only I had known how much things would change in the next few years.
Declan and I became an official couple on my fifteenth birthday. My mom and Aunt Louise held our normal joint birthday bash at the American Legion Building on Main Street. After the party, my best friend, Emma, and her boyfriend, who happened to be Declan’s best friend, Eric, took us to the diner to meet up with some other kids from school.
“Emma, what’s wrong with Declan today?” I asked.
“I don’t know, but he is acting like a total nut job!” she said.
He had been staring at me all day, as if I had something on my face. It made me so self-conscious that I kept checking myself in the mirror all night.
“Hey, Dec, what’s up with you today?” I heard Eric whisper to Declan.
“Nothin’ man, I’m just thinkin.”
I wondered what he could be thinking about that would get him so upset. I was a little worried. I thought maybe he was mad at me, but I couldn’t think of anything I had done to make him angry.
When it was time to go home, I climbed into the cab of his old black pick-up truck and hoped that he would tell me what was wrong. We started driving back toward my house when I asked, “Declan, is everything okay?”
With that question, he pulled off onto the next dirt road and slammed on his brakes. I didn’t know what to think. Was he mad at me? Had I done something to upset him?
When I looked over at him he was staring at me again, but his face looked different. His expression was soft and he reached over and ran his knuckles down my jaw. “Loralei, do you like me?”
“Of course I like you, Declan. You’re my best friend.”
His eyes looked so sad. It was like I had punched him or something. “No Loralei, do you like me? Because all I’ve been able to think about all day is kissing you.”
I could only imagine what the look on my face told him. I was shocked, but not nearly as shocked as when he started to lean toward me and then softly pressed his lips to mine.
I couldn’t close my eyes. What was happening? This would change everything forever. He pulled me closer and ran his fingers down my back and that was when it happened. I closed my eyes and let my best friend kiss me. And boy could he kiss! Where did he learn how to do that? The kiss became more intense and all of a sudden he licked my bottom lip and slid his tongue into my mouth! Oh my God Declan’s tongue was in my mouth and well, I liked it. No, I loved it. It felt amazing. When he finally pulled away my heart was racing and we were both practically panting.
“That was some kiss, Dec,” I said with a chuckle.
Then he added with his, what I just realized was sexy as hell, southern drawl, “It wasn’t quite as scary as when I kissed ya the first time, sweetheart.” He grabbed my hand and ran his thumb over my wrist.
“Lor, do you hate me now? Is this gonna mess everything up?”
“I couldn’t ever hate you, Declan. You’re my best friend. I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”
“I feel the same way, Lor. I just don’t want things to change between us. I want us to stay best friends, but I can’t quit thinking about you. Now that I’ve kissed ya, I don’t think I'll ever be able to get that thought out of my mind. You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen and it’s been killing me to watch the boys at school drool all over you. You don’t even realize how amazing you are.”
“You’re crazy! Nobody drools all over me. I’m just the Plain Jane best friend of the school's star basketball player. I don’t know what you’ve seen, but I think you might need glasses!”
Declan was beautiful. He was very athletic, with lots of muscles, shaggy black hair, and those amazing bright crystal blue eyes…they really were amazing. Nobody looked at me, and if they did it was only because there weren't that many girls in our school.
Declan pressed his forehead against mine and laughed. “I have something for you.” He handed me a little purple box with a silver bow on it. When I opened it a tear came to my eye. It was a silver charm bracelet