“So did you ever ask out Miss I’m-So-Pretty-It-Hurts-To-Look-At-Me yet?” Melissa asked me at lunch, nodding her head in the direction of Serena, who was sitting with a group of her sorority sisters on the other side of the student union.
I ducked my head to hide my smile. “Not yet. Why? Jealous?”
Melissa scowled. “Why haven’t you? Asked her out, I mean.”
“I thought you didn’t care?” I asked before taking a bite of pizza.
“I don’t. I was just wondering.” She poked at her salad. “I just like to keep Cassie in the loop. She asks about your love life and stuff.”
This time I did smile. “Ah. Cool. I can tell Cassie myself, you know.”
We continued eating, and the silence stretched out uncomfortably between us.
A few minutes later, Melissa grabbed her tray and stood up. “I have to go. But I was wondering if you’d like to come over later?”
Although I was half-tempted to toy with her and tell her I was busy, I knew I’d better say yes before she changed her mind.
“Sure,” I said with a noncommittal shrug.
“Okay. Text you later.” She walked away, and I watched her as she went.
• • •
Later that night, I showed up at Melissa’s apartment with a cherry Slurpee in hand, trying to be charming. Apparently she had the same idea, because the smell of brownies hit me in the face when she opened the front door. We both laughed.
She reached for the Slurpee and took a quick sip. “Thank you so much for this.”
I bent down to give her a hug and her lips were suddenly on mine. Shaking off the surprise, I gripped her by the ass and lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around my waist.
We’re kissing. Holy shit!
Melissa’s mouth was hot and wet and sweet, and I couldn’t get enough. For a second, I wondered if I should walk us over to the couch or to her bedroom, but had no idea what to do, so I stayed put. As I stood in her entryway, holding her tightly by the ass, my hard-on stealing all of the blood from the rest of my body, I lost myself in that kiss, and hoped she was doing the same.
The damn buzzer from the oven sounded, pulling her attention—and mouth—away from me. She smirked as I set her back on her feet.
“I just wanted to do that,” she started to explain, and I hoped like hell she wouldn’t take it back. But then she said, “It doesn’t mean anything, though, so don’t read into it.”
I rolled my eyes. Being with this girl was like being in a car wreck. Whiplash was guaranteed.
I followed her into the kitchen and watched as she pulled the brownies from the oven and switched it off. When she’d set them aside to cool, I reached for her arm and pulled her body firmly against me.
“You don’t have to overthink everything all the time,” I said as I wrapped my arms around her. “I’m fine if you just want to kiss me. I don’t expect anything from you.”
Without giving her a chance to respond, I pressed my lips against hers, and she leaned into me, the curves of her body molding against mine. She let me continue to kiss her, but I didn’t push us any further, happy with what she chose to give me. And when I left her house that night, she kissed me good-bye, not the other way around.
I convinced myself that this was progress.
• • •
After my last final, I sent Melissa a text telling her to have a good winter break. She asked if I was still at school, and when I said yes, she told me to wait.
She walked up to me and gave me a hug. “I just wanted to say ’bye.” She smiled up at me and I actually considered kissing her in public, but figured she’d flip.
“Have a good break,” I said, hating that it would be over a month before I’d see her again.
“Do you have any plans?”
I nodded. “I’m going to go to Alabama with Jack to pack up his house.”
“When?”
“After Christmas.”
“Has she signed the damn papers yet?”
“No.”
She curled her lip up in a snarl. “I hate that girl so much.”
“Join the club.”
“Okay. Well.” She looked up at me with those big blue eyes and wrapped her arms around my neck. I pulled her close as she whispered. “I guess I’ll see you later.” Her lips met my cheek, and then she let go and disappeared into a group of passing students.