Page 5 (2/2)

I smile back at her Nice

I DECIDE TO take her the quick route hoain, just to spend ure she actually needs to kno to get to the grocery store in the event I can’t inviteon the next trip When we pull into her driveway I hop out and make my way around to the rear of the Jeep When she pops the hood, I pull it open and watch as she gathers her things together It surprises ain I hate the thought that once these groceries are unloaded, I’o back home I want to spend more time with her

When she meets me at the back of the Jeep, she smiles and places her hand over her heart "Why! I never would have been able to find the store without your help Thank you so much for your hospitality, kind sir"

Oh

My

God

That is the hottest damn southern impression I’ve ever heard And that s she does piercesher face and kissing the hell out of her right here and now Looking down at her, watching her laughGod, I’ve never wanted to kiss a girl so bad in my entire life

"What?" she says nervously She can obviously see the internal struggle behind nore ment and step forward Her eyes remain locked on mine as I cup her chin with asp to pass between her lips, but she ertips I bet her lips are even softer

My eyes scroll over her features, ad their beautiful simplicity She doesn’t shy away In fact, she looks a little bit hopeful, like she would welcome my lips on hers

Don’t kiss her Don’t do it You’ll screw this up, Will

I attempt to silence the voice in my head, but it ultiht Her ?

I slide my hand around to the back of her neck, then kiss her on her forehead, instead I take a step back and reluctantly dropthis close to her is suffocating, but in the best way

"You’re so cute," I say, atterab a few sacks out of the back of the Jeep and quickly head to the front door before she comes to her senses and punches me I can’t believe I just kissed her on the forehead! I’ve only known the girl for two days!

I set the bags down and head back to the Jeep just as herbut relieved over my decision not to kiss her when I realize ould have been interrupted A huht

I reach my hand out to introduce myself "You must be Layken and Kel’s mom I’m Will Cooper We live across the street"

She s at all It’s a how much Layken looks like her

"Julia Cohen," she says "You’re Caulder’s older brother?"

"Yes, Ma’am Older by twelve years"

She stares at me for a moment "So that makes youtwenty-one?"

I’m not sure, because it happens so fast, but I could swear she glances behind me and winks at Layken She returns her focus back in lad Kel and Lake were able to make friends so fast," she says

"Me, too"

Julia releasesthe sacks in the entryway

Lake She calls her Lake I rab the last two sacks out of the back of her Jeep

"Lake, huh? I like that" I hand her the sacks and shut the back "So, Lake," I say, leaning against her car I fold my arms across my chest and take a deep breath This part is always the hardest The "asking out" part

"Caulder and I are going to Detroit on Friday We’ll be gone until late Sunday, fa if you had any plans for torins at rin I wish she wouldn’t do that Her s to make me admit that I have absolutely no life here?" she says

That wasn’t a no, so I take it as a yes "Great It’s a date then I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty" I immediately turn and head back to my house before she can object I didn’t officially ask her out In fact, it was more like I just told her Butshe sure didn’t object That’s a good sign That’s a really good sign

4

the honeymoon

LAKE PULLS HERSELF up onto her elbows and rests her chin in her hands

"You’re really enjoying this," I say

She’s s "I don’t think I ever told you, but when you kissed me on the forehead that day it was the best kiss I’d ever had Up to that point, anyway," she says, falling back against her pillow

I lean in and replicate the forehead kiss, except this time I don’t stop there I plant tiny pecks all the way down to the tip of her nose, then I pull back "Mine, too," I say, looking into the eyes that I get to wake up to everycheesy, I’ve got to be the luckiest man in the world