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K-I-S-S-I-N-G

Lizzie

JULY 31, 1999

H UGH B IGGS WAS KISSING ME AGAIN .

My heart was racing so hard, I was sure everyone around us could hear it, but I didn’t care. Because this was the best day of my life.

His lips brushed against mine once, twice, and then on the third brush, he kissed me deeper, tightening his hold on my waist.

My body felt like it was being shocked by an electric fence. Everything inside of me twitched and jolted with excitement.

And then I felt it—the tip of his tongue gently swiped against mine. It didn’t feel bad, like the other girls had complained when they kissed their dares.

This felt amazing .

Somehow, I knew what to do, like I didn’t know but did know all at once.

It was confusing and exciting and not enough all at once.

His tongue was in my mouth, gently brushing against mine in slow, drugging swipes that felt nothing like what I had witnessed earlier.

Unable to stop myself, I pulled him closer so our chests were touching and wrapped my arms around his neck as tight as I could.

Because I wanted to keep him right here forever.

I wanted to feel this for the rest of my life.

The longer we kissed, the more familiar we became with each other.

Hugh wasn’t forceful, and he didn’t shove his tongue down my throat. He wasn’t slobbery or, worse, a biter like Danny Call was when he slurped around in Bernadette’s mouth.

When we finally broke apart, his cheeks were flushed, while I knew mine were scarlet.

Scrambling back to where the girls were sitting, I resumed my perch on the grass and willed my heart to steady up, while the girls gushed and gossiped.

The boys on the other side of the invisible line were all cheering and clapping Hugh on the shoulders.

He caught my eye then, brown on blue, and I felt a rush of heat flood my body.

The way he was looking at me was different to how he looked at everyone else.

A faint smile ghosted his lips, and he blew out a shaky breath before offering me an adorable shrug.

Mirroring his smile, I shrugged back and clasped my hands together tightly.

I wanted to do that again.

Every day.

For the rest of forever.

And I think he did, too.