Page 21 of Bless My Body

intimate touching. No hand-holding or anything like that.

Celine also doesn’t shy away from telling you to keep your hands to yourself if that’s what she’s

thinking. Honestly, I feel sorry for any guy who tries to take advantage of her because she would

knock them on their back in a millisecond.

So that’s why I think that maybe this is ok.

Maybe she thinks we could be more than just friends.

Maybe this is my chance. My heart speeds up at the thought.

I keep my hand on her thigh, my thumb rubbing up and down through all of the toasts and speeches.

I only remove it to eat when the first dish comes out.

Celine and I eat everything served to us, course after course. We are thoroughly stuffed by the time

we get to dessert, but I’m never one to back down from a challenge.

Our waiter sets down a plate with a warmed chocolate brownie and vanilla ice cream in front of

each of us.

“You going to eat that?” I ask Celine. She’s looking hesitantly at the brownie.

“Um. Yes.” She cocks her head at me. “My dessert stomach is completely empty.”

“Let’s see what you got then, Red,” I challenge her.

“Bring it on, Sanders.”

In the end, we both end up eating every last crumb on our plate while everyone else at the table

just pushes it around.

This is why I can’t stop thinking about Celine. She isn’t like all the girls I grew up around. She

really doesn’t give a shit about most things. She’s fun and exciting. She’s everything I want.

After dinner, Wes and Hazel give more details about the wedding tomorrow and remind everyone

where they’re supposed to be and when. Celine nods her head, but I know she’ll end up asking Stella

all the information anyway. She’s had one too many glasses of champagne and is just trying to keep

herself together at this point.

“Hey, you want to ride with me back to the house?” I whisper in her ear. She looks at me. Her

brown eyes are a little glossy from all the champagne.

“Yes, please.” We say our goodbyes, and then I take her hand and walk her out to my car. While

we’re walking, she interlaces our fingers together and squeezes my hand.

Color me surprised.