Page 34 of Love On Time

The energy between us has shifted. I can tell she’s disappointed in my answer, and I’m filled with regret.

She pulls one of the white earbuds from the case, holding it out to me. “Here,” she says softly. “Listen with me.”

We listen to a few songs in our comfortable silence. I look over at her, and she’s closed her eyes, resting her head against her knees. She has a peaceful smile as she listens to the songs I hand-picked for her.

“So, tell me,” I murmur, nudging her gently. “What did you wish for when you blew out your candles?”

She opens her eyes and lets out a soft chuckle. “I can't tell you. If I do, it won't come true.”

“I can keep a secret, I promise.”

“It’s embarrassing,” she whispers, burying her face in her hands.

My brows furrow. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about when you're with me, Cami.”

She hesitates, twisting the hem of her oversized sleeve. “Um… do you remember what Cooper said during the last week of school? About what it feels like to be kissed?”

“Yeah,” I say quietly, my heartbeat quickening against my ribs.

She goes quiet, suddenly too shy to continue the thought.

“Is that what you wished for?” I ask, my voice dropping to a low whisper.

“It's dumb, I know,” she says, looking away toward the yard.

“It’s not dumb at all.”

“You know how in movies, when a girl gets kissed, it's always described as this rush of butterflies that makes your heart skip a beat? And then you stay awake all night just thinking about it?” She offers a small, wistful smile. “That’s what I want.”

“I have no doubt you will find that,” I say, forcing a smile even though the thought of another guy kissing her makes my stomach twist in knots.

“I’m not so sure about that.” She sighs, leaning her head back against her knees. “No one really notices me like that.”

The thought of this girl feeling like she’s invisible to everyone around her is another blow to my heart. A part of me is cracking open, increasing the urge to tell her how I feel.

“I do,” I admit quietly. The words slip out before I can stop them, and suddenly it feels like my heart is trying to escape my chest. What the hell am I doing?

“You might be the only one,” she whispers.

“Cami?” I swallow hard, the air between us transitioning into something charged and electric.

She lifts her gaze from her lap, her blue eyes locking onto mine with total vulnerability.

“Can I kiss you?”

Her lips part slightly at the question. Her eyes widen as her breath becomes shallow.

“You… you would actually want to kiss me?” She stumbles over her words, completely shocked.

“Yeah, Cami. I really, really would.”

“As in right now?” She asks, pointing to where she’s sitting—a slightly panicked look on her face.

I nod gently, “Only if you want to.”

Without saying another word, she sits up straight. A rosy pink blush blooms on her cheeks as she scoots closer, closing the distance between us and giving me the silent green light.

I reach out a trembling hand, my fingers brushing against her warm skin as I gently push away a stray strand that has escaped her messy bun. I carefully slide her glasses off the bridge of her nose and slip them safely into the front pocket of her hoodie, giving myself an unobstructed view of her adorable freckles. Her chest rises and falls in nervous anticipation.