23. Conor #2
My heart pounds, and I realize that I haven’t felt this excited about the prospect of kissing a girl since... well, probably since Rebecca Sanderson in the seventh grade.
I’ve never wanted anyone like I want Jess. And I want Jess for real. Not just physically—I want her heart, and I want to give her mine. Settle down and have a family with her. This all seems a little crazy, even in my mind as it produces these thoughts. But, when you know, you know.
I know is that Jess is special, and I don’t ever want to let her go.
I slide my eyes away from the road and over to her. She’s sitting next to me with a pained expression on her face.
“What are you thinking?” I ask, curious.
She squeezes my hand a little tighter. “Is it a bit weird? That we’re roommates, but, you know…”
“Going home to kiss all night?” I offer, and I’m rewarded with Jess’s fierce red blush.
“Yeah, that,” she says softly.
I chuckle. “I guess we’ll have to tell Aiden before he’s back.”
Jess pauses, then nods. “Yeah… Can we wait to do that tomorrow? Call him in the morning?”
“For sure.” I smile. “Tonight, it’s just us.”
“Just us,” Jess echoes happily.
We finally— finally —pull up outside Aiden’s house, and I’m suddenly struck by how incredible the timing was. That we ended up here, together, under the same roof. Fell for each other in the middle of such a crazy set of circumstances.
I’m about to kill the engine when Jess’s phone rings, cutting through our blissful bubble.
I groan and bang my head against the headrest. “Please don’t tell me that’s Aiden, calling because he’s got some weird sibling sixth sense and he somehow heard our entire conversation.”
I glance at Jess, looking for the smile on her lips. Instead, she’s gone pale as she stares at her phone screen. “Much worse,” she whispers. “It’s Johnny.”
Johnny. I freeze, my fingers gripping the steering wheel.
He didn’t call after the open house, like she thought he might. But, here he is, calling almost a week later. I’ll bet he tried not to, but ended up cracking. Just had to keep tabs on her, didn’t he?
The last thing we need is for Jess’s ex to ruin our night. And doesn't he have a fiancée to call? Before I can think about what I’m doing, I grab her phone with lightning speed. Jess’s mouth falls open as I slide the bar on the screen to answer the call.
“Yes?”
“Uh, what? Hello, Jess?” Johnny sounds even more annoying than his friend Dick. He also sounds drunk.
“Not Jess,” I say calmly. “Can I help you with something?”
“Who is this?”
“I’m Conor. Who’s this?” Okay, I’m enjoying myself now.
Meanwhile, Jess is gaping at me, a hand on each cheek. Home Alone style.
Johnny sputters, then laughs cruelly. “The same Conor who was with her at the open house last week? Mark said her crazy art was all over the walls.”
“I sure am,” I say coolly. “And the buyers loved the art, thanks for asking.”
“Are you, like, together or something? Did Jess really leave me for a construction worker?”
“Jess left you because you’re a fool. No other reason.”
“Excuse me?!” Johnny rages into the phone, slurring slightly.
“You're excused,” I respond levelly. “And, I’m a little busy right now. So I’ll ask you one more time before I go, can I help you with something?”
“No, well, I—-”
“Okay, we’re cool then. I’d say it was nice chatting with you, Johnny, but it wasn’t.”
“Wait—”
“Oh, and Johnny?” I smile manically.
“What?” Johnny-Boy rasps.
“Please don’t call my girlfriend again.”
Before he can say anything more, I hang up the phone, adrenaline pumping through my veins. It felt so good to put that idiot in his place.
Then, I see Jess’s aghast face, and my heroic bravado crumbles into dust. “Oh, Jess, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep, I just—”
I don’t get to finish my sentence because, before I know what’s happening, Jess has thrown herself at me. Her mouth collides with mine, and I blink in shock before I react to the sensation of her kiss. Hungry and desperate.
And react, I do. All rational thought leaps out the window as I lean over and unbuckle her seatbelt.
I pull her towards me, and she climbs across the center console and onto my lap, kissing me so fiercely that my head bangs against the headrest. I hold her against me, pressing her body to mine.
Every one of my senses is in overdrive—the citrus smell of her skin, the intoxicating sound of her breaths coming hard and fast, the sweet taste of her lips…
“Thank you,” she pulls back enough to whisper. “Thank you so much.”
I touch my forehead to hers, catching my breath. “I should have thanked him. Because if he hadn’t acted like such a jerk, we wouldn’t be here right now.”
Jess throws her head back and laughs. A real, deep belly laugh that reverberates around us, filling every inch of the air with hope and happiness.
I lean forward and place a kiss on the tender area at the base of her neck, reveling in the fact that I get to taste her skin. She shudders, tilts her mouth towards mine, and once again, we’re tangled up in each other.
I fumble for the door handle, and somehow, we make it out of the truck and onto the pavement. I lean her back against the truck, tilting her head to deepen our kiss. She responds by balling her hands in my t-shirt and pulling me closer.
I’ve never loved kissing as much as I do right now. Ever.
“Come on,” I say gruffly. “Let’s get you inside.”
I slide my hands under her thighs and gently pick her up, holding her body to mine. Her legs wrap around my waist and she clings to me like a limpet, giggling all the way to the front door.
Once we get there, I let her down so I can unlock the door. But, somehow, we end up pressed against the door, kissing frantically again, like we’re a pair of teenagers.
I’m sure the weird girl next door is watching, but I don’t care. I’m just deliriously happy to be here, lost in this moment with Jess.
I finally get my house key into the lock, and we both fall through the door in a heap, laughing maniacally and clinging to one another.
Then, I blink.
Why are all the lights on?
I look up, disoriented, and my eyes land on... Aiden.
Aiden, who’s not meant to be home for another few days. Sitting in the living room with his arms folded. His face is etched with suspicion as he takes in Jess and I, red-faced, sweaty and breathless.
“Surprise,” he says, his mouth twisting in a grimace.