A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime(91)

“Thank you, Thomas,” Crew tells him, settling into the seat beside me and taking a sip from his glass.

I follow his lead, taking a tinier sip, the bubbles tickling my throat. My nose. It tastes almost bitter, but at least it goes down relatively smooth.

“Ever drank champagne before?” Crew asks me.

I slowly shake my head. “I don’t drink alcohol.”

“I am thoroughly corrupting you.” He clinks his glass to mine. “What do you think?”

“It’s okay.” I take another sip because he’s watching me, and I make a face. “It tickles.”

“It’s the bubbles.”

I study the glass, the tiny bubbles in the golden liquid. “I don’t know if I like it.”

“I bet you’d prefer something sweet. A tropical drink.”

“I drank lots of virgin pina coladas when we went on a Caribbean cruise a couple of years ago,” I tell him, immediately feeling dumb for admitting that.

He sets his glass on the table in front of us and then takes mine from my hand, setting it on the table next to his. “You’re nervous.”

This isn’t asked as a question. He can sense it. I don’t bother denying it either.

“I am,” I admit. “I feel bad, lying to my father. Going away with you for the weekend. This is a huge step for me, Crew. I don’t do things like this.”

“I won’t push you for anything you don’t want to do,” he says, and I know he means it, but he also knows how easy it is for me to get carried away when I’m with him.

I know it too. Maybe I feel guilty because I want to do this. I want to run away with him for a couple of days and forget the rest of the world. Spend my time with Crew and no one else. I think of the day he showed up at the art gallery, and how much fun we had. Just the two of us.

I also think of the night in his room, when we kissed in his bed and he went down on me. That was fun too. A different kind of fun, something I want to explore more, if I’m being honest with myself.

I didn’t know it could be like this. That he could feel like a friend and a—lover, both at once. How much I’d want to spend time with him. How lonely I feel when he’s not around. How happy I am when I first spot him, when he shines that smile on me, looks at me with those all-knowing blue eyes. Filled with a combination of affection and lust. Sometimes amusement. Sometimes irritation.

All I ever wanted was for someone to see me for who I really am. Everyone has their own expectations and eventually I fell into those roles, giving them what they needed from me. No one makes me feel like I’m just being myself when I’m with them.

Except for Crew.

“Wren.” His deep voice pulls me from my thoughts and I glance up to find Crew watching me, his gaze steady, his expression serious. He touches my hair. Tucks a strand behind my ear, his fingers lingering. “I’m glad you’re coming with me. You need to get away from reality for a little while.”

“So do you,” I say, then I frown. “Wait. I’m still supposed to be mad at you.”

A sigh leaves him. “What did I do now?”

“You never responded to my text this morning. I was worried about you. I didn’t know where you were.” That’s another thing I’m not used to.

Caring about someone—a boy—and wondering where he is when he doesn’t reach out. I was truly worried. Even a little panicked. What if something happened to him? Something awful? The relief I felt upon first seeing him blotted out all of my anger and frustration.

But that’s all coming back to me now.

“I was in the admin office all morning. I didn’t get out of there until after lunch,” he admits, reaching for his champagne glass and draining it, as if he needs the liquor coursing through him to even talk about it.

“Why were you in the office?” I almost don’t want to know.

“I was being questioned by police detectives. About Figueroa.”

“Oh.” That sounds ominous. “Are they going to arrest him?”

“Probably. That’s half the reason I wanted to get away from here. I’m sick of dealing with that shit. Natalie and her lies. Figueroa and his sleazy ways.” His upper lip curls with disgust. “I can’t stand him.”

“Forget about him.” I pluck the empty glass from his fingers and return it to the table before I turn my full attention on him. “Let’s focus on the weekend. I don’t even know where you’re taking me exactly.”

“Manchester, Vermont. I hear they go all out for the holidays.”

“Really?” Excitement bubbles up inside me, much like the bubbles in my champagne glass. “And there’s snow? Mountains? Pine trees?”

He nods. “I’ve never seen someone so enthusiastic for the mountains.”

“I’m a city girl. My family never goes to the mountains.”

“Not even to Vail?”

“You sound like such a snob right now,” I say with a soft laugh. “And no, we don’t go to Vail.”

“You’re missing out then.” He doesn’t even seem offended by me calling him a snob. Not like I really meant it.

“Can I ask you a question?”

Crew nods, turning in his seat so he’s facing me more fully.