Chapter 32 Asking for What I Want
-Annie-
Annie
How has it been three days since the party and I haven’t seen you?
Drew Davis
I’m right next door, all you had to do is ask me to come over
I’m great at jumping fences
Annie
Consider this my invitation
Drew Davis
Accepted
I should have thought about the fact that I’m dressed down.
My hair is thrown up in a messy bun, and I’m wearing a pair of comfy shorts and a Rams Soccer shirt.
But it’s too late now to change; Drew is headed over, and I don’t want to miss him.
Based on the fence comment, I’m guessing he is waiting in the backyard.
When I open the back door and see him lounging on the porch swing, little butterflies flutter to life.
I make my way toward him on the porch swing attempting to sit down next to him.
Drew must have other plans because he gently grabs my hips and redirects my body.
I let out a little “oh” as I go willingly and end up straddling him.
His arms wrap around my back and I’m surrounded by Drew, in the best way.
Our faces are even in this position, and he leans in and closes the space.
This is the first kiss we’ve shared that wasn’t fueled by a dare, and it’s nice to know that we both want it.
Maybe for that same reason, this kiss is softer, and we take our time letting our lips glide over each other.
It builds, and at some point, I’ve wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling myself flush against his chest. His arms, which had originally been wrapped around me, are now framing my face, helping guide the direction of my mouth against his.
I’m not sure how long the kiss goes on, but at some point, one of us pulls back.
I don’t even have the brain power to recognize which one of us it is.
I put a little space between our bodies and notice we are both breathing heavily.
I wish I’d thought to turn on the porch light, but I’d not wanted to alert my parents to the fact that I was out here.
I also hate the June bugs they attract at this time of year.
So, I could only see his face through the shadows of light that came through the window and back door.
I could stare at his face… Why hadn’t I noticed how full his lips were before, or that I liked the angle of his jawline?
I now want to kiss my way across it. “I like staring at you too, Annie.” Drew’s voice breaks the silence.
His face breaks into a smile, and even though I can’t see it clearly, I know his dimple is showing and I’m feeling confident in myself.
I unwrap my hand from his neck, and I trace his jaw, then run a finger across the space where I know his dimple is located.
“This dimple is my undoing,” I quietly confess into the night.
“Mmmm, I will have to make sure that I use it to my advantage, then,” he murmurs in response.
“Everything about you is my undoing, Annie,” he continues, giving me his confession.
We sit like this, looking at each other in the half-light and shadows.
It should be weird to be content just looking at each other, but it’s like I’m seeing him for the first time.
He isn’t just the boy next door who loves baseball, the boy who is my friend.
He’s the boy I want to kiss, the boy who I want to discover and who I want to discover me.
I don’t want to ruin this moment, but I know that I want to be clear with him about what I want.
“Ask me on a date, Drew.” My words come out quiet, on the edge of a whisper.
“I… I want this to be more than just some hookup, I want…” But before I can say anything else, Drew places one of his fingers over my lips, silencing me.
“Annie.” He takes in a deep breath, looking right into my eyes.
“Be my girlfriend? I don’t want anyone else, and I don’t need one or two or five dates to know that I want you to be exclusively mine.
” Drew's words send the butterflies racing around my stomach again. “Ok, I’ll be your girlfriend.” I punctuate my words by sealing my lips against his.