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He eats a couple more pieces before looking back at me. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. My family and I have another text thread going, and they’re all dying to know whether we’re a couple. They’re trying to goad you into saying it.”
“Well, what did you tell them?”
“I told them I was taking things slow because you seem to want to go slow.”
He inches nearer, and my gaze drops to his lips. My own buzz with excitement.
“So I hope that emoji meant you find it hilarious that you would ever look at another guy when you’re around me.”
“You think so?” I tease.
“I do because you look like you want to kiss me right now.”
“Ahh!” The lady behind us screams. “You two are on the kiss cam! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”
I peer up, seeing Zaiah and I on the larger-than-life screen. I analyze it for a few seconds, but then a strong hand grips my chin, moving me to face him again. Then, he lays one on me. Histongue sweeps over mine. It’s not a sweet kiss like other people give when they’re on a Jumbotron bigger than some houses. This is akiss.
A kiss people write about in literature. The kind of kiss little girls dream of when they fantasize about their Prince Charming.
The crowd erupts. Zaiah lingers, pressing his lips against mine before breaking apart. Everyone around us is in a frenzy. The guy behind Zaiah slaps his shoulder. I don’t dare look back at the screen for fear they’re broadcasting my red face to the entire arena. I’m sure they are.
“I got it on video!” the woman informs us excitedly. “Let me AirDrop it to you.”
Zaiah spins, gladly arranging the video, and I slink down in my chair. “Thank you,” he tells her. “This is great.”
Turning, he thrusts his screen into my face, and I watch the shaky video the lady behind us got of the Jumbotron. Red lips kiss the screen over top of us with the heading Kiss Cam, but you clearly see Zaiah taking control. To my surprise, I’m no slouch. If I were an outsider looking in, we look like a couple in love.
My phone buzzes, and my gaze flicks to Zaiah. “You didn’t.”
“Didn’t what?” His lip twitches.
I scramble to get my phone out and peer at the screen. He did. He sent it to the group text.
“Oh my God.”
“What? They wanted proof that a beautiful, smart girl would ever fall for me. I had to show them.”
“You’re—”
“Handsome. Adorable. Perf—”
“—lying.” I swallow, trying to push down the panic rearing up and failing miserably.
He cups his hand around the back of my head. “It’s time to get out of Len Land and move into reality. Check your phone.”
I tilt my phone as it vibrates with incoming texts.
Iz: I KNEW IT!!!
Mom James: I’m so excited! Lenore, what’s your favorite meal? I’m cooking for you.
Dad James: Really happy for you two.
My stomach squeezes. A smile has somehow forced its way onto my face, and I can’t make it stop. I don’t want to run away with assumptions, though. “Zaiah, your family thinks we’re…”
He waits for me, his gaze locking onto mine, as if pleading for me to say it.
“…together?”