Chapter 1
“O. M. G!” my best friend squealed, nearly rupturing my ear drum as her elated shriek bounced around the tile in my small bathroom. “This is huge, Kelli. I’m so excited for you!”
“I know,” I replied, hardly able to speak through my smile. “I can’t believe this is finally happening. He finally asked me out.” The words felt like a dream on my tongue. My phone sat on the bathroom counter while I applied the finishing touches to my makeup. Just a little mascara, and I would be good to go.
“Wait, so when he is picking you up? When is this happening?”
I double checked the time and had to inhale deeply to keep myself from freaking out. “He should be here in about five minutes—”
“FIVE MINUTES? Are you kidding? Are you ready?! Why am I just now hearing about this??!!”
I laughed and wished my friend was here so I could throw something at her. “Stop! Don’t make me nervous.”
She sighed wistfully on the other side of the phone. “You have no reason to be nervous. I always knew he liked you.”
I bit the inside of my lip. “I always thought he did too.”
My voice trailed off as I recalled the last six months.
I was a freshman, and my first day on campus I had the joy of bumping into—literally, bumped into—Trenton Blackpool, notorious bad-boy, semi-loner, and sexy senior. I was smitten the moment my blue eyes clashed with his forest-green ones. Maybe it was the way he held me and kept me from falling. Maybe it was the smirk he flashed as he steadied me before walking away, a smirk that seemed as sweet and sincere as it did dangerous and wild. Everyone warned me to stay away from him, but he and I somehow kept crossing paths, bumping into each other figuratively and literally. Somehow, a friendship grew. He would flirt--my god, did he know how to flirt--but he never crossed the line. Our chemistry was blistering, yet he kept a fierce wall against pursuing anything romantic.
Until yesterday.
When he confessed that he had feelings for me.
Deep feelings.
Savannah, my best friend, interrupted my thoughts as I finished my makeup. “How did he ask you out? I want to know everything.”
I stepped into my bedroom to finish getting dressed. I still had to pinch myself to remember this was real. “Well, he said he’s very close with his family. Kinda, weirdly close, if you ask me. And he refuses to date without his family’s approval. He wanted to be sure of his feelings for me before he brought me home to meet them—”
“Wait, is he taking you to meet his family? On a first date?”
A heat of nerves tore through me. I immediately stripped off my sweater and grabbed a loose tank top instead. We were in the heart of winter, but my anxiety felt like a furnace burning inside of me. I didn’t want to get trapped burning up in my shirt. The last thing I needed was to be a stinky, sweaty mess in front of Trent and his family. Before I could forget, I snatched my deodorant and threw it into my purse.
“Yeah, our first date will be shared with his family,” I answered on a large exhale. “He’s told them about me, and he’s told me about them. It sounds like they already approve.”
“Of course they would! Who wouldn’t approve you?”
I rolled my eyes but smiled. “You’re my best friend. You have to say that.”
“Ma’am, if I didn’t believe that . . . I would not be your best friend. It’s the truth. I’m glad he’s finally sure. So will y’all be going to dinner with his parents?”
I heard a loud truck rumbling into the parking spot below my bedroom window. I peeked outside in time to see Trent exit the truck and head to my front door. He looked up at me, flashing his signature smirk. I waved and rushed to finish putting my look together. Cowboy boots. Check. Hair clip. Check. Keys. Ch—
“Hellloooo? Kelli? Did the call drop?”
“Oh!” I grabbed my phone. 12%. Shoot, I had forgotten to charge it. “He’s here. I have to go. I’ll tell you all the details later! Luv ya, byeeeeee!”
Savannah stuttered her protest but finally wished my luck just as I ended the call. Not a moment later, Trenton knocked at my front door. I double checked my list to make sure I had everything one final time. I was beyond ready. I had been dreaming of being with him since that first touch when our bodies collided together. Six months of flirting and waiting had been torture.
I opened the door and closed my eyes in appreciation as his sandlewood scent enveloped me. I had yet to figure out if it was his shampoo, his deodorant, or a cologne. The sexy smell was amazing, whatever it was. I opened my eyes as he stepped closer, and I gave him a warm smile. Normally he hugged me, and there was no better feeling than being wrapped in his arms against his body. He surprised me by instead cupping my jaw in his hand and tilting my head back. His head dipped down, and he pressed his lips against mine. I gasped instinctively, my hands reaching out for his shirt as I leaned in.
Our first kiss.
I melted.
His lips were warm and smooth, persistent yet patient. His tongue slipped out to run over my mouth and slip inside. My fingers tightened against his chest, my fingers finding his muscles under his thin, soft shirt. I moaned and pressed even closer. My hands wrapped around his back, and I took a step backward, prepared to pull him into my apartment.
Who cared about meeting his family? They could wait. I just wanted him.
I felt him smile just before he withdrew from me. His thumb continued to rub my cheek as his dark green eyes looked over my face. “I knew it would feel like this. I knew it would be this good between us, Kell. C’mon. It’s time for my family to meet you. I don’t want to waste another moment without you being mine.”
Well, how could a girl argue with that?
