12. Young Love

"Let's try that kiss again."

She was still holding his cheeks as they both leaned in this time to meet in a kiss. With the sun fading behind them and the calming sound of the water sloshing around the boats and dock, it was perfect. Both drew back breathless.

"So would you like to go out with me?" she asked again.

His brow furrowed. "I thought that was pretty obvious."

She snorted with laughter. "Okay, just a little bit. Well, since you've had me over twice now, how about you come over and I'll make us dinner at my place?"

"Sounds lovely."

They settled on the next night. "Which means if I start cleaning up now, I maybe, just maybe, might be finished by then."

He chuckled. "I don't mind if it looks like a bomb went off - you already saw my place. I just want to spend time with you." His smile faded slightly. "Above all else though, I don't want to come between you and Bradley and your friendship."

His consideration made her heart swell. "Well our relationship - you and me - isn't any of his business. We can have a relationship without involving him. So long as your comfortable with that?"

"Yeah. I just already ruined our relationship, I don't want to do the same to yours."

"I don't think you've ruined anything," she told him honestly. "Things are just complicated."

"Yeah, they are."

"And I honestly don't care what he thinks about us, cause I like us a lot."

He chuckled and was back to smiling again. "I like us a lot, too." This was followed up by another perfect sunset kiss.

"Shit!"

Okay, she'd known her apartment was messy, but it was messy. It was Saturday so thankfully she had the day off - thank God - but this was ridiculous! Now she was regretting inviting Pete over.

It had been ages since she'd had anyone over period, let alone a romantic partner. That had been an eternity. And now, Pete had changed that.

So while dinner - homemade pizza - cooked she scrambled around her small space, running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Now she understood how he had felt at his messy hangar home. She had brushed aside his apologies then, understanding completely, but now she was feeling that same embarrassment majorly.

The only reason her old room at her parents house was clean was because she had moved out. And the only reason her classroom at the school was slightly better was because that was work. Really, any space Finley Austen took over instantly fell into massive disarray.

She also made brownies because Pete had loved them so much and left them to cool on the counter while she jumped in the shower for a quick rinse. Amazingly enough things were looking pretty good when she heard the rumble of a car pulling into the front drive outside the building. Peeking through the window, she saw not the bike, but the red jeep instead.

"Oh gee," she said when he stood there, wine bottle under one arm and bouquet of flowers under the other. "You're too kind."

"That's what I'm told."

"So humble."

"Also what I'm told."

They stood in the doorway kissing for a long time.

"I'm only going to stop this because I'm getting nervous I'll drop one or both of these," Pete said, struggling with his arms full.

She laughed. "Then quickly put them down, Captain! Come on in." She showed the way to the kitchen. "Important question: do you own any other clothes?" He was at it again with the t-shirt, jeans, and leather jacket.

He laughed. "Nope, this is all I've got." She laughed too.

"Dinner for two at the table," she said, bringing the pizza over while he followed up with the wine.

"We're making a good habit out of this."

"We are."

"Mmm." He hummed happily after taking a bite of pizza. "You're definitely a better cook than me."

"I liked your dinners."

"Well I'm glad I didn't totally put you off them."

She tapped his calf with her foot under the table. "Not at all."

"Important question," she said later. Their feet kept touching under the table throughout the whole conversation.

"Okay."

"Is 'Pete' short for 'Peter'? I'm really curious."

He chuckled. "Yeah, it is. But me being the rebel I am I shortened it. I like 'Pete' better."

"Well I like both. Peter." She gave him a smile that said she would tuck this very important information away for later.

"What's that look?" she asked him over dessert. He was wearing a hard-to-read expression.

"It's the only look I've got," he replied. Then he raised his eyebrows. "I have an idea."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

"And?"

"And - do you like karaoke?"

She did very much in fact enjoy karaoke. So they hopped on her bike and hit the nearest karaoke bar.

He went over to select a song. "Now this one is very special to me because Goose and I used to use it to help each other get girls."

"Oh really?" She grinned. "And how well did that work out for you?"

"Eh-" he winced. "Maybe a couple of times, a few at most."

She laughed. "So how did it work?"

"Well, we'd switch roles depending on who was trying to woo the lady. If you saw someone you wanted to serenade, you'd tell the other 'She's lost that lovin' feeling', that was the signal to get the microphones. The wooer would go up to her and say, 'excuse me, Miss?' and the other would cut in front and say, 'hey, don't worry, I'll take care of this' and make it look like they'd shut it down. Then we'd both lean over each other, and tap each other's shoulders, and then we'd start to sing-"

"You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips

And there's no tenderness like before in your fingertips

You're trying hard not to show it

But baby, baby I know it

You lost that lovin' feelin'

Whoa, that lovin' feelin'

You lost that lovin' feelin'

Now it's gone, gone, gone, whoa-oh..." He pointed to her and trailed off as the music continued to play. "Sometimes, the whole bar would get into it, and sometimes the lady you were singing to would stick around till the end of the song, or she'd leave part way through - which happened more times than I would like to admit. So-" He gave her a look. "Is it working?"

She returned the look. "No-" She broke off to laugh at his crushed expression. "-Only because you already have the girl. No wooing necessary. I do like the serenading though. Here, allow me to return the favour-" Now she went to select a song. "Here's one - you said you like it-"

"You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain

Too much love drives a man insane

You broke my will

But what a thrill

Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!"

He chuckled and nodded. "Oh yeah, a classic."

"This another you and Goose one?"

"It sure is. Me, Goose, Bradley, and Carole."

"Aw."

"Yeah, those are some of my best memories." He pulled her close. "And now you've joined them."

Aw, my heart! I may not have a lot of romantic experience myself, but I sure do love writing it!

Speaking of love, thank you all so much for all the love you've been giving this story! :D Makes me so happy!

Ice returns in the next chapter - can't wait!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)