Page 32 of Kisses

I shake my head and answer, “Um, nothing.”

A faint smile appears on her face, and she pushes her waves behind her ear.

What is going on here? I know nothing about her, yet I am completely mesmerized by her. This isn’t me.

I swallow and walk over to her. I grab the beers from her hands and set them down on the counter. Her blue eyes just stare at me. I embrace her, wrapping my arms around her. I lean in for a kiss. Our lips touch. She’s still. I pull away from her and she just stares at me.

I sigh, “Sorry, about that.”

Lyla questions, “What was that for?”

“I just felt like kissing you.”

“Okay.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

She smirks, “I didn’t say it was. You just caught me off guard.”

“Yeah, I caught myself too.”

“Let’s go hang out with our friends.”

“I think that is a good idea,” I reply.

I help her with the drinks, and we head out to the living room where Todd and Kandace are talking. That’s a good sign for sure.

***

As the night draws to an end, I look over at Lyla and she is looking quite exhausted. Todd and Kandace are in their own little world of conversation.

I stand up and head to where Lyla is sitting. Her tired blue eyes glance up at me. My hand reaches for hers. She accepts it. I lead her up the stairs to her room. Once we get up to her room and shut the door, she turns to me and starts kissing me. Her hands begin to untuck my shirt. Knowing that she is tired, I push away and say, “Not tonight.”

“Why?” she asks confused.

I reply, “Babe, you’re exhausted.”

“And?”

“Let’s just chill. We can fuck in the morning.”

She snorts, “Promise?”

I grin, “Yeah, I promise.”

“Okay. You’re right, I’m pretty tired.”

“Why is that?”

“Oh, just trying to please this professor of mine with a banging report.”

“A banging report?”

“Let me tell ya, this guy expects the absolute best out of me. I’m going to knock his socks off with the story I have.”

“Is that so? What’s it about?”

“About the asshole who killed my mother.”