“I like sweetness more.”
“Me too.” This time it’s me that moves closer to him. I always want to be closer to him. Davis has always made me feel safe, been there when I needed him, but with Berkley it’s different. I want to share things with him that I’ve never shared with anyone else. I want to explore this connection we have between us.
“Why do you keep pushing me away if you want this too? I’m not going to chase you, and you will lose me.” I add in the last part wanting to make myself very clear. This feels like a make it or break it moment, and I want that out on the table now. I can’t keep doing this with him.
“You’re Davis’ girl.” It takes him a few moments to get those words out. You would think it was the most painful thing he’s ever had to say.
“I’m his friend. I’m most definitely not his girl. Not in the way you're implying anyway. At the moment I’m no one’s girl.” In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been anyone’s girl. I don't say that out loud so as to not highlight my own lameness. Truth be told, I’ve never wanted to be someone’s girl until Berkley. “I’d be your girl.” I decide to lay it all out there.
“Don’t say that shit. I can’t handle it.” He clears the last few steps between us, pulling me into his big body. I go willingly.
“You were serious when you asked if I was kissing Davis tonight?” It hits me. “You’re the only one I’ve kissed tonight, Berkley. In fact you’re the only person I’ve ever kissed period. The only one I’ve ever wanted to kiss.” He looks at me with a shocked expression. I almost want to laugh.
“Would you kiss me again?” I ask. “I guess that’s four questions, and now I’m rambling. I just don't—” He cuts me off, lifting me off my feet. My legs wrap around him as his mouth finds mine as he gives me the answer I’ve been waiting for.Chapter ElevenBerkley“I hate this,” Davis moans.
I look up from my laptop at my friend. He tosses his iPad aside and rolls over on his back. “This year should just be a skip. No classes, no obligations. If we’re going to stay inside and see no one but the same five people for three hundred and sixty-five days, we should be allowed to just eat chips and watch Netflix.”
“Are you saying you want to Netflix and chill with me, bro, because I thought you would never ask,” I joke, leaning over to pat him on the ass. I wink at Chandler, who giggles and ducks her head.
“Let me in on some of that,” shouts Syracuse. He drops the driver he was using to hit golf balls into the net my old man set up last week and runs over to jump on top of Davis.
“Get off,” Davis groans. Syracuse weighs at least two hundred pounds. It’s muscle, but dense. I shrug him off. Syracuse falls to the side, next to Davis, leaning on an elbow in that draw me like one of your French girls pose.
“How long do you think this is going to last?”
“Hell if I know,” Davis mumbles into his arms. He’s been down ever since football was canceled. Unlike me, Davis needs people. He likes being the star quarterback with all the attention that comes with it. When he walked down the halls at school, there were a million hands that would reach out and pat him on the back. I know because I followed behind him, watching it all in undisguised horror. Crowds make me anxious. That many people touching me would drive me absolutely batty, but Davis fed off of it. Now he’s only got four of us, and it’s not enough. I sneak a look at Chandler, and the worry in her eyes weighs on my shoulders.
“I’m going to check on the pizza delivery,” I announce, signaling silently for Chandler to follow me. She jumps to her feet.
“I need to go to the bathroom. Wait a sec.” She finds her shoes and joins me. We walk side by side toward the house, near enough that our hands brush as we move. I move away slightly so that I don’t give in to the temptation to join hands with her. A flash of hurt skips over her face.
“Sorry,” I say, wishing I could draw her into my arms. “But you’re too much of a temptation.”
Her mouth turns down at the corners, and I have to look away before I try to kiss her. We are only a few steps away from the house. I hurry my pace. Chandler must feel the same way because soon she’s next to me.
“Why’s your lawn so darn big?” she grumbles.