Page 47 of Stops Along the Way
“That wouldreallymake it weird.”
We stare at each other in a way that still feels comfortable, despite whatever this speed bump is.
“It’s not that late yet,” Declan says, glancing over to the clock on the opposite wall.
I guess we’re not gonna try more kissing anytime soon? I don’t want to appear too disappointed, so I stand to climb the stairs. “We could borrow Amelia’s laptop and work on the road trip game?” Staying here at the pool doesn’t feel like the right move.
“Sure.”
Declan follows me out of the water, and we trail over to the towel rack, drying off before we slide our other clothes back on. I slip into my sneakers, the socks still balled up at the toes, folding down the worn heels, a temporary measure to get my wet feet back upstairs to the hotel room. I give my hair an extra scrunch or two until it stops dripping, then toss the towel into the nearby bin and walk back toward our stuff.
“But first, could we try this again?” Declan steps quickly toward me, intercepting my path and wrapping his arms aroundmy waist. I instinctively hook my own behind his neck, drawing our faces close together, our lips finding each other once more with soft, warm, wonderfully inviting certainty.
Slow, at first, with confidence multiplying by the second…
Until this is the only thing that makes sense, with the biggest question being why hadn’t we thought to try this sooner? Followed by a more cosmic thought: If we hadn’t run into each other this week, what are the chances that we would have ever found our way to a kiss like this one?
Declan reaches a hand up to my hair, and I sigh against his lips, delighted it won’t take us long to get accustomed to this new game together.
Chapter Thirteen
Declan and I walk through the hallway, bumps rising on my arms that are only marginally related to how cold it feels out of the hot tub. The elevator takes a minute to arrive, then the doors open slowly. I hold up four fingers, and he presses buttons for both of our floors. We stand side by side, staring forward until we arrive on the third. I nudge my arm against his shoulder in a brief farewell.
“See you in a few?” Declan asks, waiting for my nod before he steps out of the elevator.
As the silver doors close, I’m confronted by a hazy reflection of my own cheesy grin.
I don’t have the key, so I knock on the hotel room door twice before calling my sister. She takes her time lettingme in, stifling a big yawn and wearing an oversized green Audubon College T-shirt.
“Were you asleep already?” I ask.
“No,” she admits, plopping back into bed to continue scrolling. She says something else, so I have to walk closer to catch her repetition since I still don’t have my hearing aids in. “How was the pool?”
“You could’ve said goodbye.” I shake my head. “But can I borrow your laptop?”
She doesn’t look up from her phone. “What? Why?”
“Declan and I are going to work on the road trip game we’ve been brainstorming.”
“Isn’t it late?” Amelia yawns again.
“It’s not even eleven yet. I see why you drink so much caffeine.”
She closes her eyes briefly. “This hotel better have decent coffee tomorrow morning.”
“I’m guessing you don’t want to come hang out?” I almost addagainto guilt her into it, but given that she’s horizontal right now, the odds of her leaving this room are slim. Plus, doesn’t part of me sort of hope it could just be me and Declan tonight?
“Nah, I’ve spent enough time with Grady today.” Oh, right, Grady will be in Declan’s room. She raises an arm and points across the room to where her backpack is on the corner chair. “But my laptop’s over there.”
“Thank you.”
I dig out my pajamas—sweatpants and a similar oversized tee—and go shower, untangling the knots and rinsing all the pool water from my hair and then standing there in the steam wondering if my sister has even the slightest suspicion that I’ve kissed Declan.
As I dry out my ears and put my hearing aids back in, I ask Amelia, “Are you sure you want to stay here?”
“Don’t forget to take the key with you,” she says, pointing again to her backpack, then to the dresser where the two room cards are.
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