“Good. I like it here,” I smiled. His awkwardness was cute. Everything about him was appealing. He stood close to me, close enough for me to smell his aftershave. I tried to resist the urge to snuggle into his shoulder, and nuzzle at his neck.
We reached his car, and he held the door open for me while I got in, before getting in the driver's seat himself.
“Where do you live?” He asked, reversing out of the parking lot.
“Over on Fifth. The last house on the left,” I said shyly. My heart was beating so fast I half expected him to ask what the noise was. Why did I feel so nervous around him? I found myself wondering what it would be like to kiss him. I wanted to rub my face against his stubble. He pulled up outside my house, and turned the engine off, interrupting my thoughts.
“Thanks for the lift,” I said, opening the door. I reached into the back and grabbed my things.
“No, let me,” He said, jumping out of the car and running around my side.
“Seriously, I’m fine,” I grinned. Juggling my books, “See?”
“If you say so,” He grinned back, leaning against the boot of his car. He bit the edge of his lip, as though he was thinking, “Lily, will you go out with me?”
“What?” I laughed. He’d caught me by surprise, so much so I almost dropped my books. Again. Where the hell did that come from? That was not what I expected him to say, considering the way I knocked him back on the first day of class. “No.” I replied, rolling my eyes, “I don’t need a pity date just because you feel bad about breaking my foot-“
“Hey, hold up,” He leaned closer to me, his expression amused. His mouth was millimeters from my own. All I had to do was lean forward and our lips would touch…
“I broke your foot?” He laughed and shook his head, “The way I remember it, you were lost in your own little world, probably checking out my ass, and you didn’t notice or react when I stepped back. I’d say that places at least fifty percent of the blame on you,” He cocked his head and waited for my response. I blushed.
Asshole. He was right.
“Ha! So you were checking out my ass,” He exclaimed triumphantly, fisting the air. My blush deepened, which only fuelled his amusement, “Come on. You were checking me out. Then you wrongfully placed all the blame on me. You kind of have to go out with me now,” He decided, his expression turning solemn, “It’s the right thing to do, Lily.”
My heart melted into a pool of goo. How could I say no? There was no way, not when he flashed that look at me, and looked at me with those amazing eyes. How could anyone expect me to stay away from this guy?
“Your friends, I’m guessing, would have warned you away from me by now, right?” He asked. I nodded suspiciously, wondering where he was going with this, “Well, then you’d have also probably heard I’m not in the habit of asking women out?”
Okay. He had me there.
He reached forward and took my hand, “This, right here, is a big deal for me, Lily.”
I crumbled. What could I say to that? My hand, still in his, tingled all the way up my arm. If it wasn’t for the fact that it was my right arm, I’d be convinced I was having a heart attack.
“Okay,” I whispered. I didn’t want to say no. I didn’t care what anyone said. All I saw was someone I needed to get to know further.
“Okay?” He repeated, shocked. A huge grin erupted on his face, “Okay! Awesome! Saturday night? At eight?” He asked.
I nodded, “Okay, Dane. You win.”
“See you then, Lily.”
I bit my lip as he walked back to his car, sighing at the sight of his backside. I was pretty sure I was the winner here, not him.
Chapter Five
I was lying on the couch reading when I heard Kella come in. She threw her bag down on the floor and flopped into an armchair.
“What are you looking so happy about?” She muttered sullenly. I raised my eyebrows; someone was in a good mood.
“I have a date,” I announced, not letting her mood get to me. She eyed me skeptically. The only guy I’d mentioned to her since I got here was Dane.
“You better not be about to tell me it’s with-“
“Dane,” I cut her off, “I have a date with Dane, and you are going to be happy about it,” I said in my best no nonsense voice.
“Dane? As in Dane Hansen? As in the guy I warned you is bad news?” She sighed, clearly annoyed, “Whatever Lil. Just be careful.” I watched her get up and go into the kitchen.