Chapter 12
HENRY
“So three tasks to be done before I leave at the end of summer? Easy.” I scan Maisie’s journal in my hands. “I have one proposition for you though.”
“And that is?” She eyes me skeptically.
“I get to plan the third task.”
Her body leans into mine, looking at the page with me.
It’s the first time she’s initiated being this close.
I take in her scent, wanting to memorize all that is her.
She smells of sunflowers and honey, a scent made for her and only her.
I want to run my tongue across her collarbone to see if she tastes just the same—flowers and sweetness.
“You want to plan a date?”
“Yes,” I answer, “but I want it to be a surprise, like a real date.” I mock with a skeptical look. “It’ll just be a platonic date between two best friends, you and I,” I reassure her… and myself.
I want to bite my tongue every time the mention of us only being friends comes up. If she were to ask me right now if being friends is what I really want, I would lie. What I’d really want to tell her is that I want to explore the possibility of more.
I want to know what she likes, her biggest fears. I want to know her favorite movie, what makes her tick. I want to know everything.
I also want to throw her over my shoulder and toss her into the backseat of my truck and lick her from her ankles all the way to her ears. I would let her have her way with me, use me in any way she needed to.
I just want all of her, but if the only way I can have her is as a friend, then a friend I will be.
“Still insistent on best friends, huh?” she says, reminding me of my place.
“Well, besides Miles, you are my only friend here. I won’t come for Wren’s title, as much as I want to.”
This time she nudges me and I wonder if she feels the same shock I do every time our skin touches. “She’s got years on you but maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll make your way to the top.”
“Oh, it’s on.”
We stay at the park for another twenty minutes or so talking about the list and life, and to my unfortunate luck, it starts to rain. That comes as no surprise since Washington weather is always up in the air.
“I should probably get going so I don’t get soaking wet by the time I get home.” Maisie begins to put her stuff back in her bag and stands to gather her blanket.
“How about I take you home?”
“Oh, you really don’t have to. I don’t live that far.” She barely looks at me as she folds her blanket up and stuffs it into her bag.
“I know I don’t have to,” I look at her with what I assume are pathetic puppy dog eyes, “I want to.”
“Do you promise not to kidnap me?”
“I promise not to kidnap you. I think the whole town would have my ass served on a silver platter if I dared to even think about it.” That gets a chuckle out of her as the rain starts to hit a bit harder. “I’m parked just over there.” I point to my red truck. “On the count of three, start running.”
“Wha—”
“One, two,” I grab her hand in mine, “three. Go!”
We both take off in a dash as the rain begins to come down relentlessly. I thank my past self for parking far away so I have this time with Maisie. She makes me feel like a kid again.
I slow down my pace and she looks at me with wonder in her eyes as I stop.
“You’re crazy! It’s pouring!” she yells at me, trying to drag my hand towards the parking lot.
“Remember being a kid and running around in the rain?” I watch as the rain starts to dampen her hair and clothes. I can’t help my wandering eye as it lowers to her peaked nipples. But I’m her best friend so I quickly look away. “Let’s be kids again.”
“I’m going to turn into a prune!” She giggles as she sets her bag and blanket on the sidewalk next to us.
“We can be prunes together.” I take her hand back in mine and spin her around. It amazes me how easy it is to be around her, like I’ve known her my whole life.
I take her other hand and spin us in circles. Her laugh is intoxicating, I can’t stop smiling over the pure happiness on her face. Rain dripping down her face, her hair now soaking wet. I want this moment forever engraved into my mind.
Spinning.
Circles.
Rain.
Maisie.
I’ll take every second with her that she allows me to.
I know she was nervous about today but right now, she looks carefree and happy. If I need to spend all my waking hours dancing with her in the rain to keep her like this, then I will happily do it and die a happy man.
“Washington’s weather is so funny.” She swipes her soaked hair behind her ear. “Who knew it would be pouring down rain after being so sunny the last few days?”
Before I get a chance to reply, she slips and falls into me. I catch her to break her fall. She fits perfectly in my arms, like we’re matching puzzle pieces.
I look down, rain drops falling down the slope of her nose, her sparkling blue eyes beaming up at me. I can almost feel her heart beating against my own.
“I’m so sorry.” She tries to steady herself out of my grasp, but I hold her into my body tighter.
We stand in silence, rain pelting down on us, yet we don’t move.
My hand moves to her face as I trace my thumb across her cheek, a rain drop falling down her flushed cheeks. I want to trace every freckle on her face.
Her eyes close and so delicately, I watch her chest rise and fall at my touch. I could stand here like this for my whole life, but I know I need to get her home.
Reluctantly I ask, “What do you say I drive you home now?” She nods in agreement and I take her hand as we run to the truck, her laugh echoing through the rain the entire time.
I follow her to the passenger side door even though it’s absolutely down pouring. Only an asshole would let their girl—best friend—open their own door.
“You’re getting soaked!” she says with a trace of laughter in her voice that only makes me smile more.
“Come on,” I toss her bag inside, “let me help you.” Without another word, my hands make their way to her waist, firmly but gently hoisting her up into the passenger seat.
She sits frozen in the seat and that’s when I realize my hands are still on her. Somehow with me helping her up, my hands made their way from her soaked tank top to her bare skin just above the waistband of her shorts.
Knowing I have to let go, I selfishly let my fingers linger a second longer before I do.
Quickly, I shut her door so she doesn’t get even more wet and run to the driver’s side, hoping in.
Clicking in my seatbelt, I look over to Maisie looking down, fiddling with her fingers. I’d think something was wrong but I can’t miss the small grin on her face.
“If I had a Fuck It List, do you know what my first item would be?”
“Hmm…” She looks up to me, rain soaked hair and wet eyelashes.
“To dance in the rain with a blonde haired, blue eyed girl with freckles whose nose turns pink under the cold rain.” I watch her nose scrunch in response as I put the key in the ignition.
“Is that so?” she questions with a shy smirk.
“Very so.”
“You are something else.” She fiddles with her fingers again but her smile doesn’t leave her face.
I don’t say anything as I put my arm on the back of her headrest, putting the truck in reverse. Did I need to? No, but I will do pathetic things just to be close.
“So,” I put the car in drive and pull up to a stop sign, “contrary to popular belief not all men are stalkers and I don’t actually know where you live.”
I turn my head at the same time she leans hers back on the headrest, face turning toward mine. She licks her lips attempting to hide her small smile but just like everything else about her… I notice.
“Take a left here and when you get to the main road, take a right on Kain street,” she says. “And if you are a stalker,” she continues, “that’s not actually my house.”
Her soft laughter at her joke causes a similar reaction out of me. The rest of the short drive to Maisie’s house is filled with beaming smiles and giggles, a sound that’s music to my ears.
I have a childlike grin on my face after I drop Maisie off. If this is what it’s like to be in her presence, then I’m screwed.
The drive was too short and it would be painstakingly obvious if I took backroads to elongate the car ride so I just took in the time we had.
The subtle smile on her face the whole drive there.
The hug and shy smile I received when I walked her to her door.
The smell of sunflowers and sweet honey that still lingers in the passenger seat.
Putting the car in park, I grab my phone and see I have an unread text.
Maisie
I didn’t expect today to be one of the best days I’ve had in a while, thank you.
I feel like a preteen boy receiving a Valentine’s Day card from their crush. My cheeks start to burn. I turn on the AC in the truck to help cool me down cause I really don’t want to explain to Miles that one simple text has me acting like this.
Typing out ten different responses and immediately deleting them all, I finally press send.
Next time it rains, you know where I’ll be.