Part 7 (1/2)

”It wasn't like that,” he defends, but I stop him because I'm not finished.

”Where was my choice in any of this?”

”You're right, and I have no legitimate excuse except that we're guys and idiots. But you've always been my choice. You're the only one that I've wanted-don't you see that?”

I shake my head in disbelief, but no words come out.

”Laila, for so long I've wanted to tell you how I felt, but I guess I was scared.”

”Scared of what?”

”Of you.” He raises his hand at me and drops it.

”Me?”

”You're intimidating as h.e.l.l! You do realize you're pretty much the perfect girl, right?”

I shake my head and he smiles before he elaborates.

”You're smart and strong-I see everything you've put up with and you never let it get to you. You're comfortable being you. You cuss like a sailor, eat like a guy, and have the looks of a model. From the time we were kids, you were always the coolest chick I knew and I couldn't help but fall in love with you.”

This is not happening.

Wake up, Laila.

Now!

”Wait.” I put my hand up, trying to wrap my mind around all of this. ”In love?”

He steps closer to me and reaches his hand to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, and his knuckles graze my cheek.

”Yeah-in love.” He c.o.c.ks his head to the side, uncertainty lacing his face. ”I'm sorry I'm not gay, but I am in love with you, Laila Nixon. Is there any chance you'd be willing to go on a date with me and see if you might feel the same way?”

Okay, liking me is one thing, I'm working on that one, but the in love part is crazy.

”I'm sorry you're not gay too, Searle, because it would make things a lot easier.”

”Easy is boring,” he says as he steps even closer to me and reaches for my hand, ”and life is supposed to be exciting.”

”Yeah, well, I have to admit, this was a twist to the story I wasn't expecting.” I finally smile.

”You up for this?” He presses his forehead to mine and closes his eyes.

”I might be.”

”Well, let's get you home and you can think about it.”

He reaches for my hand as if it's any other day, but it's not. We walk back to his car, and when he opens the door for me there's a different meaning to the action. I glide onto the seat, and as we make the drive back to my house, the silence is deafening.

”Did you think about it yet?” he teases when he pulls into my driveway.

My pulse races and b.u.t.terflies swarm in my stomach at the question. I haven't thought of Haden like this since eighth grade when he didn't show any interest in me. Yet sitting here with him now, it's all I can think of.

”I'm working on it,” I say quietly.

We get out of the car and make our way up to the front door, but I pause before entering. When I turn to face him, he's so close that I can smell his cologne.

”You're killing me,” he whispers.

He timidly wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me close to his body. My hands snake around his neck and we stand there together-familiar, yet strangers in this way.

Nervousness courses through my veins when he drops his chin and his lips meet mine. It's a brief kiss that holds so much potential and I want him to do it again.

It's as if the wind has been sucked from my lungs when he drops his hands from my waist. Neither of us says a word as he takes a couple of steps back before turning to walk down to his car. He leans his arm on the top of his car and glances back at me, and it's clear that simple kiss had an effect on both of us.

I've dated guys before and I've been kissed, but something about that kiss leaves me feeling like I've been missing out all this time.

I ultimately wave and start to turn to my front door but pause when I see him run over to me.

”I wanna do that again,” he says breathlessly before crus.h.i.+ng his lips to mine, and I all but melt.

When we finally part, he kisses me once more, heads out to his car, and flashes the lights at me before I walk inside the house. I watch him pull out of the driveway before closing the door and rus.h.i.+ng to my room to replay everything and hopefully get some answers from the one person I know has them.

Chapter 6 ~ Finding Support.

”Hey,” I rush out as soon as Joey answers his phone.

”You okay?” he asks.

”Haden isn't gay,” I inform him, because I'm still shocked by the revelation.

”No,” he drags, ”he's not, but thanks for the confirmation.”

”Stop it, Joey. I'm serious.”

”What's wrong with you?”

”I went with Haden to his gallery opening tonight,” I reveal.

”Yeah, and?”

”Why don't you sound surprised by that?” I ask, knowing there is something he isn't telling me.

”I knew about the opening tonight,” he admits.

”But he told me not to tell anyone.”