Page 25 of From Me to You

I finally grabbed the book from him. “Stop,” I mumbled.

“I didn’t realize you had it in you, sweetheart.”

“It’s romance. I love reading.”

“That is not romance, sweetheart. That is smut.”

“How do you know? You only read that one part. Couples do that all the time. It’s part of the romance.”

“I only read it because you highlighted it in pink.”

“It’s for research,” I mumbled.

“Think I might help you with that research.” He wiggled his brows.

“It’s for my writing. I need to know how to write scenes like that. Since I don’t have much experience, I gather what I can from books.”

“You write?” he asked with genuine interest.

“Yeah,” I said shyly. “I love to write. I want to become a writer one day.”

“You should help me with my songwriting then.”

“I don’t know a thing about songwriting. I mostly write stories or poems. Plus, I could never write songs like you do. You are brilliant.” I smiled at him.

“I try to be better at it,” he said, suddenly shy. “I love pouring out all my emotions into my songs. It is when I feel the most cathartic. It’s like I put it all on paper and the music just flows and then I feel like the weight has been lifted off of me.”

I loved that he was sharing more of himself with me. “I feel that way too. I have loved writing ever since I was a little girl. I find it hard to let people in.” I smiled sadly. “I didn’t have a lot of friends growing up. I know I had my grandma and Aunty M, but it still hurt that my mother left me. Sometimes I wonder what was so wrong with me that she didn’t even care to come see me once. So, I wrote about it, then I started writing about everything, and I never stopped.”

He gave me a small smile and pulled me into his arms. “You have me now,” he whispered as he held me to his chest. My heart tightened. I let him hold me while I basked in his warmth. “Go out with me tomorrow?”

I looked into his eyes as I whispered, “Yes.”

The answer was that easy.

CHAPTER 7

I’d been a nervous mess the whole day because I had a date tonight. My very first date. With Jay. With the most gorgeous boy I had ever met in my entire life. I smiled as I recalled receiving a text from him this morning, which literally made my heart explode and roll around in my bed like a fool.

Jay- Good morning, sweetheart. I will pick you up at six. I look forward to our date. And dress warm.

I assumed he was taking me somewhere outside, so I chose a pair of my soft black jeans and a thick pink sweater. I paired it with my black boots. I wore my usual makeup and sprayed on my perfume, which he seemed to love the last time I wore it.

“You look beautiful, darling,” Aunty M exclaimed as I made my way downstairs.

“I am wearing the same thing I always do, Aunty M.” I rolled my eyes at her.

“Still, you are always beautiful, honey. I can’t believe my baby niece is not a baby anymore and she is going out on her first date.”

Just in time, there was a knock on the door. I glanced at my watch. It was six o’clock. That must be Jay.

Aunty M opened the door and let him in. And I forgot to breathe for a moment.

Jay was standing on the front porch wearing a black shirt that he pulled up to his elbow to reveal his lean, muscular arms. His black jeans fit him like a glove, accentuating his long legs. He was so damn hot.

“Hello, Marie. How are you?” He greeted her with a half-hug.

“Hello, darling. I am wonderful.” Aunty M grinned at him and gestured toward me. “Evy has been waiting for you.”