“DUDE, YOU DID NOT just lose the holy water to that Fleigoon.”
“Oh, shush. Let me focus.”
Alex glanced over at his brother, who sat with his head huddled against Sammie’s, staring at something in her hand. “What are you two doing?”
Drew jerked up and spun around in his chair. They were sitting in the lounge area, waiting for a table at one of the hot-spots in town. Their grandparents had invited The Marshes to join them. “Nothing.”
Jaime leaned across Alex and glared at her sister. “Did you bring your 3DS with you?”
Sammie whispered, “I cannot confirm nor deny that.”
Jaime sat back and threw her hands in the air. “Mom told you not to!”
“I wasn’t going to take it out, but we’ve been sitting here for thirty minutes, and we’re still waiting.”
Drew shifted in his seat. “Totally! Why couldn’t they have just taken us to McDonalds?”
“Because we can get that on Long Island,” Jaime answered. “They wanted us to have a new experience.”
“I don’t need to experience some spinning restaurant perched on a pole.”
Alex shook his head. “It’s a tower, and the food here is supposed to be really good.”
“Yeah, the ‘adult’ food. Like lamb chops and broccoli rabe. I bet they don’t even have burgers and fries.”
“Give it a chance; you just might like it.”
“Here’s what I think’s going to happen.” Drew scooted forward in his chair. “I’m going to order the least gross thing on the menu, pick at it, and then have it wrapped up so I can throw it out when we get back to the hotel. All the while praying they let us get dessert.”
Alex let out a sigh. He really hoped Drew was wrong. They were heading back to Long Island tomorrow, and he didn’t want anything to spoil his last night with Jaime.
Since her parents and his grandparents hit it off so well, he and Jaime had been able to spend a lot of time together. They’d walked by the falls on several occasions, holding hands and stealing a few kisses. They had a blast at the wax museum and managed to fall back from the group at the Butterfly Observatory so they could get a few minutes alone.
He only hoped the fun continued when they got home. They hadn’t talked about it, him being too afraid to bring it up.
Thirty-five minutes after they were seated, order taken, and meal served, Alex realized his brother was right. While the adults raved about the food, Drew and Sammie stared at their plates like they’d been served five-day-old raw fish heads.
Alex didn’t care. He sat next to Jaime, taking her hand under the table and squeezing it. She was so pretty with her hair down, but pulled up at the sides. Her brown eyes looked like melted chocolate in the dimly lit room. Every so often she would glance at him and offer a shy smile.
They finished the entrées, and Alex thought Drew might cry in relief when Grandma suggested dessert.
Until he saw the menu.
As Drew’s eyes scanned down the list of items, his frown grew deeper and deeper. Alex couldn’t blame him. What kid wants something like ‘berries in season’ anyway?
In the end, they all ordered the vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce. More chatter, then coffee. Then a second cup.
Alex thought they would never leave until Drew said, “Would you fine people mind if we headed back to the hotel so we can unwind before our long trip tomorrow?”
All the adults laughed at his brother’s smooth question, and Grandpa signaled for the check.
While they were waiting for the elevator, Alex whispered in Jaime’s ear, “Would you like to take one last walk by the falls? We’ve never been down there at night.”
“I would love that.”
She tapped her mother on the shoulder, pulling her from what seemed like a never-ending conversation with his grandparents. “Would it be okay if we went to the falls one last time?”
A moment’s hesitation, then she smiled. “It’s okay with me.” She shifted her eyes to include Drew and Sammie. “And you two can play video games if you want. But you both have to check with your grandparents first.”
After getting the okay and promising to not be back too late, Alex and Jaime headed for Niagara Parkway.
The scene was beautiful at night, with spotlights illuminating the curtain of water in bright pink, yellow, and blue hues. They stood at the railing circling the Horseshoe Falls, watching the fireworks that lit up the sky every Friday and Sunday night. Alex could hardly contain his smile when Jaime stood in front of him, facing the display, and circled his arms around her waist. He rested his cheek against her head, closing his eyes and pulling in the scent of her shampoo.
This was a living dream.
All too soon, the finale signaled the end of the show, and the crowd began to thin out.
“We should probably head back to the hotel.” At the disappointment in her voice, Alex wondered if she was thinking the same thing he was.
Their time together here was ending.
Taking her hand, he walked with Jaime up the steep hill, his heart sinking with every step. He tried to reassure himself that crossing the border back into the U.S. wasn’t the death of their relationship, but the beginning.
And that thought added a little bounce to his gait.
Halfway up the street, Jaime pulled him to the curb and came to a stop as she pulled out her cell phone.
“Sammie just texted. My mom said she and Drew could go to your room to play the Wii as long as we’re there with them.” Jaime smiled up at him. “Is that okay with you?”
Was she kidding? Alex wanted to jump in the air and click his heels together. Instead, he offered a rather casual, “Sounds good.”
Not as smooth as Drew would’ve been, but at least Jaime seemed happy with his response.
They hurried the rest of the way, nearly out of breath by the time they reached his room. He slid the key through the slot and barged in. “Hey, guys, we’re—”
It took him a second to register that the lights were off and he was talking to an empty space. He turned to Jaime, who stood a few feet inside the door. “How could we have beaten them up here?”
She held up her phone, reading the screen. “They’ll be up in a few minutes. They went to get ice cream, and they’re just finishing.”
“Oh.” Now what? Was it okay to stay in the room, or should they wait for their siblings in the lobby?
“O.M.G., you have a balcony!”
Jaime rushed over to the glass door facing the falls and slid it open. She stepped outside and breathed in deep. “How are you not out here like all the time? This is so nice!”
Alex joined her at the railing, immediately putting his arm around her. “I like to leave the door open at night so I can hear the water.”
Jaime grinned. “How does Drew handle that?”
“He thinks I’m weird.”
“Well, I think you’re perfect.”
A glow of happiness grew in his stomach. Alex leaned down and placed his lips against hers. Even though he’d kissed her several times, he’d always made sure not to push too far.
He went to pull away, but this time Jaime moved with him until his back pressed against the railing.
Alex didn’t need a second invitation. He moved his lips against hers, praying he was doing it right. The kiss grew deeper, lingered longer.
This was fucking awesome!
Until Jaime moved even closer. Until his body’s untimely reaction.
Oh, God. What if she felt it? What if she freaked and called him a pervert?
Panicked, Alex pushed her away.
Jaime stared at him, her eyes rounded in horror. “What did I do?”
He wished he could see if she had tears in her eyes, but it was too dark to tell. But by the huskiness of her voice, it was a safe bet.
“Nothing. You did nothing.” Alex wanted to die. Jaime was a virgin, like him, and innocent when it came to sex.
“Then why did you push me away?”
For once in his life, Alex was glad to be the one with the quick thinking. “Because the lights are off, we’re alone kissing on the balcony, and Drew and Sammie will be here any minute.”
“I didn’t think of that.” Jaime’s stance relaxed, and she let out a small laugh. “I guess we better go turn them on.”
Alex walked back into the room, switching on every light they had in the room. He hated this. Hated that he was never suave around girls, especially this one. Hated that he had no idea how to deal with things like this.
Hated that Dad wasn’t around to talk to.
A few minutes later, Drew and Sammie burst into the room, giving Alex a much needed break from the tension that seemed to exist only in himself. Jaime was all giggles and smiles again, sitting next to him and holding his hand.
He felt lost. Alone. He needed to talk to someone.
Coach would understand.
With that thought in mind, Alex waited until it was Jaime’s turn to play and then send a text to Dr. Harris. He held his breath until his phone buzzed that he had a message.
By the time Coach told him to relax and go have fun, Alex felt tons better. Maybe Dr. Harris and Mom weren’t meant to be together, but for the first time in a long time, Alex didn’t feel like he had the world on his shoulders.
Coach would always be there when he needed him.