23. Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Three
H e loved having Brooke back at school where he could see her and show her how much he cared. How much he wanted her. He hoped she liked today’s gift.
He balanced Brooke’s box of donuts in his hands and made his way up the stairs to the third floor. He checked the corridor, grateful the hall was empty. He didn’t have to explain his presence or worry about anyone seeing him deliver his present. He’d left her several others, hoping she appreciated all the effort he put into the secret admirer routine.
He’d never had a girlfriend.
He had bungled several false starts with girls in high school when he was too shy to truly pursue them and ended up in the friend zone because he didn’t go in for the kiss, or missed some other opportunity to make it clear he wanted more. Once that happened, the girls looked for someone else who liked them and wanted to fool around.
From the outside watching others with girls, they seemed easy.
They were not. You had to read things right. And he’d gotten it wrong so many times.
Brooke was different. No one spoke to him the way she did. No one drew him in the way she did. It was all he could do to attend classes and keep up his grades when all he wanted to do was be with her.
Soon.
He stood in front of her door, wishing she discovered him standing outside. He imagined she’d throw her arms around his neck, kiss him, and say, “I’m so glad it’s you,” when she discovered the gifts came from him.
She’d be so happy. She’d know how much he loved her.
They’d finally be together.
But first, he wanted to romance her and show her how much he wanted her.
She deserved that.
He wanted to give her everything her heart desired.
He’d make her fall in love with him a little at a time, until he was all she thought about and wanted.