The Kiss
After our teammates leave for dinner or something, it is just Brian and me. We walk over to the red staircase in the quad and I lean against it, looking at the ground. Brian stands in front of me. There is so much tension in the air I feel like it's hard to breathe. Like he told me earlier, I can't just pretend like last night never happened. What he said made me uncertain about what exactly we are and where this is going, but in between prepping for today's match I've thought about it and I think I'm ready for whatever comes next. Especially since dealing with Mom at this point is promising, provided he doesn't mess up too badly at dinner tonight. Taking this out of the janitor's closet and our dorm rooms into the public sphere of VGHS? In front of Law? And with Mom here and everything? It doesn't matter, I've already made my mind up: I'm ready.
"Brian, about last night. Ditto." I lamely say, playfully slapping him on the chest. It's not enough, I immediately realize. He rolls his eyes. "Seriously?" he says. I melt. "I love you too," I say softly. I've never said this to anyone the way I say it to him. Not my awkward freshman year boyfriend, not even (and especially not) Law. He takes a step forward, smiling, places his hands on my hips, and goes in for the kiss. He's improved quite a bit, to say the least, since his first kiss. I swear he must be practicing, he's taken to it like such a natural. I put my hands gently on his neck, one on each side. I close my eyes and quickly gasp as he slides his thumbs inside the waistband of my low rise jeans.
In my opinion, Brian's hands are his best asset—I mean, with all that gaming they are supple and strong, they can dance over a keypad and mouse the way then play across my hips tonight. When he moves them lower and runs his thumbs down my hip bones, I move my own to his chest and push lightly. He gently encircles my waist and we come up for air. "Brian," I whisper, "not here."
"Okay, if you insist," he playfully teases, and I slowly run my hand down the zipper of his hoodie, teasing him back.
"Your place or mine?" he breathes into my ear. "Wait, that was a dumb question," he says. "Ted will be there, probably, and Law, well, he's always walking in at the most inopportune times." He takes a step back and zips up his sweatshirt.
"Mine it is," I say happily, and I intertwine my fingers with his. We walk through the quad as the sun disappears over the edge of the fountain. I savor the moment, then turn and give him a little kiss on the cheek. "Let's go," I tug at his hand and turn towards the dorm.
"Wait, your mom wants to have us for dinner!" he says, a little dejectedly. "I had better go and change and fix my hair."
I stand on my tiptoes and tousle his hair. "Just comb it, at the very least," I advise. "Okay," he says, letting go of my hand and turning away. "See you at dinner, Jenny," he says with a smile. "See you, Brian!"