CHAPTER SIX

Kenzie

“WAIT, HE KISSED YOU?”

“Well—”

“And you are just telling me now?”

“Lee, you were asleep and—”

“I thought you were cutting and stapling shit in his classroom, not making out in the parking lot! You wake your sister up when that shit happens,” she cried dramatically as I sat down across from her with my morning coffee. I had just got home from dropping the boys off and had a little time before I had to get to work.

“Well, I didn’t know the rules. Now that I know, I’ll make sure to keep you in the loop,” I reassured her without rolling my eyes even though I had been tempted to wake her up and tell her everything.

After we’d finally pulled away from the most passionate kiss I had ever been a part of, he had sweetly leaned his forehead against mine, his eyes pinned on mine, and before I knew it, I was pinned against his truck, the chill in the air blocked from the way his body was mashed up against mine. The second round of making out was exquisite, and I was more than ready to sneak back into his truck and the backseat like a complete slut. Unfortunately, he pulled away with a groan.

“I want more, sweet thing. You have no fucking idea.” I was about to tell him to take it when he kissed me lightly again. “But I don’t want to start by fucking shit up.” His voice was deliciously hoarse.

“Fucking shit up?” I asked breathlessly.

“Taking exactly what I want on our first date.”

“This was our first date?”

“I kinda had to trick you into it, but yeah, this was the first of many dates.”

“Wow.”

“I don’t wanna make you feel rushed, and I don’t want you to ever feel bulldozed by me.”

“Oh my god!” Lee squealed like a crazy person as I sipped my coffee, snapping me out of the memory of the night before. “So?”

“So, what?”

“So, how was it? Oh no! Please tell me Mr. Tucker was a great kisser. I don’t think my heart could handle it. If he was lame, that means the other stuff is going to be lame, and that would just be heartbreaking. He looks like he would be able to handle his own, and a lame kisser would just be like false advert—”

“Other stuff?” I asked. I should have known better as she wagged her eyebrows up and down comically.

“Yeah! Other stuff,” she giggled, and I shook my head, my lips twitching.

“Don’t worry. No false advertising there. He was…” My voice tapered off. I could almost still feel his lips against mine, the taste of his mouth. Mint and coffee. “A really great kisser.” I sighed and knew I was swooning, but I couldn’t help it.

“A. Really. Great. Kisser?” Her eyes widened before she squealed, making me jump, and stood up from the kitchen table as she started doing a weird dance of sorts around my kitchen. “Kenzie’s gonna get some! Kenzie’s gonna get some!”

“Oh, my god! Lena, stop!”

“Uh uh! Nope! We celebrate greatness, Kens! This is too good! Or wait, that’s what you’re gonna be saying soon!” she teased, and I laughed out loud.

“You are too much.”

“You love me, though!”

“Being my sister, I don’t think I have much of a choice,” I muttered half-heartedly, and she laughed.

“Okay, okay, okay…” She sat back down. “So, what else happened? Are you guys going out again?”

“Well, I… I’m not sure. He talked about serious stuff, but…”

“But what?”

“At the end of the night, he walked me to my car, kissed my forehead, and followed me home to make sure I got home safe.”

“Wow.”

“And when I got to the front door, he waved and left.” I shrugged.

“Okay.”

“He didn’t ask for my number. He didn’t make plans,” I pointed out.

“But you said he didn’t give a shit who knew about the two of you.”

“He did, but that was before the kiss.”

“So? He followed you home to make sure you got home okay. A man doesn’t do that if he isn’t interested.”

“I don’t know.”

“Maybe he already has your number?”

“How?” I asked and watched her think.

“Oh!” Her eyes widened. “Jack’s emergency info! Maybe that’s how he has it.”

“I don’t know. That’s all turned into the front office at the beginning of the year. We’ll see. Either way, it sucks because it’s my long day and not my day to pick up the boys.”

“I got them.”

“Okay, and please don’t be weird, Lee, and say anything to him.”

“I wouldn’t.” She shook her head, munching on her toast. “I give you a hard time, but I wouldn’t interfere.”

“Thanks. I better get ready for work.”

“Anything special you want for dinner?”

“Whatever you make I’ll eat,” I said over my shoulder as I walked toward my room, my head still in the clouds over the night before and the feeling of his lips faintly alive on mine.

_________________________

I’m thinking about you. The text message read on my phone during my break, and I smiled.

Who is this? I asked even though I had an idea. I didn’t want to get my hopes up.

Your favorite teacher. I giggled at his response.

Mmm… Well, hello, Mr. Tucker.

You having a good day? he asked, and I smiled. How long had it been since a man was genuinely interested in how my day was going?

Yeah. You?

Slow.

Why is that?

Because I want to see you again. Busy tonight?

How did you get my number? I asked, taking a bite of the sandwich I had brought to work for lunch.

Your sister. So? Tonight?

I won’t be off work and home ‘til 9 p.m.

Okay. See you then. I stared at my phone.

There was no way he was coming to my house, right?