| |
––––––––
I manage to keep my expression cool and zoom in on the newly placed word.
S.T.U.F.F.E.D.
I swallow. “Stuffed?”
My mind immediately goes to his dick, causing my cheeks to heat. I need to think of something else. Stat.
“Too much?” He crosses his arms over his chest and leans back with a grin.
“I don’t know,” I say, playing dumb. “You’re talking about Thanksgiving food, right?”
“Sure I was.” He locks eyes with me. “But what if I weren’t?”
The question dangles between us like a knife that could land on the handle or the sharp blade.
“You’ve got a dirty mind, Colin.” I laugh. “This is too much.”
He shrugs, but I can tell something’s off because his smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “Busted.”
“I don’t mind,” I quickly add. “I know I said it’s too much, but I can handle it.”
“Handle it as a joke or handle it for real?”
My eyes flash to him in surprise. “Real? What are you talking about?”
His face is serious now. The playfulness of before is gone. What’s happening?
“Felicity, I don’t know how to say this or where to start, but we should talk.”
Talk? That doesn’t sound promising. I don’t know if I want to hear what he has to say. My heart skips a beat, and I feel nauseous. What if he’s about to say he’s met someone? That some woman swept him off his feet?
“You’re scaring me,” I manage to say.
He pins me with his gaze. “Don’t be afraid. This is something positive. I hope.”
“Okay, spill the beans already. I need to know.”
He gets up and walks to where I’m sitting. My legs are shaky, and my hands start to tremble. He’s so close that I can smell him.
He goes down on one knee, and I scream. “What are you doing? Stop it right now and get up!”
“Oh, no, no, no, this is not... I’m not... Shit, I messed this up.”
My eyebrows knit together. “You’re not proposing?”
He bursts into laughter. “No way. I thought I’d be all dark and brooding, asking you a question while kneeling before you. I didn’t realize it would look like a proposal.”
“What question?”
He wets his lips and looks me straight in the eye. “Felicity, would you be okay with me kissing you?”
The world tilts, moving us to the edge of the all-too-familiar friend zone. Any second now, we’ll be shoved over that boundary. Damn, I want to cross that boundary so badly.
Colin seems to take my silence for shock—which it kind of is—and takes my hand in his. “I know this may seem like it comes out of the blue, but I’ve had feelings for you since we met. I never let you know because I didn’t want to jeopardize our awesome friendship, but I can’t take it anymore. The thought of not telling you how I feel and possibly losing you to someone else is too much to bear.”
I pinch myself to confirm I’m not dreaming. “Where is this all coming from? Why didn’t you say anything before?”
“I let my fear be stronger than my courage,” he says in a husky voice. “But when you told me you were going on another date with a guy who sounds like an ass, it finally kicked me into action. If you don’t feel the same way about me, I’ll respect that. But if there’s a chance you do, I need to know.”
I squeeze his hand and scoot closer. “I’m glad you finally bit the bullet. I feel the same way about you, Colin, but I never found the courage to tell you either.”
His eyes light up. “Seriously?”
I nod. “Also, I would very much like to be kissed by you.”
He grins, inching closer while he lets his thumb graze my cheek, then my lips. The hair on my arms shoots up from the intimate touch. I lick my lips in anticipation, ready to finally give in to my feelings for him. I’ve been dreaming of kissing him senseless for years, and now that time has come. I pinch myself to check I’m not dreaming. Good, I’m not.
He pulls my bottom lip down with his thumb and moves his head closer, but right before his lips land on mine, I hear a key turn in the door.
“Fuck,” I say.
Colin drops his hands and scurries back to his chair as if we’re two naughty teenagers about to get caught.
The living room door flies open. Emma and Stuart walk in, oblivious to the life-changing conversation and almost kiss that just took place.
“Hey, guys. How’s Rosie?” Emma asks, already headed for her daughter’s room before taking her coat off.
“Great. She fell asleep after her last bottle, and we haven’t heard a peep out of her since,” Colin says.
While they’re talking about the baby, I quickly slide all the Scrabble tiles off the board and put them in the bag. The last thing I need is for Stuart and Emma to find out what we’ve been up to while they were away. I’d be mortified.
Emma returns from Rosie’s bedroom while Stuart asks Colin about his car. Something about a transmission belt acting weird?
“I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going straight to bed.” Emma yawns. “We’re still on for next week, right?” she asks me.
“Yup, can’t wait for girl’s night next Friday.”
“Great. I made a reservation at seven.”
I grab my coat at a snail’s pace. I’m secretly hoping to head out the door with Colin, but Stuart seems determined to keep firing car repair questions at him.
Colin’s gaze flicks to me, but I can’t figure out what he wants me to do. I can’t exactly join their conversation, can I? I know nothing about cars and mechanics. And if I tell Stuart that I can’t leave without Colin, we’ll raise suspicion for sure.
“Emma, we’re heading to the garage to look at the car. Don’t wait up for me,” he says. “And thanks a lot for helping out tonight, Felicity. I appreciate it.”
“Sure, no problem.”
“How about a beer?” Stuart asks Colin.
“Sounds good.”
Colin mouths sorry to me before disappearing into the kitchen. Damn it. After years of pining after him, I finally get the chance to kiss him, and my brother-in-law sweeps the rug from under me.
“Well, I’m going too. See you Friday, Emma.”
My best friend closes the door behind me, and my shoulders slump. As soon as I’m outside and in my car, I text Colin.
I had a great time. Hope to continue this night soon xoxo
I wait for a reply, but when I don’t get one within five minutes, I drive home, praying that tonight wasn’t some sort of fluke and he’ll still want me tomorrow. I won’t be sure until I finally feel Colin’s lips on my body.