I pull my phone out of my pocket and click on my music app. I scroll to Justin Bieber and findAnyone, the song I now consider ours. The soft notes break through the silence, and Juliet looksat me.
“May I have this dance?” I set my phone on the dresser and reach out to her.
She bites her bottom lip, the one I now know tastes infinitely better than strawberries.
“I don’t know, Michael.” Her voice is hesitant.
“Are you afraid you’ll fall in love with me?” I mean it as a joke, but I throw it into the air like a boomerang, hoping it will come back to me.
Her face breaks into a grin, and she shakes her head. But she doesn’t say anything, yet.
That’s okay, she doesn’t have to.
“It’s just one dance.” Our first, maybe our last.
“Okay.” She slips her hand into mine, and it has no less of an effect on me as it did the first time I held it.
I pull her into me, much like I did to kiss her, but this time I put just enough space between us to keep her heart safe. It’s too late for mine.
Time to shoot my last shot. If she blocks me, I’ll drop the ball, leave it in her court, and concede like a gentleman.
“So, did I earn another date?” I ask.Please say yes.
Juliet pulls a hand away to tug on her hair, but I don’t loosen my hold on her. I can see the war she’s fighting inside, the one she’s probably been fighting for years. If she will let me help, maybe she can finally win.
She looks up at me. “I guess another date or two won’t hurt.”
Swish. Nothing but net.
I grin and spin her once, then twice.
“Stop.” She giggles. “I’m getting dizzy.” I pull her to me, right where she belongs.
Juliet plants a hand on my chest.
“Maybe I met you in heaven.” I tease.
She rolls her eyes. “You and fate.”
She is my fate.
I tilt her chin up, angling those perfect lips toward mine. But I bypass them to place a kiss on her cheek. I skim across her lips to kiss her other cheek, and she groans, pinching my chest. I smile and then kiss her, for real this time. If I can only guarantee one date at a time, I’ll make each one count until I no longer have to ask.
Oink.
Did Juliet just snort?
I don’t care. She tastes too sweet. Her lips are—
A very familiar pain shoots through my shin, and I stagger back.
I stare at Juliet. “Did you just kick me?”
Her eyes go wide, and she looks down. “I think your buddy missed you.”
Huh?
Oink.
