Page 24 of 21 Years of Jane

When everyone was gone, I settled in and flipped through the channels. I settled on Gone with the Wind, and after an hour slipped into a half sleep, half conscious state.

I was awoken by the tapping at my window. I opened my eyes and rolled over onto my back and smiled. It was Nolan and he was motioning for me to open the window. I held up a hand so that he would stop tapping. He nodded and I reached for my chair. I first went to my bedroom door and locked it so no one could walk in, then I rolled over to the window and unlocked it, lifting it up far enough for him to stick his hands underneath and push it the rest of the way open.

“Hi,” he said softly as he climbed in.

“Hi,” I replied.

He glanced at the TV and smiled.

“Great movie,” he remarked.

“I’ve never seen it,” I admitted.

“Shame. One day you’ll have to watch it from the beginning.”

“Maybe. So, what’s up?” I asked quietly.

“I missed you,” he said.

I looked up at him. He was still staring at the TV, and I felt that fluttering feeling again.

“I missed you too,” I responded truthfully.

He finally tore his eyes away from the movie and smiled at me. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled me close to him.

“So. How about an answer to that question?” he asked softly.

“Ask me again.”

“Will you be my girlfriend?”

“Yes,” I replied without hesitation.

He smiled and took my face into his hands. Instead of pulling me toward him, he leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against mine.

My first real kiss.

And it was perfect.

It was with someone that I genuinely liked, and it was the day before my birthday; not many other gifts would be able to compare to this.

When Nolan pulled back, I was shaking and so was he. I could feel it and it made me shy for some reason.

“Was it okay to do that?” he asked.

I nodded and he smiled.

“Can you help me get back into bed?” I asked him.

Nolan got up from the bed and cradled me in his arms—one of the places I had found to feel the safest in the world. He pushed my chair against the door and as I got comfortable in bed, he pulled his shoes and jacket off and climbed in beside me.

I turned slightly and looked at him with wide eyes.

“Don’t worry, Janey. I just want to lie here with you,” he whispered.

I nodded and turned my eyes back to Gone with the Wind, but when Nolan cuddled up against me and wrapped an arm around my waist, I almost immediately fell asleep. He emanated so much body heat that I felt like I was sleeping next to a heater. Not that I minded. I just wished I was able to keep my eyes open so that I could remember how it felt to have him this close to me.

It was a strange thought to have, and I didn’t know where it came from. Nonetheless, I fell asleep within ten minutes of having Nolan’s arm around me.