“UGH, THIS SUCKS!”
Alex glanced up from his sci-fi novel, slid the sunglasses down his nose, and glared at his brother. “What’s your problem now?”
“I. Am. So. Bored.” Drew flopped back on the plastic lounge chair. “I mean, who cares about Niagara Falls? It’s just a bunch of water going over a cliff.”
Alex nudged Drew’s leg with his foot. The fact that they could see the falls right from their hotel room balcony was totally lost on him. “Dude, shut up or they’ll hear you.”
His brother glanced in the direction of their grandparents, chatting with another couple Alex couldn’t see on the other side of the pool. “They can’t hear me. They’re too old.” Drew let out another loud grunt. “We’re stuck here while Mom and Coach are having awesome tornadoes at home. Life isn’t fair.”
A pang of guilt attacked him at the mention of his mother and Dr. Harris. He noticed how easily Drew coupled Mom with their neighbor, but Alex doubted that would happen now. They’d spent all that time at the wedding together, and nothing had changed. He wasn’t looking forward to the day Drew realized it, too. “Why don’t you go back in the pool?”
“Because I’m water-logged as it is.”
“Read a book.”
“You cannot be serious.”
“Then go watch traffic. I give up!”
Drew sat forward and folded his arms in a pout. “This is so lame.”
“That’s because the only thing that’ll make you happy is to sneak up to our room and clandestinely play a video game.”
“If clandestinely is another word for awesome, then you’re right.”
“Drew? Alex?”
He stopped breathing.
No, it can’t be. He’d know that voice anywhere.
Drew’s pout turned into a wicked grin as he glanced over Alex’s shoulder. “Things are about to get interesting.”
Alex gulped in air as he jerked around and watched Jaime Marsh walk toward them. Her long hair was piled high on her head, and her eyes were hidden behind shades, but he knew who she was the second her heard her voice.
He tossed his book aside and sat up in his seat. “Jaime. Hey.”
She covered her mouth with her hands and let out a shrill screech. “O.M.G. I can’t believe you guys are here!”
“Jaime.” Drew rose from his seat and offered his hand. “Charmed as always.”
She let out another shriek as she pumped his hand. “My sister’s gonna freak when she hears we have someone our own age to hang with. She’s been sooo bored, and we’ve only been here a day!” Jaime plopped down beside Alex on the lounge. “I think the falls are beautiful. I can stare at them for hours, but all Sammie does is complain. If she had her way, she’d just sit by the pool all day and listen to her iPod.”
Drew inched closer to Jaime, his face a mask of intense interest. “Sammie has an iPod? With, perhaps, games on it?”
“Lots.” Jaime nodded toward the hotel. “She’s hiding in the lobby.”
Drew punched the air. “Yes! This day just got clandestinely.” And off he went.
Jaime laughed at Drew’s incorrect use of the word.
All Alex could do was gulp and shift away from the sweet smell of vanilla, terrified his arm would brush against Jaime’s.
She offered a shy smile. “What were you reading?”
“Me? Oh.” He picked up the discarded book and shrugged. “Just a dumb sci-fi novel.”
Jaime studied the title. “Oh, I loved this one! Wait ‘til you get to the end. Wow, you’re gonna be shocked.”
“You like science fiction?”
“Oh, sure. Star Trek, Star Wars, Stargate, you name it. But I also like Twilight and Harry Potter. And of course, Doctor Who.”
“Me, too! Harry Potter and Doctor Who, I mean. Twilight… well…”
She laughed. “Not into sparkling vampires. Got it.”
Alex smiled, but it faded as silence grew between them. Since sixth grade, he’d prayed for the courage to say more than a few words of greeting to this girl, and here he was screwing it up. They’d hung out a few times, but never alone. He wished Drew would come back. As clueless as his brother was about certain things, he always knew how to break the tension.
Jaime rose. “Well, I’d better—”
Remember what Coach said. Just be yourself, and don’t be afraid. The worst they can say is no.
“You want to go for a walk by the falls?” The words were out before Alex even knew where they came from. He held his breath as heat rose in his face, hoping he wasn’t coming on too strong.
Jaime’s cheeks turned pink as well. “I’d like that, but my parents are kinda strict.”
“Hey, it’s cool.” He waved away her explanation, but inside, he felt deflated. Yeah, the worst they can say is no, but no totally sucked.
“But it couldn’t hurt to ask. I’m going to be sixteen, after all.”
Another gulp. “Cool. Where are they?”
Jaime let out a giggle and pointed. “They’re over there, talking to your grandparents.”
She headed around the pool, Alex six steps behind, his knees far too wobbly to keep up.
Jaime stood next to her mother, a tall woman with a few streaks of gray jetting through her dark brown hair. Alex held his breath as Jaime took her by the arm, directing her away from the group.
“Mom, is it okay if we take a walk down by the falls? We promise not to be gone long.”
Her mother’s eyebrows shot up as if shocked by such a question. “I thought Sammie found them incredibly boring?”
“I meant me and Alex.”
In an instant, her mother’s expression changed from surprised to guarded. “Alex?” Then her eyes shifted over Jaime’s shoulder to him, and her features softened. “Oh, of course. Hello, dear, how are you?”
He forced his legs into motion and offered his hand. “I’m good, Mrs. Marsh, thank you. How are you?”
“Wonderful.” She cradled his hand in hers. “You’re always so polite. And your grandparents are just lovely.”
“Thank you, Ma’am.”
She released her hold and placed her hands on her hips with an exaggerated sigh of resignation, but her eyes held a teasing glint. “Well, if you were going to go for a walk with a boy, I couldn’t ask for better than Alex.”
“Really?” Jaime let out a shriek and threw her arms around her mother’s neck. “Thank you, Mom!”
She chuckled as she detangled herself from her daughter’s embrace. “You’re welcome, but you’d better be back before dinner.”
“We will.” Jaime turned to him and smiled. “Let’s go.”
All at once, Alex felt both overjoyed and like he was about to throw up as he walked with Jaime to the hotel parking lot.
“There’s probably a crazy long line for the tram.”
Alex didn’t care if they flew down to the falls, and the way he felt right now, he could fly. “I don’t mind walking.”
“Great. We can walk down and take the tram up. Sound good?”
Alex caught his breath. She was so pretty when she smiled. “Perfect.”
By the time they walked along Fallsview Boulevard to Murray Street, they’d fallen into a comfortable conversation. Jaime giggled a lot and had a habit of talking way too fast, but she was also smart and not at all bitchy about other girls like some of his classmates were.
As they strolled along the sidewalk outside the casino, the trail grew steep and the sidewalk crowded with pedestrians. When Jaime stumbled, dodging a running child, Alex instinctively took her hand and was shocked when she latched on.
They continued the rest of the way hand-in-hand. Reaching Niagara Parkway, the mist from the falls hit him in the face, cooling his hot cheeks. The smell of cool, fresh water a much appreciated break from the ozone-filled air. The ever-present rainbow over the falls glimmered in the sun.
Alex tightened his grip on Jaime’s hand. With a mad dash, they crossed the parkway and stood at the rail, facing the American Falls.
The journey had been long and exhausting, but Alex didn’t care. He was with Jaime in one of the most romantic places on earth, holding her hand and talking like they’d been best buds forever.
At that moment, life was perfect.
Thank you, Coach!
“Everyone likes the Horseshoe Falls, but I always thought the American Falls were more interesting.” Jaime glanced up at him. “What do you think?”
“I prefer the Bridal Veil Falls,” he said, referring to the small strip of water tumbling over the cliff between the two major falls.
She laughed. “You’re so funny.”
Without thinking, he brushed a stray tendril that had escaped from its clip behind her ear. “They’re all kinda beautiful.”
Jaime smiled shyly. “Most guys wouldn’t admit that.”
“Most guys are afraid to be themselves.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re not.”
And just like that, he wanted to kiss her. He’d kissed a few girls, on a dare or because the bottle pointed in his direction, but they weren’t real. This time he wanted to do it without his friends urging him on or because of the rules of some dumb game.
He stepped closer and leaned in. Jaime gasped and turned away.
Horror captured his breath. “Oh, God, I’m sorry.”
“No, no, don’t be.” She placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “It’s just that…” Alex’s dismay grew as her lower lip trembled.
“Tell me.”
She gripped the railing and focused on the rushing water. “I’ve never been kissed before, and I got scared.”
In an instant, the defeat left him, replaced by a strong urge to protect her. He eased his arm around her shoulder and hugged her to his side. “Hey, it’s alright. I understand.”
She pulled a tissue from her purse and dabbed behind her sunglasses. “I feel like such a loser. All of my girlfriends have done it, but can I help it if I’ve never met a guy I wanted to kiss?”
Well, that was a sucker punch to the gut. “No, and you shouldn’t—”
“Wait, that didn’t come out right. I have met a guy I wanted to kiss, but he never gave me the time of day.” She removed her sunglasses, and her eyes met his. “Until now.”
He sucked in his breath, his heart surging with joy. “You mean me?”
She nodded, her gaze reflecting her insecurity.
All this time he’d been so afraid to put his heart on the line with her, and she’d feared the same thing. “I’ve had a crush on you for years.”
“Really?” Her face broke into a brilliant smile.
He nodded, and this time, when he leaned in, Jaime didn’t pull away. Instead, she got up on her tip-toes and settled her lips against his.
The kiss was warm and soft, lasting only a few seconds before he pulled her into a tight hug.
At that moment, Alex wasn’t worried about his mother and Dr. Harris or his brother. He wasn’t missing his father.
For once, Alex allowed himself to be completely happy.
And he didn’t want the feeling to end.