Chapter 3: Stealing a Kiss

ADDY

Kaylee’s behind me, wrestling with my unruly hair while I complain. I always do when this topic comes up.

“Remind me why we’re going to this party again?” I grumble, trying to escape her iron grip.

“Because you owe me, Addy.” She spins around, stowing away the curling iron before pulling out her makeup bag, ready to wage war on my face.

I shoot her a look of pure dread.

“I don’t owe you anything. You know I despise parties.” I run my fingers through my newly curled hair.

“Well, you should’ve thought about that before you lied to me about Asher,” she retorts, completely ignoring my scowl.

“I was over him.” I pout.

Kay gives me a knowing look.

“I was over him until I saw him strumming his guitar today. Did you see how gently his fingers moved over the strings?” I gaze at her dreamily, and she lightly smacks my head.

“Addy, you’re impossible.”

“But you love me!” I look up at her just in time to catch a small smile creeping onto her face. I leap up, plant a kiss on her cheek, and dash off.

“Addy! Get back here, you nutcase!”

I chuckle before tiptoeing back.

“Alright. Give me one solid reason why I should go to this dumb party.” I smirk, confident she won’t have a good answer.

“First off, Trevor invited us both.”

I nod, flopping down on the bed. Trevor is Jalina’s brother.

“Not good enough.” I smirk.

Kay smirks right back. “I wasn’t finished. Asher’s going too.” She laughs at my reaction.

~So that’s what they were talking about earlier.~

“Alright, let’s do this. When’s the party?” I ask, suddenly eager.

“Unbelievable!” Kay shakes her head at me before applying random products to my face.

I groan. “Why did I agree to this, again?”

Kay just chuckles in response.

***

“Don’t think I don’t know why ~you~ wanted to come to Trevor’s party.” I smirk at Kaylee, who’s turning down the blaring radio.

“Shut up. I found out he’d be here, and what better time to put him in his place? I’m going to show him who Kaylee Heart is.”

She parks the car in an empty spot and bolts out the door before I can respond, leaving me alone.

I groan loudly.

After debating whether I should just admire Asher from my window, I head up to Trevor’s house.

Kaylee’s nowhere in sight.

I say hi to a few familiar faces before heading to the sofa, feeling a bit out of place. Trevor’s house is massive. I’ve been here a few times, but never for one of his wild parties.

My throat feels parched and I spot some juice on the table in front of me. Just what I need. I don’t hesitate, downing the entire drink before returning to the sofa.

~Wait~... was ~that juice?~

The strange taste lingers on my tongue as I settle into the cushions.

People are chatting, dancing, and making out all around me. I look around curiously before standing up again.

“Addalynn, didn’t know you were coming,” Maya, a girl from my physics class, yells at me.

“Come show us your moves,” she hollers, grabbing my arm.

I follow her into the crowd, ready to dance away my nerves.

Did I mention I’m a wild dancer? I am. I’ve always loved to dance. It’s the only thing that ever makes me forget everything else.

Camila Cabello’s “Havana” starts playing and I giggle. My hips start moving on their own and soon my whole body is swaying to the beat. I mouth the lyrics and people around me cheer me on.

“YES, ADDY! Shake that booty, girl!” Casey, Maya’s twin, shouts, and I suddenly feel more confident. My hair swings from side to side and I throw my hands up. People join me and I don’t feel awkward anymore.

~Parties aren’t so bad after all.~

A hand grabs my hip and I gasp. Suddenly, I’m pulled against a body. I spin around and find myself looking into a pair of stunning gray eyes.

“Addalynn, right?” he asks smoothly. “Hmm.”

I brush my lips against his ear before pulling away.

~Wow. Where did I get the courage to do that?~

I try to move, but the guy pulls me back. I feel dizzy and try to escape his grip again.

“Where are you going, beautiful?” he asks, spinning me around to face him again.

“To dance, can’t you see?” I don’t give him time to respond before I wriggle free and run off.

~I need to find Kay.~

My feet carry me outside to the garden where the party is in full swing. The pool is packed with people. Colored lights are the only source of illumination.

I move closer to the pool, feeling increasingly dizzy.

“Kaylee, where the hell are you?” I mutter, standing on my tiptoes.

Just as I try to pass the guy in front of me, the power goes out. People around me start chattering in surprise, some screaming and shouting. I, on the other hand, am terrified.

I’ve always been afraid of the dark. The only place I ever feel safe in the dark is my special spot.

“Move, idiots, I need to see what happened!” I hear Trevor’s voice shouting. I take another blind step forward. My heart is pounding in my chest.

~Where is Kaylee when I need her?~

I take a chance and try to move again, but quickly realize it was a mistake. Instead of stepping onto solid ground, I fall forward.

My suspicions are confirmed when the somewhat cold water engulfs me.

~Damn it! How did I end up in the pool?~

My arms are flailing, trying to keep me afloat, but my body isn’t cooperating.

“Mom… Dad…!” I manage to choke out between dunking under the water. I can’t swim to save my life.

~Can’t anyone see me?~

~No, you dummy, everyone’s too busy figuring out why the lights went out to notice you’re drowning.~

Just as I’m about to yell “Help!” out of desperation, two strong arms wrap around me. I collide with a firm, smooth chest, and I gasp, my eyes wide.

My sun-kissed legs instinctively wrap around my rescuer’s hips, my arms winding around his neck in relief.

Once I know I’m safe, I squint, trying to make out his face in the darkness.

“Are you okay?”

I gasp again when I recognize his voice.

~Asher.~

I exhale sharply, trying to process that I’m in Asher’s arms again.

~Oh, God, I hope he can’t see my face. I’d die of embarrassment.~

“I’ve got you,” he says, his voice soothing.

I’m taken aback. I’ve never heard Asher talk to anyone like that before.

For some reason, I don’t pull away.

Instead, I decide to seize the moment. I pull myself closer, burying my face in his neck, whispering a soft thank you.

He tenses briefly, then relaxes, but he doesn’t pull away.

The music is still blaring from the speakers, and everyone seems to have forgotten about the blackout. They’re back to dancing and chatting.

But me? I don’t want to move. I’ve never felt safer than I do in Asher’s arms.

After a few moments, I pull back slightly. I can feel his strong shoulders against me. His minty breath on my lips.

~Kiss him!~

~No, Addalynn, you can’t just kiss people!~

But this isn’t just ~anyone~. This is Asher King, and he’s probably kissed plenty of girls.

The thought makes my stomach twist with jealousy, but I push it aside.

~Why can’t I give my first kiss to the guy who’s never going to notice me anyway?~

~Just one kiss.~

~One harmless kiss.~

Asher doesn’t seem to mind holding me. He could have let go if he wanted to. Right?

~I’m going to regret this later~, I think, closing my eyes.

~Don’t miss, don’t miss!~ I tell myself, moving closer. How embarrassing would it be if I kissed his nose or something?

I don’t know if Asher realizes what I’m about to do. But in that moment, I don’t care about anything else.

~Three…~

~Two…~

~One…~

I count down before pressing my chapped lips to his soft, moist ones.