Page 29

After several hours of dancing, the D.J. announces it’s the last call. A slow song spins and Brent pulls me against him. We are both sweaty from the run of faster songs we’ve just finished dancing to, but I’m so filled with happiness from such a wonderful wedding and reception, that nothing feels better than being pressed against Brent’s heated, damp clothes.

He wraps an arm around my waist and clutches my hand in his as he sways us to and fro to the rhythm of the music. He presses my fingers against his lips and rests his forehead against mine.

“I have had so much fun tonight.” His eyes are locked on my lips, and it stirs up the butterflies in my stomach. “You have the best family.”

“It’s been really fantastic, hasn’t it?” I want to look around at all the smiling faces, but my gaze is locked on Brent, and I seem to have lost the key. “I’m so happy for Ines and Lincoln. I’ve never seen my sister so happy.”

“I like your brothers, too. They’re both really cool.”

“It’s good to have them home.” I grin. “You’ll go with us to the pumpkin patch tomorrow, right? Cisco is the undisputed pumpkin cannon champion.”

“You had me at pumpkin cannon.”

We sway quietly, staring into each other’s eyes. I’m so comfortable with Brent, it’s hard to believe there was ever a time I couldn’t figure him out.

I blink up at him. “Can I ask you something?”

He lifts his head and scans my face. “This sounds serious.”

“Just something I’ve always been curious about.”

“Shoot.”

I study him for a bit before speaking. His green eyes are extra glittery in the soft lighting and shadows make his chiseled features extra sharp. I still can’t believe he doesn’t have half the girls at school drooling over him.

“When I first started coming to the bookstore, what did you think of me?”

His eyebrows arch. “That’s random. What brought that up?”

“It’s just something I’ve always wanted to know. Besides the scowl you always greeted me with, you were impossible to read. I’m curious what your major hesitation was.”

His eyes narrow with suspicion. “You really don’t know?”

I lean back. “I have no clue. You said you didn’t want to date me because of the experience thing, but that was later. Why were you always so cautious when I first showed up at the bookstore?”

Brent throws his head back and laughs. When he turns his smile on me, I let my gaze gobble it up. “Sam, I’ve always had a major crush on you. I literally thought Chris had sent you into the store to taunt me.”

I blink. “What?”

“You didn’t know?” He looks so surprised.

“That you had a crush?”

He nods.

“No! I didn’t know you even knew who I was.”

He rolls his eyes. “Come on, Sam. Everybody knows who you are.”

“Well, you didn’t act like it.” When he gives me an ironic look, I clarify. “I knew you knew who I was, of course. We’ve gone to school together our entire lives. But you never seemed to care one way or the other. How would I interpret that to mean you had a crush?”

A pained groan escapes him as he shakes his head. “To this day, I thought you originally started coming into the bookstore on a dare from Chris. He always knew how I felt. We used to try to one-up each other over whose crush was bigger.”

I stop dancing. “You cannot be serious right now.”

“Samantha Jones, I have never been more serious.” Brent starts us swaying to the music again.

“But I went in to pick up the book my mom ordered.”

Brent looks around the barn at all the decorations. “Okay, now I see that the book was valid, but I thought he put you up to it.”

I slam my eyes closed. “That makes no sense, Brent. How would he get me to pick it up for my mom? What would my mom do if I gave her a book she didn’t order?”

“I thought you were in on it.” With a shake of his head, he emits a quiet groan. “You have to know Chris to understand.”

“Well, I mean…I do know Chris. But maybe not like you do. So, you thought—like until now—that Chris sent me into the store to mess with you?”

He nods, biting his lip. “And the next couple of times. I literally thought he fed you conversation starters. I thought you picked up Global Lit on his suggestion. Every time you came in felt staged.” He wrinkles his nose and grimaces. “I’m sorry. ”

I burst into laughter. “Each time was staged.”

His eyebrows lift.

“Except the first visit. My mom really did send me down for the book. But then I realized how cute you were, and I wanted to get to know you better, so I found excuses to come in.”

With his eyes closed, he shakes his head. “And I almost blew it because I thought you were just teasing me.”

I stare at him until he finally opens his eyes. “You’ve really had a crush on me?”

A sly smile curves his lips and I’ve just discovered my second favorite smile of his. “Since second grade.”

“What?”

“That horrible kid, Tito, was teasing Ava on the playground. She was crying. I remember feeling bad for her, but I was afraid of Tito because he could fight. But you stormed over to him and pushed him around and yelled at him. I remember how shocked he was, but when he tried to hit you, you pushed him again. He stumbled backward and almost fell. I think he was afraid you could beat him if the two of you fought, because I remember when his stance changed from fight to flight, and I knew you’d won. He made some excuse about not hitting a girl and ran away.”

That’s the same situation I remembered when I saw Latisha being bullied in the park and she told me how scary I looked when I ran toward them. I study Brent, who looks a bit dazed in memory. “Huh.”

“What does that mean?” he asks.

“Something about that being the moment you started to like me feels right. Like you saw the person I really am long before I even figured it out.” I blink at him. “Thank you.”

He leans forward and kisses me gently on the lips. His lips linger, soft and warm, and I barely remember we’re surrounded by my family. The kiss is so tender, I can’t imagine asking him to stop. When he speaks, it’s against my lips. “For what?”

I pull back in order to look him in the eye. “For being patient enough to wait a decade or so until I discovered it myself.”

He sighs dramatically. “I didn’t think you’d ever catch up. Sheesh. How long do you expect a guy to wait?”

“Well, the right guy? Forever.”

Brent presses my fingers to his lips again, his searing gaze locked on mine. “Then forever it is.”

The love song winds down, but I know in my heart that our love song is just getting started.

In order to graduate, Bek must pass her math class, but a few weeks into the school year she’s already failing. A generous offer of tutoring sparks unexpected feelings in Bek. Feelings that threaten to derail her plans to move out of the house. The more she tries to deny herself her growing attraction, the worse it becomes and finally she’s faced with a choice. Love or friendship? Read MATH GEEKS DON’T DATE FLIGHTY GIRLS book 3 in the Oak Grove High series today!