Chapter 4
This is the best date of my life.
It only took a few minutes for me to realize that Mallory was a special girl—the kind you either wife up or compare everyone else to for the rest of your life if you’re dumb enough to let her go.
Even though I felt like an idiot last night, I’m not stupid.
Hearing Mallory tell me that her day’s wide open has me smiling like a giddy fool. She could easily say she has plans with her friend to get to. Instead, she’s choosing to stay here with me.
I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch, but if I were a betting man, I’d say that Mallory’s feeling what I am, too—at least to some level.
“It all started on a beautiful summer day twenty-four years ago, when I came into the world.”
She balls up a napkin and throws it at me.
I laugh. “I’m kidding. Okay, other things you should know about me…
I could eat chicken wings every single day and never get tired of them.
I thought superheroes like Iron Man were real until I was thirteen.
I sing in the shower, loudly and unashamedly off-key.
I cry every time I see one of those dog commercials with sad music playing in the background.
And I firmly believe that a hamburger is a sandwich. ”
“Okay, you had me going there until you called a burger a sandwich.” Mallory clicks her tongue. “That might be a deal-breaker.”
I hold a hand to my chest. “Did I say it was a firm belief? What I meant to say is that I’m completely open to changing my mind about the matter.”
For the right person. The words are on the edge of my tongue, but I don’t dare say them out loud for fear of sounding crazy since I literally just met this woman yesterday.
“I was kidding, but good to know you’re open-minded.”
“It’s one of my best qualities,” I tease before leaning back in my seat. “Enough about me. I want to know about you.”
“I’m obsessed with the color pink, which I know you already noticed, but it’s worth stating twice.
I can never drive past a McDonald’s without stopping to get a Dr. Pepper.
My favorite artist is Taylor Swift, and I met my three best friends at one of her concerts in the sixth grade.
I’ve loved ice skating since I was little, but it’s been too long since I’ve done it.
My comfort show is The Vampire Diaries. I won a local pie-eating contest when I was ten, and have never eaten a bite of pie since. ”
“Yes to Dr. Pepper, but I’m sad for all the pie you’re missing out on.”
She grimaces. “I can’t look at a slice without feeling nauseous.”
“I’ve already eaten enough pie for a lifetime.” I smirk, trying to lighten the mood. “The real question, though, is are you Team Stefan or Team Damon?”
“Team Damon,” she answers immediately. “I love a good character arc.”
“That’s the right answer.”
She raises an eyebrow. “You watch The Vampire Diaries?”
I press my lips together, realizing I just revealed my guilty-pleasure show. “I told you I like fantasy,” I say, hoping it sounds convincing.
“You said you want to star in a fantasy.”
“Okay, fine.” I reach my hand across the table and wrap it around hers. It’s tiny in comparison to mine, and the feel of her smooth skin sends a shiver up my spine. Everything about being around her feels good and natural. It feels right. “I’ve seen every episode.”
Multiple times—but she doesn’t need to know that.
I lose all sense of time as I continue to get to know Mallory. We talk about anything and everything, and I learn even more random facts about her, like that she thinks a slushie is something you eat, not drink. I even elicit a few laughs out of her that I wish I could hear over and over again.
When my stomach rumbles, I pull my phone out of my pocket to check the time, only to find the battery’s dead.
“Do you know what time it is?” I ask.
Mallory pulls her phone out of her purse. “It’s six-thirty.”
I let out a low whistle. “I can’t believe we’ve been here five and a half hours.”
Her stomach growls, and she presses a hand to it. “I didn’t think it had been that long, but apparently, my stomach does.”
“Are you down to grab dinner?”
“I’ll agree on one condition.” Her eyes glitter with amusement.
“What’s that?”
“We have to get chicken wings.”
“Easiest yes of my life.” I stand and extend my hand, helping her to her feet. “I know just the place.”
I grab our mugs and drop them off in a bin labeled dirty glassware and utensils. When I walk back to our table, I help her put on her winter coat—which is, of course, pink—before shrugging on my own. Which reminds me…
“Oh, before I forget.” I reach into my coat pocket and pull out her gloves that I laundered for her.
Her fingers brush mine as she takes them from me. I do my best to keep breathing normally.
Mallory appears unaffected as she slides the gloves into her purse. “Thank you.”
“You ready?” I indicate the window, where snow is steadily falling outside, making it look like we’re living in a snow globe.
Mallory surprises me when she intertwines her fingers with mine, making my heart pick up speed. “Let’s go, Griff.”
I’ve never liked the sound of my name on anyone’s lips more.
I open the door for her with my free hand, and we step outside. My shoulders tense from the brisk air.
Mallory stops walking, tilting her head toward the sky with closed eyes and a content smile.
Small snowflakes land in her curly hair, making her look like a snow princess.
I tuck a rogue curl under her hat so it doesn’t cover her eyes.
The backs of my fingers brush along her jawline, and her eyes dart open, meeting mine.
“You’re beautiful.” I smile.
“I think it goes without saying that I find you handsome.” She bites her bottom lip, and my heart begins to race in my chest.
“It’s nice to hear you say it.” It’s a wonder my voice remains steady when I feel anything but that.
Mallory tilts my world off-kilter. She’s beautiful, but she’s sassy in a way where I never know what will come out of her mouth next.
She keeps me on my toes. She’s everything I could ask for, and all the things I never even thought to look for in a partner.
And I know all of this just after one date.
One life-changing date.
My gaze drops to her mouth.
Kissing her is a terrible idea when I might be moving across the country if I do well in my audition tomorrow. Not to mention that we just met yesterday.
But it feels like I’ve known this girl for my whole life. There’s no ignoring the gravitational pull I feel between us.
I wrap my arm around Mallory’s waist and lean down, leaving mere centimeters between our faces. She sucks in a sharp breath, and her eyes flutter shut.
I can’t help but stare at her for a moment longer. I love the rosy tint of her cheeks from the wind, and the way the snowflakes melting in her hair make her waves even more untamed. Everything about her appearance right now shows her fiery personality, and I couldn’t be more drawn to her.
I move a hand up to gently cradle her face before running the pad of my thumb along her cheek and jawbone. A trail of goosebumps follows everywhere my finger touches, and I can’t wait any longer.
Before I can second-guess my actions, I close the remaining distance between us and press my lips to hers.
They’re soft and supple, just like I imagined.
The way they slowly move against mine sends my stomach fluttering like the snowflakes falling around us.
I thought a kiss in the snow would be cold, but my whole body is buzzing with warmth from the feelings Mallory is sparking.
If I thought she tilted my world off-kilter before, it’s off its freaking axis now, rolling full speed down Mt. Everest. I don’t think there’s anything else in the world that can compare to this feeling. Anyone else who could compare to her.