Page 52 of Kissing is the Easy Part

When we wrap up for the day, it feels too soon. She collects her things, sorts her notes into a neat pile, and snaps her folder shut. “I’m hungry. Wanna grab dinner?”

“Sure.” As soon as the word is out, I regret it. Spending time with her is one thing, but this might be pushing it. It’s too easy to get pulled in again and start wanting things I shouldn’t.

“Great! I’mstarving.” Flora is all smiles. “Let’s take your car.”

We walk in silence to the parking lot. This is a step. A huge step. It’s nothing.Just casual dinner. People eat.

I hold the door open for her. “Where do you want to go?”

“I’m dying for some raw, dead fish. There’s a new Japanese place near the park.”

I start the car, eyes fixed straight ahead, but I’m hyperaware of Flora in the passenger seat. Her perfume gnaws at me, and being crammed inside my car with her feels claustrophobic. My mind goes blank.

Luckily Flora is chatty enough for both of us. “How’s Lindsey adjusting to high school?”

“Pretty good, I guess. She doesn’t tell me anything, but she’s been giddy lately.”

She nods. “That’s because she has a boyfriend.”

“Already?”It’s been two weeks since school started.

“Yeah, his name is Beckett. He’s in her English class. Lindsey’s declared that she’ll marry him the second high school ends.”

“Right.”

“She’s got it bad. It’s a recipe for disaster, if you ask me. When you pour your heart out to a guy this easily, nothing good comes out of it. As Madison would say, let the guy do some work. Make him sweat a little, or he’ll never cherish you.”

“I hope you don’t believe that.”

“In theory. But I have trouble applying it. When I like someone, I can’t shut up about it.”

Her eyes linger on my face, and something in her voice still gets to me. I need to remember why we broke up. But it’s hard to remember anything when she looks at me like that. Then the thought of her cheating on me lands hard, like a stone dropped into still water. I change the subject. “Thanks for looking out for Lindsey. She’s lucky to have you as a friend.”

“No need to thank me. I’ve always wanted a little sister to spoil, and in a way, she reminds me of myself. I was clueless when I first started high school, too, and I had my fair share of boyfriends who didn’t appreciate me.” She glances at me again as I pull up in front of the restaurant.

Once seated, I let her order for both of us. She’s meticulous about dining etiquette, acting like she grew up in Tokyo just because she can sayarigatoto the server, who greets us with “Irasshaimase!” She asks for recommendations and then orders something completely different, but still thanks the server every time she comes to the table.

She watches as I pick up my chopsticks. “They should revoke your right to eat Asian food.”

“Enlighten me, then.”

She demonstrates how to pick up a slice of marinated radish, her hands shaking. The radish wobbles, then drops back onto her plate.

“Yeah, not sure I want to learn from you.”

“Put your index fingerhere.” She reaches across the table, taking my hand to adjust my grip. Her touch is cool, but my pulse spikes.

I withdraw my hand as subtly as I can. “I can teach myself.”

“Let’s see how that works out.” She leans back. I practice, balancing the food, while Flora lounges in her chair, gloating. When she reaches for another radish slice, I move faster and snatch it right off the plate with my chopsticks before she can.

She stares at me with her eyes widened.

“You don’t have to be so arrogant, Flora. It’s not rocket science. It’s not even hard.”

She shakes her head, biting back a smile. “You have terrible table manners, Sean.”

I finish my dinner while Flora fills my cup with green tea and the space between us with her nonstop chatter. By the time we leave, it’s dark outside. We stayed too long. I enjoyed her company a little too much.