“Me? You’re the one who—“
He talks right over the top of me. “I’d like to kiss you.”
I lick my lips again, nodding slowly.
The moment the teasing in his gaze turns to something more serious—something he’s not taking for granted or taking lightly—his eyes soften and darken, and his entire body curls inward toward me. The thunder that rumbles around us echoes the hammering in my heart. His lips are a fraction of an inch awayfrom mine, and all I’m thinking isfinallywhen the sky opens up, and cold, giant droplets of rain start slamming into us.
39
If This Was a Movie
Mallory
Ishriek, and Holland curses. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”
In less than five seconds, we’re drenched from the deluge. We stare at each other, and after a delayed beat, we both burst out laughing.
Lightning cracks across the sky, and Holland glances up into the downpour. “Probably not the best idea to be in the middle of the woods during a lightning storm!” he shouts over the crush of the rain. “Come on.”
He drops down onto the pillows. At first, I think he’s reaching for his phone, but then I realize he’s shoving aside blankets and pillows on the hunt for the bag that the book came in. He finds it and takes the time to tuck the copy ofAnne of Green Gablesin it before handing it over to me.
He glances up at me and squishes up his nose. His hair is plastered to his forehead, and there are rain rivulets running down his jaw. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
My open-mouth smile can’t be contained. “You’re saving the book.”
“Duh. It’s our origin story. It should be protected at all costs.”
I keep grinning. “You big softie.”
He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s go. Ladies first.”
I slip my way down the footholds on the side of the tree house. I stare through the darkened woods, waiting for Holland. Thank goodness I’m not out here alone. There’s no way I’d find my way back to the main road without him.
I glance up, and he’s descending from the platform.
“Cute butt you’ve got there, Bradley.” I smirk at him when he jumps to the ground, landing next to me.
“Now is not the time to objectify me, Mal.” He grabs for my hand. “We’ve got a storm on our hands.”
“Lead the way, then. I’m totally turned around.”
Holland plunges us into the woods. We slip and slide, and my shoes are coated with mud, and my socks are soaked through by the time we emerge onto the shoulder of the country road, where Holland parked his car.
There’s one nearby streetlight, and it’s casting a hazy glow over the asphalt pavement, making the puddles shimmer. The road is deserted, and of course the rain chooses this moment to let up to a light drizzle.
I’m wearing my sweatshirt and blue jeans, but the rain has soaked me to my core.
“Your teeth are chattering. Get in. I’ll crank the heat.” He pulls me over to the car, intent on getting me inside.
But I dig my muddy heels in…because a girl can only take so much.
He stops and looks at me. “What are you doing?”
“I checked yes.”
“You checked…” Holland trails off, catching my reference. “Oh. Right. Believe me, I want nothing more than to kiss you, but I feel bad that you’re cold and—“
“Then warm me up.” I place my arms around his shoulders. I can’t believe my boldness at this point. But I’m high on Holland’s praise of me and my mom’s reminder that I need to take the reins on my own life.
