Chapter 18
Eighteen
Kai isn’t home for dinner. Apparently he texted his mom, saying he was taking Tabitha to a fancy restaurant. Like, seriously? I’m the one dreaming about rom-com scenarios, and Kai is the one living them. What kind of world is this?
Although Kai not being home is kind of a bonus. If he saw the puzzlement creasing my face right now, he’d know something is up.
I just can’t get Milo’s words out of my head,
Why did he say he likes me? Obviously just as a friend, but still.
I’ve known him for years, and I’d never say we’ve been friendly toward each other.
If he’d never started tutoring me, I never would’ve seen this side of him.
This soft, gentle, encouraging, and thrilling side that makes my insides do strange things.
But he chose to tutor me before this closeness happened. Surely his mother made him say yes when Aunt Maddy approached them about tutoring. He told me he wanted my help with soccer as a trade. Now he says he did it because he likes me.
Why would he possibly like me?
This makes no sense.
Ugh.
During dinner, Milo is wrapped up in conversation with his grandpa, so it’s impossible to get a read on him. That is, until the conversation at the table changes.
“I just think it’s so cute that Kai took Tabitha out tonight. He must be smitten to take her on a proper date,” Mrs. Nelson says. “Anytime I want to take the family out somewhere with a dress code, he gives a massive protest.”
Grandma chuckles. “I remember when you two were newly dating. It’s nice to hear Kai is being so adoring.”
“Pfft.” It sizzles out of Milo.
His dad looks at him pointedly. “What was that, son?”
Milo looks up, face paling with regret. “Huh? What? No, nothing.”
“Don’t give us that,” Mrs. Nelson says sternly. “Out with it.”
Milo glances at me, and I gulp in response. Usually, I hate it when Milo blurts out Kai’s whereabouts. But, right now, Kai isn’t exactly in my good books.
“Should we be concerned?” Mr. Nelson asks. “You’re giving us that look like Kai has lied.”
Milo shrugs, looking down at his plate. “I just think it’s bogus that he’d be at some restaurant.”
Mrs. Nelson leans in. “And where do you think he’d be?”
Milo fidgets in his seat, visibly uncomfortable. “I overheard him talking on the phone. He mentioned Dead Left Cliff.”
I grind my teeth. Dead Left Cliff isn’t a place for the faint-hearted. We’ve gone there a few times and dared each other to get too close to the edge. It’s a place for me and the guys. I severely doubt Tabitha would be into it.
Mrs. Nelson slaps the table top in frustration. “That boy. How many times have we told him not to hang around there at night? I knew once he started driving, he’d stress me out further.”
Mr. Nelson squeezes his wife’s shoulder placatingly.
“He might not be there,” Milo offers. “I don’t know for sure.”
“Oh, please.” His mother smirks. “How often are you wrong about what your brother gets up to?”
Milo sits back in his chair, sighing. The frown on his face seems genuinely remorseful.
Is he always like this when snitching on Kai? Does he try to resist, but his parents get it out of him because he has a bad poker face?
After dinner, Milo is uneasy with me. He doesn’t make eye contact when he asks if I could watch Gandalf so he could take a shower and finish his calculus homework.
No doubt he’s nervous that I’ll text Kai, letting him know Milo ratted him out.
Lucky for Milo, I’m beyond caring about what Kai is up to tonight.
Mrs. Nelson suggests I go back to my homework, too. I know better than to mess with her on my first night here.
Once Gandalf and I were upstairs in Milo’s bedroom, Aunt Maddy called. Geez, I had no idea how much I already miss her. She could hear it in my voice and gave me permission to blow off some steam with one of my favorite rom-coms.
Milo needed at least an hour to work on his homework, so it was probably enough time to sneak in a quick ninety-minute movie. Kai wouldn’t even be home by the time the credits roll.
I pick Aunt Maddy’s favorite movie, Never Been Kissed, and curl up under the covers with the laptop resting on my thighs.
I hug a pillow, hearing Aunt Maddy’s voice in my head reciting the lines the characters say.
A happy warmth spreads through me, and by the time the movie is halfway through, my sadness has drifted away.
“Hey, you want me to take him?” Milo asks, walking into the room.
His sudden arrival causes me to jump. My fingers fumble as I hurriedly pause the movie.
“Are you all right?” Milo asks with caution, halting before he reaches Gandalf.
“Mhmm.” I slink under the covers as embarrassment flames my cheeks.
“What’s with you? You’re acting like you’re watching something you need to be over eighteen to access.”
“Oh lord, no.” Mortifying. I lower the laptop screen and tilt it further away from Milo’s gaze. “It’s nothing like that.”
Milo grins. “Then why are you turning it away and looking so pale?”
I huff and avert my eyes. “Because it’s super embarrassing.”
Milo laughs and walks over to the bed. “Now I gotta know. What makes Jamie West so embarrassed?”
“No, don’t,” I squeak, holding the laptop screen against my body.
Milo raises his hands and backs away. “Okay. Sorry if it’s private. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
I sigh and release the laptop. “Now you’re gonna think it’s something way worse than it is.” Reluctantly, I turn the laptop to face him and hit play. “This is my dirty secret.”
His brow furrows and his palm raises. “I don’t get it.”
I deadpan him. “It’s a rom-com.”
“And?”
“I binge watch them. I fixate on the characters and live vicariously through them.”
“Is that bad?” Milo asks, totally not getting it. “Don’t most girls watch these movies?”
“But I’m not most girls,” I mutter, crossing my arms. “At least, I’m not supposed to be.”
Milo steps toward the bed and perches on the edge. “What are you saying?”
“I hang out with the guys,” I say softly. “I’m the tomboy. I’m not supposed to like girly stuff.”
“Does it matter?”
I slide the laptop onto the bed and hug my knees. “The guys are my only friends. If they find out I like this stuff, they won’t want to hang out with me anymore.”
“That’s crazy,” Milo replies. “Have they actually said that?”
“Well, no, but that’s because I’ve never brought it up.” I tap the laptop. “This stuff is just between Aunt Maddy and me.”
“It’s not the guys, is it?” Milo whispers. “You’re worried about Kai.”
I swallow roughly. “He likes the version of me he knows. And it's not just him. I like the dynamic between us. I don’t want to ruin it. Please don’t say anything to him.”
“I won’t. But you shouldn’t have to hide things you like to stay friends with someone. Isn’t he supposed to be your best friend?”
I nod, my mouth drying.
Milo blinks behind his round framed glasses. “But you told me?”
I chew on my nail. “I guess you seem less judgmental.”
Milo stares deeply into my eyes, his glasses slightly dipping down his nose. He clears his throat and sends his attention to the laptop. “So, what’s this movie, anyway?”
“It’s called Never Been Kissed. Heard of it?”
“Never.”
“It’s Aunt Maddy’s favorite. She called before and said they landed safely and were heading out to dinner. Playing this movie made it feel like she’s here with me.”
“Aw. It’s the first time you two are really apart, huh?”
My lips press together firmly as I nod at the screen.
Milo’s hand rubs my shoulder. The unexpected action causes me to tense and then relax as goosebumps form under his fingers.
“You’ll be okay,” he whispers.
I turn to him and smile. “Thanks.”
His eyes fixate on mine with more urgency than last time. I suck in a breath; the apprehension getting to me just as much as it does for Josie on screen. I wet my lips and my eyelids lower. Without a second to rethink it, Milo’s lips press onto mine.
It’s like thousands of tiny fireworks tingling against lips.
His kiss has strong pressure, mild suction, and a dose of hunger.
As his head tilts, my lips part against his lower lip.
The fullness of his bottom lip plucks into my mouth with an enjoyable sensation.
As I release it, Milo takes control of the kiss, amping up the pressure and suction.
A small moan seeps out of me as the tip of his tongue swipes my lip.
He pulls away and I rub my lips together, tasting the kiss all over again. I open my eyes as Milo fixes his glasses. The word wow wants to leap out of me, but I stop when Milo’s face grows sunken. His complexion dulls, and he scoots back on the bed.
“Ahh,” he stammers, getting off the bed. “I just came in here to get Gandalf. I’m free to look after him now.”
Still spinning from the kiss, I utter, “Okay.”
Milo steps across the room and picks up the baby carrier. “Yeah, okay,” he mumbles awkwardly. “I’ll see ya.”
He leaves the room and I sit back against the wall. A weighted breath puffs out of me. I smile as I rub my lips together. We kissed.
I look back at the laptop screen and wink at Josie. “I’ve been kissed.”
I rub the middle of my chest, unnerved by how fast Milo made his getaway. What was with that? He made the first move, didn’t he? I don’t feel like I lead him on. His lips pressed against mine first. He initiated, so why did he leave?
I rub my temples and sigh. Stop overthinking this, Jamie.
At least it answers my questions about him liking me. Well, I think it does. Beside the abrupt exit.
I sit up and close the laptop. I shake my head and can’t contain my smile.
Who cares what it means? I freaking had my first kiss!