Cairo’s here.

I had to swallow my heart back down when I first spotted him against that tree. It lurched up my throat, cutting off my air supply…making my brain short-circuit.

I’ve gone out of my way to avoid him all week.

It’s sucked to the maximum degree, but I had to make a point.

He didn’t even try talking to me on Friday, and I figured it must have worked.

But here he is.

And he’s obviously waiting for me.

I’m not sure what to do.

After a shitty game like that, I could think of nothing better than disappearing with him. We could listen to music, hang out with no bullshit.

It’s what I want.

Glancing towards the locker rooms, I watch the last of my team disappear into the building and wonder what to do.

I should follow my sisters.

Yeah, I can go down there and rehash the game, talk through all the mistakes I made and then try to put on a good show while Maddie doesn’t tell me what’s going on in her life and Chloe quietly stands by pretending that she’s still not sore over what went down with Holden.

Or I could take ten paces onto the grass.

Ten paces and I’d be standing in front of the guy who makes my heart thrum with longing.

Even if he doesn’t like me the way I like him, it’d still be a better way to spend my day than hanging out in Awkward Town.

But I shouldn’t.

Rubbing my forehead, I remind myself to do the right thing. I have to go to that locker room and be the Barlow I’m supposed to be.

I can’t just leave Cairo hanging, though.

He’s standing there waiting for me.

Maybe if I take five paces onto the grass, I can thank him for coming and then call out that I’m not free today.

With a reluctant sigh, I step towards him.

His face lights with an instant smile and he ambles forward to meet me.

Shit, if he gets too close I’ll lose all my willpower.

I should hold up my hand to stop him.

But I don’t, because all of a sudden he’s right there.

“Hey.” His voice is so soft and husky.

A warm shiver runs down my arms and I have to keep my eyes on the grass or I’ll fold completely.

“What are you doing here?”

“I just wanted to see you play.” He reaches forward, tucking a wisp of hair behind my ear.

Aw, don’t do that! It’ll be impossible to turn my back on you soon.

I grimace and hug my mitt to my chest.

Cairo lowers his hand, looking kind of bummed that I’m not giving him a dreamy smile. “I’m…sorry that you didn’t have a good game.”

“Yeah, well, they were the better team.” I shrug.

“It looked like you didn’t want to play today.”

“Don’t.” I raise my finger, a signal for him to stop. “Don’t stand there acting like you know what’s best for me.”

He winces and shakes his head. “That’s not why I came. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Then why? Why did you come?”

“Because…” He throws his arms wide, lost for an explanation.

I sigh. “I can’t hear that I should be pursuing music right now. I’ve told you my reasons why. You have to respect that.”

Man, it’s hard to get those words out. I hate saying this to him. Clenching my jaw, I look left towards the locker rooms. My sisters will no doubt be wondering where I am.

“I should go.” I breathe the words so softly Cairo probably doesn’t even hear them.

“You owe me a date,” he blurts.

“What?”

“I came here to claim my date.” He makes a circle with his hand. “My hang out time.”

“Wh… You…” I lick my lips and scramble for the right words. “I…I don’t owe you anything.”

He snickers and points in the direction of the field. “I just sat through an entire game of baseball. That’s the second time I’ve done it now…and I don’t even like baseball.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Well, then why the hell do you come to the games?”

“Because I want to see you.” His brown eyes drink me in, making me feel like I’m beautiful or something. “I miss you, okay? And I don’t think it has anything to do with guitar.”

Okay, he’s making it really hard to breathe right now.

What is he saying?

“I know this might seem weird, but I guess I didn’t realize how much I was living for those lessons until they weren’t happening anymore.”

Inching closer, he gets into my space, running his fingers around my neck and brushing my jawline with his thumb.

That feels so amazing.

I can’t move.

“It makes me realize that it wasn’t just about the music. It’s you. I like hanging out with you.”

My eyelids flutter as I work up the courage to look into his eyes.

He’s smiling at me. That brown gaze tells me he wants…me.

And not in the friendly let’s play poker or throw a ball together kind of way.

He’s looking at me like he wants to kiss me.

“Uh…” I release a shaky breath. “I’ve never really gone on a date before. Because you know…guys, um, they quickly work out that I’m just a little too tomboy. I’m not girlfriend material. Not that anyone has ever seriously wanted me to be their girlfriend or even asked me on a date. See, I’m the girl you play sports with or the one you drag along when you like another girl and you’re trying to play it casual. You know what I mean?”

He just smiles at me like I’m cute.

“I’m not the girl you kiss,” I whisper.

His straight nose crinkles, his smile spreading a little wider as he leans into my space and whispers against my skin, “I’m pretty sure you’re the girl I want to kiss.”

“I don’t know how to do that,” I quietly admit. “I’ve never–”

My words are swallowed by his lips. They land on my mouth just as his hands cup my face. Closing my eyes, I melt into the sensation of his smooth skin pressing against mine.

It feels so good.

I can’t even think straight.

My brain is slowly disconnecting, cutting out the world until all that matters is the feel of Cairo against me. His fingers are lightly resting on my ears while his thumbs brush my cheeks.

The pressure of his mouth on mine is out of this world. His lips are soft but sure, commanding yet gentle.

Skimming his fingers down my face, he then threads his hand around the back of my neck, parting his lips and gently sucking my lower lip into his mouth.

Holy crap, I’m lost forever.

A quivering breath whistles out of me as the mitt in my hands thumps to the ground between us and I grip the side of his neck.

I feel his smile move against my mouth and then his tongue sneaks across my lips. I instinctively know what to do and open my mouth to match his move.

Our tongues touch, just the briefest taste, but it’s the best thing I’ve ever felt in my life.

I’m hungry for more as I wrap my arms around his neck and he pulls me against him, closing any distance remaining between us and showing me everything I’ve been missing out on.

There’s no way I can go to the locker room now.