"No, no. I don't even really know her. She was kissing me." He shrugged. "I don't really know why she suddenly wanted to talk to me. I still don't. But something happened afterwards. I mean, I told her that I was sorry, that I didn't feel the same way. And the weird part was that she wasn't upset or anything. Instead, she said, 'Good luck' which I thought was really weird. I mean who says that? Then she said, 'With Genna, I mean. She's a really nice girl' and I couldn't understand what she was talking about. But that's when I realized something." Brendon stood in front of Genna now, his hands on her arms. Genna felt her heart beating loudly. She wondered if he could hear it.
"I realized," he continued, "that I love you! I know it sounds weird. You must be really freaked out…" He let go of her as if by touching her, he might spread some disease. "But I think I really do. I've never felt like this about another person, which is totally cliché, but I mean it in its literal sense. I've dated other girls, but none of them are anything compared to how I feel about you. And I only regret that it took me this long to tell you."
"I'm not freaked out," Genna said. "I'm… I'm overjoyed. I just don't know how to… how to…" She paused and before she had even thought about what she was doing, she was kissing him full on the lips. "I'm sorry," Genna said, pulling away quickly and looking down, embarrassed.
"You've got to stop saying sorry," Brendon said with a kind smile. He pulled her face back towards his and he kissed her this time, slow and steady. It felt wonderful.
When they broke apart, Genna whispered, "Two."
"Two?" Brendon asked, obviously confused.
Genna felt herself blush. "That was my second kiss," she said quietly.
Brendon thought for a moment. "When was your first?" he asked.
"The one before that," she said.
He was quiet before finally saying, "That was your first kiss?"
"Sorry. I know it's sad. I've never had a boyfriend," Genna said.
"Stop apologizing," Brendon reminded her. "You're fantastic. And honestly, I'm shocked. I would've never guessed you hadn't dated anyone. You're a pretty good kisser." He laughed.
She put her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest. "Thanks," she said. After a moment she added, "But my dad's going to kill me."
"Does he not want you dating?" Brendon asked.
"Quite the opposite. When he found out I liked you, he wanted me to call you and tell you. He was almost disgusted that I'd never had my first kiss. That's when you called and he answered. I was so scared he was going to tell you then… but he didn't thankfully. And we always fight about sex. I swear I'm secretly the protective father and he's the college student. He's never going to let this one go."
They continued walking, Genna sliding her arm around Brendon's waist.
"You fight about sex?" Brendon asked, obviously curious.
"Sure. You'd think, as a single father, he'd want to keep me as protected as possible, but he's really the opposite. He doesn't understand my abstinence-till-marriage point of view. He keeps trying to tell me to go out and hook up with random men. It's crazy. But he only wants me to because he knows I hate that stuff. He just wants me to have the best in life, even if it means taking risks. He means well."
"I've never heard of any girl's father being that okay with sex. That's bizarre. So no sex before marriage you say?"
Genna sighed. She had hardly thought through the kissing, but knew she should've expected this to be a problem with most guys. "Yeah, no."
Brendon nodded. "I guess I'm okay with that. I never really ever thought about it…"
Genna relaxed some and smiled to herself. "Don't be surprised if my dad gives you some kind of pep talk, though, about getting me in bed. I wouldn't put it past him."
"Really? I still don't quite get how he's so okay with all that."
"Someday I'm going to prove him wrong. He's got it coming."
"How would you prove him wrong? Get pregnant or something?"
"Yeah, that's my last resort. I plan to exhaust my other ideas before stooping that low. Not only because I'd have to get pregnant, but also the man who was responsible would probably be brutally murdered."
Brendon coughed. "I'm glad to hear it," he said.
"What is it you like about me?" Genna asked suddenly.
"What?" Brendon responded, taken aback.
"Why do you like me… or love me? Whichever."
"It's… well…" He seemed to think a moment. "I think it's your hair," he said finally.
Genna raised an eyebrow.
"Well, the redhead clan is a dying race!" he said with a half-grin. "I thought I should help the minorities. They're in need."
Genna elbowed him in the side. "Jerk," she said. "I was being serious!"
"I know, I know. All right. I like you because… well, because you're… oh. I know. So you must have as a little girl wondered who you were going to marry, right? And it was probably someone who was kind, thoughtful, and careful, but at the same time rigidly handsome, strong, and courageous?"
"Yeah, but you're defining pretty much every girl's dream guy," Genna pointed out.
"Right. Well guys have that too, for girls. Obviously a little different. Anyway, you're that girl."
"You want to marry me?" Genna asked, giving him a look.
Brendon laughed. "Not yet, I don't think. But you seem perfect to me, you know? That's something I don't find often."
"I'm nowhere near perfect," Genna said. "I'm a klutz most of the time. I'm awkward and get embarrassed easily. My dad's insane. And I'm practically a celebrity. I've got tons of money, which is a fault if you ask me. You start to attract people for all the wrong reasons."
"Trifles," Brendon said, waving his hand as if swatting away a fly.
"Big trifles," Genna said seriously. "I'm a nightmare when it comes to emotions."
"You seem fine around me," Brendon said.
Genna paused. "That's because I am… around you. I feel comfortable around you, is all. Only you and my dad so far. And maybe my new pup. Who, by the by, needs a name."
"You haven't always been like this," Brendon said quietly.
"What?" Genna asked, looking over at him.
"You weren't really this shy when I knew you. All the way through the eighth grade, I knew you and you were never really shy. Was it because of your mom?" he asked.
