“What about the fall in love part?”
“That can happen anytime, but it’s not a rush. I’m only eighteen. I’m all about the living part.”
He laughed. “I’m twenty-one, and I feel that way, too.”
I wanted him to kiss me. The thought came to me out of nowhere, but once I felt it, I wanted it so much it hurt. He didn’t, though. He just lay there, watching the planes take off. I did the same for the next few hours and let my thoughts drift.
Eventually, we got back into the front of the truck. “I like airplane gazing.”
He smiled. “We’ll have to do it again sometime.”
Chapter Twenty-One
From: [email protected]
Subject: Hey back
Dear Just Juliet,
I knew it would.
Almost Amy.
I looked up from my history book again. It was six o’clock on a Thursday night, and Al’s was still empty. Reed looked so damn good in the red Lacoste shirt. It clung to his chest, showing off every muscle. He’d come straight from volunteering at the high school and hadn’t bothered to change.
He caught me looking. “Is there a particular reason you’re staring at me?”
“No. I’m just looking.”
“Just looking? Be careful, or I’m going to have to start charging for that privilege.”
I laughed. “It might be worth it.”
“Wait…are you actually flirting with me?”
“Who me?” I pointed at my chest.
“Yes you.” He set aside his book.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Oh, now the truth comes out.” He stretched, leaving his hands behind his head for a moment.
“Is there any chance you might want to come to my semi-formal with me?” I was asking for two reasons. First, I needed a date. Second, I wanted Reed to be my date. I was done denying the second part. “Airplane gazing” had made that impossible.
He grinned. “Wow, flirting and asking me out.”
“Come on. It doesn’t have to be a big deal.”
“I don’t know.”
My heart sank. Seriously? He didn’t want to go with me? Had I completely misread the signs?
“You can wipe that devastated look off your face. I didn’t say I wouldn’t come. I just have a condition.”
“Oh?” I asked hopefully.
“I’ll go to yours if you’ll go to mine.”
“Isn’t yours in Savannah?”
“Uh huh. This coming weekend.”
“Isn’t it too late? I thought you had to book rooms over a month ago.” I knew all about it from Cara.
“Nope. We can get double beds and share a room.”
“Oh.” The thought of a weekend in a room with Reed made my body temperature rise a few degrees—even if we’d be in separate beds.
“Do we have a deal?” He held out his hand.
I made a split second decision. “Yes.” I accepted his hand, and we shook on it.
“Nice. It’ll be great to have the company.” He winked.
“Is there anything in particular I need to bring?”
He wore an amused expression. “Other than a dress and yourself?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh. It’s only one night, so you don’t need much.”
“Gotcha.”
“So I’ll pick you up on Saturday morning then?” He stood up, probably to start some prep in the kitchen.
“Yeah, that sounds great. Wait, I’m meeting with a study group at ten. Should I cancel or—”
“We can leave later. It doesn’t really matter.”
“Cool.”
“I was waiting for that word.”
***
I checked my bag one more time before zipping it up and grabbing my purse. I was a mixture of nerves and excitement as I waited for the elevator. Cara had left with Aaron earlier in the day. He was in charge of organizing everything, so he had to be early.
Reed was leaning against his truck when I got down. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Maybe I was imagining it, but he looked a little nervous too. Considering the sexual tension that had been building between us the last few weeks, spending a night in a hotel room together could bring up some interesting possibilities.
He put my suitcase next to his in the back. “You packed light.”
“It’s just one night.”
“Yeah, but some girls would have packed double.”
“I guess I’m not ‘some girls.’”
“We can safely say you’re not.” He opened my door for me, waiting for me to get settled before closing it.
He went around to his side and climbed in. “How was your study session?”
“Thrilling.” If I hadn’t been one hundred percent certain before, I officially knew I wasn’t meant to be a science major of any sort.
“I bet. There’s nothing like Intro Biology.” He pulled out onto the road. Our weekend officially began.
“I can only hope this weekend can compare.”
“I don’t know. It’s going to be hard to compete with that.” He turned on the radio, settling on a rock song I didn’t recognize.
“Well, if anyone can compete, it’s you.”
He turned toward me. “I appreciate the vote of confidence.”
“Anytime.”
“Is that a new sweatshirt?” He gestured to my hoodie. Was it really so awkward that we were discussing clothes?
“Yeah, I decided it was time to replace the one with holes in the sleeves.”
“Makes sense, but I liked that one.”
“Me too.” It was a simple gray one with my high school’s name on it that I’d bought years ago.
“Just so you know, tonight’s the party, but we don’t have anything planned for tomorrow.”
“Coo—Great. I’d love to explore a little.” I caught myself using cool again. I’d never noticed how often I said it before Reed pointed it out.
“Savannah is a fun city. I’d be up for some sightseeing.” His hand moved toward me, but then he put it back on the wheel. I had to do something. We’d never make it through the night at this rate. I grabbed his hand.
He smiled, and squeezed my hand.
I noticed how small my hand looked in his. “You have nice hands.”
“Do I?”
“Uh huh. They’re big.”