Page 94 of Room to Breathe

“You all talked about me?”

“Yes, we all did.”

“I came by your house that night. I’d made you and Ava a cake. But then I saw you all celebrating without me and I ended up eating the cake myself. Well, me and the seagulls, and a chubby squirrel. It was pathetic.”

“You made me a cake last month?” he asked.

“The writing sucked, but it tasted good.”

He laughed. “Thank you.”

“For making you a cake that I ended up eating?”

“Yes.” His laughter quieted and his smile slid off his face. “No, really, it means a lot that you were thinking about me. I was constantly thinking about you.”

I brushed a curl off his forehead, my heart racing. “Oh! I got your note. In the calculus book. Today.”

“Today?” He leaned in to my touch.

“I didn’t see it until today. Did youbuythat book for me?”

“I did.”

“I didn’t know.”

“I thought you did. When you didn’t respond, I thought you were telling me you didn’t want to talk.”

“I did,” I assured him. “Always.”

“You going to put me out of my misery?” he asked, his eyes bright as he studied mine.

“I’m scared,” I said.

“Of what?”

“Of losing you,” I said.

His shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath. “I understand. I’m scared too.”

“But Iamin love with you,” I said.

I couldn’t read his expression—disbelief, excitement, awe? “You are?” he asked.

“Very much.”

He launched himself forward and wrapped his arms around me. I let out a yelp as I was thrown off-balance and toppled backward. I untucked from my ball, my legs flying out and my back meeting the shingles. He held me tight so it was a soft landing. We both rolled onto our sides, facing each other. He tucked my hair behind my ear. The tips of our noses were touching as we stared at each other.

“I can’t believe this is actually happening,” he said.

“What’s happening?” I responded with a smirk.

He slowly pressed his lips to mine. “That, for starters.”

“That’s a good start,” I said, touching my lips to his again.

He responded, deepening the kiss, his tongue brushing along my lips, his hand spreading onto my lower back.

“We’re missing the sunset,” I said.