16. ~ James ~
CHAPTER 16
~ James ~
S hortly after the streetlights came on, Char’s phone rang. The grant agency.
We naturally began walking back to the apartment, Char replying to whomever was on the other end of the line with “uh huh, uh huh.” We got all the way inside the apartment, and up the stairs before Char dropped her phone and turned to me, squealing and dancing.
“We got it! We got it!”
I stared at her, stunned. The grant? How was that even possible? There’d barely been enough time for the agency to gather everyone to read the proposal and vote.
She grabbed my arms, her eyes bright with joy. “They’ve been wanting to build something in Everstone for years, and everyone was in the office for a retirement party when our application came in! They held an emergency meeting and voted yes!”
“Unreal,” I breathed, completely dumbstruck by the sheer vibrancy of the woman in front of me. Even though it sounded awful, I was grateful for the kid’s injury that had spurred her into action. She was the kind of woman who could turn on a dime, rally the troops and change the world, making it a better place. She had the drive of someone who’d been mistreated, and was vowing to ensure nobody else ever had that experience. She was incredible. She was beautiful. She was an inspiration.
I lifted her in the air. Twirling her, her happiness flooding the room and making me smile. Her arms were around my neck as I squeezed her tight. I resisted kissing her neck as it came close to my mouth, instead opting for her mouth.
I kissed her fast and hard, then realizing what I was doing, and that I was kissing her for the first and possibly only time, I slowed and softened. I explored her mouth with my own, lost in the moment, letting her slide back to her feet so I could glide one hand into her soft hair.
“What’s going on out—oh.”
I blinked my way back to reality; the kiss broken as I took in Char’s roommate. Tamara was standing awkwardly in the living room as though debating slipping back into the kitchen.
Char biting her bottom lip, glancing at Tamara then at me again, like she was considering jumping in for another kiss. Reluctantly, I allowed myself to release her from my arms, but was unable to look away from her lips and those happy eyes.
I wanted to kiss her again, and I was pretty sure she felt the same.