Chapter 40
We sit against one of the plane's walls. Claire is asleep, her breathing slow and steady. Her head rests on my shoulder. The air has grown cold, and she's curled into me. I'm supposed to be sleeping too, but I can't. Not with my heart racing like this.
She rolls away. Her eyes are still shut. Her breathing is still slow.
Why does someone like her care about someone like me?
Could she ever care about me the way I care about her?
I lean in close to her. Take in her soft cheeks and jaw, her pink lips.
What would it be like to kiss her?
I've kissed girls. It was nice but no big deal. But the thought of kissing Claire…
How would she feel about me kissing her?
Would she hate it?
Would she like it?
Would she want me to keep going?
I just want to know what the big deal is. Why I feel so warm inside, why my face gets hot, why my heart jackhammers every time she looks at me or smiles at me or touches me. Why I feel so different. So...so good.
I lean in closer. Her breath steams my face.
Then she yawns and stretches. I back away. I stand up, leaving her warmth -