Page 33 of Be My First

Chapter Eleven

Juno

Why the fuck am I talkingabout the aqueducts? Why can’t I stop talking?

Why?

Why?

Why did I kiss her?

She’s staring at me like she’s a bit bewildered, and I don’t blame her. I’m not sure how I could have done anything else, honestly with the way she was looking at me on those steps.

“Isn’t this the street?” Juno points.

“Oh, right,” I say, changing directions.

Kissing her is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Maybe it’s because she’s forbidden? That’s a thing, right?

I know I should stay away, and that just makes her more appealing. Right? Surely that’s all this is.

“Bode.”

I turn and face her. My heart is pounding. “Did you figure out what the other flavors in your gelato was earlier?”

Thank god. Not about the kiss. I guess she doesn’t want to talk about aqueducts anymore – god, I can’t imagine why.

“Um...one might have been plain chocolate, and the other was like a vanilla with little chocolate pieces.”

“Oh yum. Did you have a favorite?” she asks.

“The hazelnut.”

“Yeah, it was delicious.” We walk in silence for a bit and then I say, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Kiss me?”

I can’t look at her. Instead I look straight ahead. “Yeah. I was just caught up in the moment – the city. I don’t know. I’m sorry.”

She doesn’t respond. I really don’t want to look at her, but I steal a glance in her direction. Her eyes are cast down and then she says softly, “I don’t regret it.”

Before I can open my mouth to respond, I hear, “Did we really beat the two of you back? What the hell have you been doing?”

I jerk my head up to see Eli and Keene a few feet ahead.

I shrug. “We just sat on the Spanish steps and enjoyed the view.”

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