what was really happening. This wasn’t the sort of epic I’d had in mind.
