all the incredible things I’d done, but I couldn’t. The list of adventures I wanted to have was long, and while I knew for certain I’d someday cross them off, up until now I’d only made a small dent in them.
I’d thought for sure I’d have crossed off a couple more at UTK. For example, the “Have a one-night stand” should have been a no-brainer, living in the dorms as a freshman. Except, trying to achieve it hadn’t been as much fun as I’d expected. Especially when I’d never found myself turned on by any of the drunken boys who thought they were men.
This man…this one sitting with his lips so close to mine I could lean forward and taste the Guinness off of them…he was the only man who’d ever crashed my skin and bones with awareness. With a desire and longing. I’d almost thought it wasn’t in the cards. I’d started reading up on asexuality, wondering about myself, and yet also not feeling like it fit me. And now…with my blood coursing through my veins at a pace that caused me to become dizzy just sitting there, I knew the truth.
I’d do anything on my list with him. Anything.
Cole
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR’S EVE?
“Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I'd ever be the one you chose.”
Performed by Idina Menzel
Written by Frank Loesser
Her lips were so close that they could almost meet mine just by breathing. She was thinking again. I noticed she did it a lot. You could almost see the dialogue running in her head, and I wondered what it sounded like. What were the words? Was she trying to hold herself back as much as I was?
“I have fun,” she said, but it lacked much conviction. Her eyes toured to my lips and back.
“Prove it,” I responded before even thinking about it.
Her eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
“Kiss me.”
Her mouth popped open in surprise, and her sweet breath flashed over me. Maple syrup, or maybe fudge, since it was the holidays. It was tempting to close my eyes and savor it, but I didn’t. Instead, I locked them on hers until her cheeks turned pink again. Which only made me wonder how pink they would turn if I was actually touching her in all her intimate places.
The bar door banged opened, and she withdrew. I cursed whomever it was. Cursed it more when I saw it was the ego man and his blonde girlfriend. He and Phil exchanged a wave and a hello as the couple made their way to us.
“Well, that was a complete loss. I think the barn is the only choice,” Ty said, sliding into the seat next to me.
Ginny was shaking her head.
The door flew open again. The storm that had been brewing outside was making itself known. I could almost feel the bite of the wind all the way at the back of the room.
More of the gang wandered in, including Mayson and Grace, who still had their hands joined together like they’d never been apart. I was happy for them. Happy for Grace that Mayson had apologized, and she’d accepted. They belonged together. But if he hurt her again, I’d personally murder him in his sleep.
“So, what’s the big mystery?” Khiley asked.
“I’m going to take them up, okay, Phil?” Ginny hollered. The older man just waved with a creepy smile, taking in her curves all over again. Like he had since the moment she’d walked into his office. None of the men in her family seemed to notice. Maybe they just didn’t expect it when he was old enough to be her dad.
We made our way outside and back up into the grimy storage room Phil had shown us just a few minutes before.
“You’ve got to be shittin’ me,” Ty said once they’d all entered the dust bunny collector’s museum.
“It’s inside, and it’s big enough. If we decorated, it could be really quaint,” Ginny said, defending the space.
“We don’t really have a choice unless we want to let one of the parents in on the secret and have it at one of our houses,” Stephen responded.
“Edie will shoot out a second kid if we do that,” Khiley protested. “She’s worked hard to keep it a surprise.”
“I wish we could ask her,” Eliza said wistfully.
“We are not bugging her while she’s having a baby,” Stephen said resolutely.
“Look. It’s free. It’s heated. It’s ours. All we have to do is give it a little elbow grease,” Ginny insisted.
“You sound like Grandma,” Khi said with a