10 Years (Time for Love 5)

Present Day (20 years old)

“Soooo,” I said excitedly to Aliyah as I applied my eye shadow in the mirror in my room. She was sitting cross-legged on my bed as she coated her nails with a pretty coral nail polish. “I was here to witness the first kiss, and prelude to ‘sundae night,’ but how did it happen? One minute you’re telling him no when he asks you out, and the next you’re humping him in mid-air.”

Aliyah’s eyes met mine in the mirror as she laughed and shook her head my description of events.

“Liam texted me after Craig got home from your road trip and said that you and Craig had finally worked through your BS and were having dinner at his place. I responded that I was happy for you both. There was silence for a few minutes, then he called me, and asked me out. He said, ‘This may be the only chance we’ll get to give this thing between us a shot,’ and I knew he was right, so I told him to come over. The rest just sort of happened organically. We didn’t plan to start going at it as soon as I opened the door…”

I turned and leaned against the counter as I smiled back at her. I felt full of joy and delight, for myself, and for my friend.

“Well, I’m not sure how the experience was for you, but from my POV, that was one HOT encounter,” I told her with a giggle, then ducked when she snatched up one of my throw pillows, and literally threw it at me.

“I still can’t believe it,” she replied, her face going soft and a dreamy expression passing over it. “The chemistry between us was off the charts. Maybe it was the years of flirting back and forth … the anticipation … then I opened that door and our eyes met, and it was just like … BAM!”

My heart fluttered at the thought. That’s how it felt with Craig.

“I’m so happy for you guys,” I gushed. I’d said it before, and I’m sure I’d say it again. I really was happy for them.

“I don’t want to put pressure on it or anything,” she said with a wave of her hand. “I told him we should take it day by day and see what happens.”

“That sounds like the smart thing to do,” I replied, reaching for my mascara.

“I’m happy for you and Craig, too,” Aliyah said softly. “Since the day I met the two of you, I knew that you were meant to be together. I know you were just friends for the longest time, but I could tell that you both loved each other, and I hoped that one day you’d be able to work through the issues and finally be together.”

I kept the smile on my face, even as my stomach dipped low.

There were some things I couldn’t talk about. Not with Aliyah, and not with Craig. I’d tried over the years, but couldn’t find my voice, so I gave up. I figured it was better if some things just stayed buried. What was the point of rehashing the past?

I just hoped that Craig would see it the way I did. He’d asked me a few times to talk about what happened with Brad and Dave, but I always brushed it off and said I’d talk about it later. But the truth was, I didn’t want to. If I never had to think, or talk, about it again, that would be fine with me.

“You almost ready?” Aliyah asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Yup, just gotta get dressed and then I’ll be ready.”

“Okay, me too. I’m going to go change.”

We’d decided to go to dinner, then hit up a local Irish pub for a couple drinks. I put on my darkest jeans, a green, three-quarter-sleeve sweater that made my eyes pop, and my black boots. The weather was starting to turn chilly at night, but I didn’t want to wear a coat, so I figured the sweater would help keep me warm.

Aliyah and I walked out of our rooms at the same time and I took in her black leggings and oversized sweater, which hung low on one arm, leaving her shoulder bare. Her hair was a riot of black curls around her face.

“You look hot,” I said truthfully. “Liam’s gonna want to skip dinner and the pub.”

She laughed at my compliment and replied, “So do you. Craig always loves it when you wear green.”

“I know,” I said softly, then we linked arms and headed out to meet the boys.

When we got outside, Craig and Liam were walking up the street, just a few feet away from us. They looked handsome, and I felt a flutter as I took in Craig’s appearance. Dressed similar to me, in jeans and boots, Craig looked handsome in a black V-neck with his hair perfectly messy.

I gave in to my urge and rushed over to him, wrapping my arms around his middle and hugging him tightly to me.

Now that I could touch him, I planned to do so whenever the mood hit.

He smelled delicious, his cologne a blend of spice and earthiness. I took a second to burrow my face in his neck, dropping a small kiss there before pulling back and grinning up at him.

“Hi.”

“Hi, yourself,” he said back, then dropped his head to brush his lips against mine.

Best. Feeling. Ever.