Chapter 26
HALLE
‘Yay! Santa Monica!’ I cheered as we got off the coach. ‘This is one of the places I wanted to visit.’
‘What d’you wanna see here?’ Jake said.
‘Everything! The beach, the pier and I’d love to go on the Pacific Wheel.’ I pointed to the Ferris wheel in the distance and watched the cute red and yellow gondola-style cabins rotating.
Just last night after our group activity, which was a couples quiz night on the beach, playing games like This or That, Two Truths and a Lie and Never Have I Ever, I’d thought about asking Sammie if we’d be coming here.
The activity was fun and I’d learnt some interesting things about Jake, like the fact that he didn’t lose his virginity until he was twenty (I’d assumed that because he was in the band and had girls throwing themselves at him, it would’ve been younger).
‘Cool. Let’s make it happen.’ He pulled his cap down.
‘Are you okay with that? If you think too many people will hassle you, we don’t have to.’
‘It’s okay, don’t worry about it.’
Suddenly I felt bad. After seeing how uncomfortable he was at the observatory when that guy wanted photos and learning more about what happened to him, I didn’t want to put him in a difficult situation.
Although he was kind of ‘in disguise’, if someone was really looking, I was sure they’d still recognise him.
‘Does the whole cap and sunglasses thing actually work?’
‘Mostly. Sometimes it might make me stand out more, but it’s all I’ve got right now.’
‘If you feel uncomfortable, let me know and we can hide somewhere.’
‘Yeah?’ His eyebrows shot up in surprise. ‘Thanks, but you’ve been looking forward to this, so I’m not gonna ruin it. Let’s go.’
When we went to the Pacific Wheel, the queue was too long, so we headed to the arcade, then went for a walk on the beach.
Thankfully, by the time we came back, the queue was shorter.
‘You having a good time?’ Jake asked.
‘The best! You?’
‘Same.’ Jake moved closer, reached down then gently circled the back of my hand with his thumb.
Warmth flooded my body.
God, that felt so good.
I got the feeling that if there weren’t so many people around, he’d hold my hand properly. I was gutted because I desperately wanted him to, but I understood why he couldn’t do that in public. And it was better if he didn’t. The last thing I wanted was to be splashed across the gossip sites.
My stomach twisted. This whole situation was messy. I knew I shouldn’t like Jake, but I craved his touch. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about that almost kiss we’d had on the beach yesterday or that hug. Being so close to him was amazing and I wanted to feel that closeness again.
But we had to be sensible.
There’d be no touching or anything else in public.
It was too risky. And foolish.
‘Ready?’ Jake asked once we were in our seats. ‘I know you’re not a fan of heights – you sure you’ll be okay?’
‘They’re not my favourite, but I’ll be fine.’
As we climbed higher and everything beneath us got smaller, I tried to relax.
‘Great views,’ I said, attempting to focus on the pretty Californian coastline and not the fact that I overheard someone in another gondola excitedly shouting out the fact that we were over a hundred feet off the ground.
‘Would it be cheesy to say that I prefer the view in this carriage?’ The corner of Jake’s mouth tipped up.
‘Kind of,’ I laughed.
‘But what kind of cheese level we talkin’? Like mozzarella or full-on Stilton?’
‘Maybe something mild like Parmesan.’
‘Awesome. I love Parmesan.’ He grinned and took off his sunglasses.
‘Well, then, you’re good!’
‘If I’m being honest, I don’t care if I sound as corny as a crate of stinky blue cheese because the truth is, I’m becoming borderline obsessed with looking at you.
It’s kinda worrying, but seeing you smile is my new favourite hobby.
’ He brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face.
‘Does it make you uncomfortable? If it does, tell me.’
I swallowed hard.
He was obsessed with looking at me?
Bloody hell. I had no idea. I mean, I’d caught him looking at me a few times and obviously there was the stuff that almost happened on the beach yesterday, but I didn’t think he liked me that much.
‘No, it doesn’t make me uncomfortable.’ I removed my sunglasses too. ‘I’m flattered. And I’d feel bad to stand in the way of your new hobby, so if you’re obsessed with looking at me, maybe you shouldn’t stop…’
Our eyes locked and suddenly the Santa Monica views I’d been so interested in a few minutes ago faded into the distance. Right now, the only thing that I could think about was Jake.
His face inched closer.
‘Thanks for your understanding.’ He flashed a warm smile and champagne bubbles popped in my stomach. ‘But what if I tell you that I’ve also become obsessed with wondering how your lips taste and how it’d feel to kiss you? What would your advice be then?’
Tingles erupted between my legs. And if my vagina could talk, right now it’d be chanting do it, do it, dooo it!
I’d like to say that I ignored it and that my common sense took over, but what can I say? I must’ve left my logic back in my hotel room.
‘The only way to cure your obsession of wondering what it’d be like to kiss me would be to actually do it. That way all your questions would be answered.’
‘That sounds like excellent advice, Dr Halle.’ We both moved in closer. ‘And when would you recommend that I do that?’
‘Now? We’re up here and everyone else on this ride is probably focused on the scenery rather than us, so there’s no time like the present, right?’
Before I had a chance to say anything else, Jake closed the gap between us and gently brushed his lips against mine.
My breath hitched. I couldn’t believe we were finally kissing. He’d barely touched me and I already felt like I’d been set on fire.
Jake kissed me softly, pulled away, then looked me in the eyes as if he was checking that I was sure I wanted him to continue.
To make sure he knew it was okay, I pressed my mouth on his. He reciprocated, and although he deepened the kiss, somehow it was still soft and curious, like he was savouring the taste of me.
I parted my lips, willing him to slide his tongue inside, which he did right on cue. As his tongue flicked against mine, electricity rocketed through my veins.
For what felt like the first time in years, I wanted to take things further.
I was so wet for Jake right now.
I wanted to touch him.
I wanted him to touch me.
And this time, I didn’t mean hand-holding.
I wanted more.
Just as I was wondering if it’d be okay to slide my hand under his T-shirt, he slowly pulled away.
‘Fuck. I want to kiss you,’ he whispered. ‘So badly.’
‘But you just did?’ I panted.
‘Oh, baby, that wasn’t a real kiss,’ he chuckled. ‘When I do it for real, you’ll feel the difference. Trust me.’
Holy crap.
If he could scramble my brain and make me wet just from that and he didn’t consider that a proper kiss, God help me when he did it for real.
If my logic was with me right now, it’d say that I should consider myself lucky that we’d stopped because we both knew that this was a very bad idea.
But like I’d said, common sense was locked away in my hotel room.
I was past the point of caring.
I liked Jake. A lot.
And even though I knew it couldn’t go anywhere, the devil was dancing on my shoulder, willing me to live a little. To let down my guard and enjoy myself for a change without worrying about all of the things that could go wrong.
So instead of thinking I should slam on the brakes, the only thought racing through my mind right now was what Jake had just said.
He’d said that when he kissed me for real I’d feel the difference.
I didn’t doubt him, but now all I wanted to know was how long I’d have to wait to find out…