"Yeah." I pause. "What..."I trail off shaking my head. "Nevermind."
"No, what what?" I can't help but smile.
"What happens with us, like, after we graduate and stuff? This Imprinting thing..."
"I mean, it doesn't go away or anything. But you know, I don't just like you because you're my Imprint," he reaches out and takes my hand, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles, "I still - I love you for who you are. Imprinting just affirms it, but it's not all of it."
My belly tumbles again. He's full of it today. Did he really just say he loves me? I can't stop myself from smiling, but I'm stuck between a smile and my jaw hanging open as I scramble for the right thing to say. "Well, I'm glad you feel that way." I say in an exaggerated tone. Humor always works. But I need something more serious, so he knows how I feel. I rub his hand back. "Because I might just love you too." Our eyes lock, and neither of us moves for a full minute while we smile stupidly at each other. Then I finally stand and lean forward, kissing him on the lips. He wraps his hands around my waist and I lean into him so I'm sitting in his lap. He tilts his chin up, pulling me even closer so our bodies are pressed together and our foreheads touch as our lips move together. This is, hands down, the best kiss ever.
"Jake, do you know -" I jump, whipping around to see Billy in the doorway. What is with everyone walking in on me and Jacob kissing in this house? The blood rushes to my face. "Oh, I'm sorry guys. I was never here." He turns and leaves. I snicker. At least he was smooth about it.
"Oh, my God, I can't believe my dad." He rubs a hand through his hair.
I laugh, patting down where his hair is sticking up. "I think that was pretty hilarious." He leans forward and kisses my ear. I think I read about that somewhere. I wonder where he got that from.
"Well, you don't have to live with him from here on!"
"Oops. Have fun." I'm beaming, partially because of the kissing and also because I always smile like a whacko when I get in trouble.
"You know, you're cute when you're embarrassed." Of course, this only makes me flush more.
The gravel crunches outside and I hop up like a rabbit. "Well, Ben's here. Don't want that to happen again." I put my things in my backpack.
"Well, if he comes in then you'll have to deal with him, and we'll be even." Jacob smirks at me. I kiss him as I go by, pausing as he cups my face with one hand. Then I run out and get in the car.
I'm still beaming and warm when I get home. I call Emily and Audrey, my two closest friends. We used to be a group of four with Jayla, although I'd known her for a lot longer and we were the dream team. Sometimes, I can pretend she's on the line with us. I know she'd love to hear all about Billy walking in on me and Jacob making out just as much as Em and Audrey.
The next day it pours. It's cold and grey, and the rain comes down in sheets so you can barely see a few yards in front of you. For two hours at soccer we run around in the mud, slipping and falling until the field is a mud pit and coach gets worried somebody's going to get hurt. So instead of scrimaging we run barefoot laps until practice is up. I'm pleasantly surprised, though, when I check my phone in the locker room and see a text from Jacob. I'm out front. Got your bike. I'm so relieved. Normally, since Eliza and Ben have to take the cars to work, I bike to school and to Jacob's house, and then either they pick me up, Jacob drives me, or I bike home. Jacob's offered to pick me up too, but I like the short refuge of alone time. Today, though, I'm glad he came. It's too dangerous otherwise.
The whole team groans about the showers being broken, but we agree that I've got the worst deal. "Jacob's picking you up? Oh, girl. Does anyone have an extra towel?" Emily calls. Audrey tosses me one, and I try to wipe up at much mud as I can.
"I can just shower when we get to his house."
"Ooh, good idea." Emily elbows me playfully.
"I didn't mean it like that!" I shove her back.
"Why not?" She raises her eyebrows at me.
"Because..."
She smiles and raises her eyebrows even higher. "I'm just sayin'!"
Audrey chimes in. "Yesss! He's so sexy though! I don't believe he's only seventeen," she squeals.
"Oh my God you guys," I laugh as I sling my bag over my shoulder.
"Call us tonight and let us know how it goes!" Emily calls.
"Okay, but nothing's going to 'go,'" I say over my shoulder as I push the locker door open.
Jacob is parked right out in front. I run so I don't get even more soaked right before getting in. "Hi. Sorry, the showers in the locker room are broken." I toss the towel on the seat so I can sit on it.
"Don't worry about it," he says as I close the door. He starts the car and I put on my seatbelt. I think back to what Emily and Audrey were saying. They were joking, but only a little. It's not like I haven't thought about it before, or that I wouldn't want to necessarily, but it never felt like the right thing to do. I don't want to rush it. The moment will come, and when it does, that'll be it. For now, I'm good with just doing what we're doing.
When we get to his house, Jacob gets out and stands in the rain. He looks up into the clouds, letting the droplets drip down his face. "Don't you love the rain?"
"Um, I guess." I take my time getting out.
"C'mon!" He runs around the truck and pulls me into the elements. I scream, laughing at the same time as he spins me around.