6. Adam #3
When the GPS says fifteen minutes, it feels like a punch to the gut. Maybe I could take a few wrong turns? At this late hour on a weekday, I’m not sure how much traffic I can count on, but I’ll take anything.
“So, what is your order?” I ask, pulling out of the parking lot. “You said you prefer matcha to coffee, right?”
“I’ll drink coffee if it’s the only thing around, but my drink of choice is an iced matcha with coconut milk.”
“Got a favorite place to get it from?”
Mia shifts slightly toward me and I can’t help but feel like she might be just as in this as I already am.
“There’re a few places. The one closest to work would probably be Noble Stand. There’s another place across town, Spilled Tea, that has a really good one, too.”
I huff a small laugh. “Callie loves that place. It’s just a few blocks down from our apartment building.”
“When you pick me up in the morning, will you bring me that one?”
“Of course.” Meeting her bright blue eyes for just a moment, I know this night has to come to an end, but thank fuck for tomorrow morning.
“Alright, what’s yours?” she asks as I pull my eyes back to the road. Damn safety.
“My what?”
“Oh, come on, Adam, what’s your favorite drink?”
“I don’t know, I’m not exactly picky.” I can feel Mia’s disapproval without even having to look at her. “Will makes Callie specialty teas that she brings me, they’re usually pretty good.”
“But they’re not your favorite,” Mia clips. “You wake up in the morning and you think, man, I can’t wait to get…”
She’s going to hate this. “Water mostly.”
She gasps. “Oh, Adam, no.”
I can’t help it; I glance over to see the look of horror on her face. “What’s wrong with water? It’s refresh—”
“It’s boring!” Mia cuts me off with a teasing tone. “I should’ve expected that answer, but you were just so much fun tonight. I might have to rethink this.”
I snort a laugh. “I’ll get your drink for myself tomorrow, does that help?”
She shrugs. “You’ll probably hate it.”
“But I’ll try it.” I rest my hand softly right above her knee. “I’ll take your serious slander but not boring.”
Mia’s eye floats to where my hand is and she bites at her lip. “Alright, All-star, whatever you say.”
Pulling her purse in her lap, she rifles through it. “Want to know another favorite of mine?”
I’m ready to know them all. “What is it?”
She pulls out a candy in a green wrapper. “Mint chocolates—Andes, more specifically.”
“You keep those in your purse…like an old lady?”
She looks at me like I’m the crazy one. “Obviously. Do you want one, or is that too much flavor for you?”
God, I’m so going to fall in love with her.
I’m usually one for sour candy, but with another quick glance, I can see how badly she wants me to have one of these with her. “Yeah, Mia, I’ll take one.”
Much to my dismay, we make it to her apartment complex with no delays. But thankfully, Mia didn’t put up much of a fight about me walking her into the lobby of her building.
Pausing in the empty lobby, she turns to me. “I lied earlier. This really was the best date I’ve ever been on.”
I let out a little smug hum, stepping closer. I can’t help but brush some of her hair behind her ear. “I knew it.”
She scoffs, swatting at my chest for a moment, but then she inches closer. “I have to ask, what made you so confident I would say yes?”
“I wasn’t,” I answer without hesitation. “I had no idea if you were going to change your mind, but I knew me acting like it was a toss-up would definitely mean you wouldn’t agree to it. And I wanted the date. I want to take you on more of them, Mia.”
I hold her gaze. “I like you. I’m glad I held my breath waiting for your answer. I’ll do it again.”
Her breath hitches and her eyes trace down my face, this smirk tugging at her lips. “You think whatever this is between us is something? After just one date?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Her smirk grows. “You did impress me, I suppose.” Her voice pitches down as my hands go to either side of her face. “I think you could do one more thing to solidify that feeling, though,” she whispers.
I let out a lighthearted laugh. “Don’t rush it, Mia, I’m taking our first kiss very seriously.”
“Of course you are.”
Tilting her head slightly, I peer into those blue eyes. This voice in my head tells me to kiss her already, but I can’t rush this. I want to erase any memory of kissing she’s had in the past, because I’ll tell you there’s no other girl in the world that exists now other than Mia Wright.
I want to savor every agonizing inch closer. Sliding my hand back to her neck, I can feel her heartbeat pounding just as hard as mine.
The second my lips land on hers, Mia’s arms wrap around my waist, and we melt into each other.
Mia’s tongue swipes against mine and to hell with slow now. I can taste the mint chocolate again, and there’s simply no better way to have that candy now.
Mia’s hands grip my shirt as she leans deeper into me.
I thread my hands through her hair as our mouths continue to consume each other.
I couldn’t tell you how long this kiss lasts, could be a minute…
five…doesn’t matter, because this feeling deep in my gut tells me I’ll never have another one like it.