13. Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Molly
“Does she have to be here for this?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“Want me to make her leave?” Preston whispered, so close his words sent goosebumps down my arm.
It was only a physiological response, I told myself as I shivered. Anyone breathing hot air on my neck would cause goosebumps. That meant nothing. Nothing at all.
“No, it’s okay,” I said, knowing it was probably for the best she was here, even if my nerves were on high.
Juliet knew so much more about love and dating and relationships. She had reached expert level. The engagement ring glittering on her finger was a reminder that she had unlocked the last level. Meanwhile, I had never been kissed.
Plus, she knew all my deepest, darkest secrets, so I might as well let her weigh in, too.
“Okay, go back to where this started,” she said, as if I hadn’t already told her.
“Molls and I were about to kiss,” Preston explained as my cheeks burned. “But Emmett stopped us—”
“I think a kiss should happen naturally. If it’s forced, the meaning is lost.” He said this so unapologetically, like it was obvious. Like he thought everyone deserved a great first kiss.
“Oh, how romantic,” Juliet crooned, and I shot her a dirty look.
“I want Molly to truly experience romance, not some fly-by kiss in a dingy arena hallway.”
“Right? It’s her first kiss. Make it big and memorable,” Juliet exclaimed, pumping her fist.
“I don’t want anything big or showy,” I mumbled.
Emmett and Preston’s eyes snapped to mine, and Emmett nodded.
“That’s part of it. Knowing what the other person actually wants.
” He pointed his chin at Preston. “He could pull you out on the ice and plant one on you, but would it be one of those life-changing, toe-curling kisses, or would you be mortified?”
“Mortified,” I whispered, imagining an arena of people seeing me sneeze in his face or do something worse. Messing up in a way I couldn’t even fathom.
“Exactly. That’s why my idea doesn’t involve anything like that,” Emmett said, as if that would quell my fears. Instead, my heart beat in a terrifyingly erratic rhythm.
“What’s your plan, then?” Juliet asked, leaning across the table with her fingers tented. “You got something good? Something Molly will like?”
Emmett was a fairly shy guy—or at least I thought he was—so I cringed when Juliet questioned him so boldly.
But he didn’t back off. Instead, he leaned over, meeting her halfway, tenting his gigantic hands in a mirror of hers as he grinned. “Dinner at a lovely restaurant. Good food. Even better conversation.”
“Boring. Like capital-b boring,” Preston said, faking a yawn.
I wasn’t sure what he was talking about because dinner with Emmett’s full attention on me sounded like anything but boring.
Emmett raised a brow and leaned back; his eyes locked in on Preston. “Oh yeah? You have a better idea?”
Preston stretched, his arms reaching toward the ceiling before he rolled his neck and grinned, reminding me of a mischievous cat.
“Sure. A private skate at the arena, followed by dinner at the food cart lot next door. Then a long walk by the waterfront after we get ice cream from one of the five shops on our way there.”
“That’s not romantic,” Emmett said, frowning.
“Only one way to decide,” Juliet cut in just as Preston was about to argue.
Both men pivoted, staring at me like I was the deciding factor. How in the heck was I supposed to know which would be the best date? I was the one learning how this all worked. I was the one who needed help, not the one who should give advice.
That argument was on the tip of my tongue when Juliet laughed.
“She’s not the tiebreaker. Both dates sound fun. Both of you take her out. Then at the end, she can rate how good the date was. Like if it ends in a kiss or not.”
Emmett’s frown deepened, and I gulped as acid burned the back of my throat. The romcoms my mom used to make me watch didn’t do a good job of conveying how downright terrifying and nauseating it all was behind the scenes.
“You don’t have to kiss me,” I rushed to say, worried he’d feel obligated. “It’s not that important—”
“No,” Emmett said, silencing me. He hesitated as his eyes flicked between us. “It’s not that. It’s—” Another hesitation. “I don’t think your first date should end in your first kiss.”
Juliet’s eyes sparkled as she leaned across the table again. “I like the way you think, Krause. We can stretch this out over several dates—”
“That’s asking too much,” I argued, horrified at the thought of one of them saying it first.
Preston put his hand over mine, shaking his head. “No, Molls. It’s not.”
He needed to stop touching me and saying things like that. And Juliet shouldn’t have put the idea of me having a crush on him in my head because the way my skin burned to life under his touch had me entertaining the idea she might be right.
“Alright,” Juliet said, clapping her hands. “Are we planning these dates as a group or…?”
Emmett shook his head. “I don’t need help planning the best date.”
Preston’s nostrils flared, and he squeezed my fingers. “Oh, it’s on.”
Great. My new roommates were competing over me.
There was no way this would end well.