One Day Soon (One Day Soon, #1)(43)

But it was wrong.

“Yoss,” I whispered urgently, trying to get his attention.

“I think I’d rather go check out the Tilt-A-Whirl instead, okay,” Yoss said lightly, forcing a smile.

I glanced back at the dad who was now holding his daughter close to his chest, stroking her hair, trying not to look at Yoss. And failing.

“Come on.” Yoss was already moving out of line. He didn’t take my hand again. He didn’t even look to see if I was behind him.

“Where’s the fire?” I called out, struggling to keep up with him.

Yoss came up short and I almost collided with his back. “Are you hungry? I can get you a hamburger. I’ve got money.” He pulled the cash out his pocket again and I noticed that his hand was shaking.

“Who was that, Yoss?” I asked him.

“Come on, the hamburger stand is back this way.” Yoss pulled on my hand, but I wouldn’t move.

“Who was that? Tell me!” I may have shouted a little. I noticed that a few people were looking at us. I made sure to lower my voice before I spoke again. “Who was that man?”

Yoss bent down so that his face was close to mine. “Sometimes you make good choices. Sometimes you make bad ones. But they’re all made for a reason that seems to make sense at the time.” He closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them again, they burned and I almost forgot to breathe. “I keep making those kind of decisions. They seem logical. I have my reasons. But then I look at you and I realize that those reasons aren’t good ones. But I’ve been stuck for a long time, Imi. I’m not sure that I know how to get unstuck.”

“I’ll help you, Yoss. You help me every single day, let me do the same for you.”

He lifted our clasped hands and pressed them to his chest. I could feel the excited thump of his heart beneath his shirt. “You feel that?” I nodded. We stared at each other, long and hard. There was so much I wanted to say. I opened my mouth. Closed it again. Overwhelmed, but hopeful.

Yoss tapped my hand in time with the beating beneath my palm. He smiled. Just a small one. “I think that’s me getting unstuck.” He squeezed my hand and I felt full.

The moment was tense. But it was the best kind of tension.

Yoss kissed the back of my hand and I felt it everywhere. In my fingertips. In my toes. Deep down in my heart. “I want to buy you a hamburger. Or some cotton candy. Or a funnel cake.”

I shook my head. “You don’t need to buy me anything.”

What I didn’t say is that I didn’t want him to use that money. But I had a good idea who that man was. And some of that money in Yoss’s pocket had most likely belonged to him.

“I like buying you things. It makes me happy,” Yoss admitted almost shyly. He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Earlier, Di called you my girl.” He cupped the side of my neck. “Are you?”

“Am I what?” I asked, being deliberately obtuse.

“Are you my girl?” He sounded breathless. His whole body vibrating with anticipation.

“How can I be your girl when you haven’t even kissed me yet?” I asked boldly.

“I’m scared to kiss you,” he whispered, his lips quivering, his green eyes full.

My blood whooshed noisily in my ears and I felt a little lightheaded. We were so close, but I wanted to be closer.

So did he. But I could tell that the idea terrified him.

“Don’t be,” I murmured, reaching out and placing my palm over his heart. He was beautiful.

And right then, in that moment, he was mine.

There were no faceless men.

There was no shame. No guilt.

No things left unsaid and smiles that turned sad.

Toe to toe.

Lips almost touching.

Eyes locked. Never letting go.

“I want to be yours,” I told him sincerely.

Yoss reached up and covered my hand with his. “I want to be yours,” he echoed.

He leaned down.

Just enough.

I felt his breath first and I shivered. Everywhere.

Then he kissed me and it was like waking up.

It was like flying.

It was like everything.

Soft, firm lips melted against mine. I opened my mouth slightly and I moaned at the touch of his tongue.

Frenzied. Panicked. Delirious.

Yoss wrapped his arms around me to keep me upright. Fingers digging into my back. Through my clothes, into skin.

I gripped the front of his shirt, still feeling the beating, beating of his heart.

He pulled back slightly, looking almost dazed.

“I’ve never been kissed before. Not like that,” he whispered, his eyes bright.

“What do you mean?” I asked, my lips tingling from his mouth.

“Like I don’t ever want to stop.” He leaned down and kissed me again, harder this time. I could feel the slide of his tongue along the seam of my lips. “It feels like I’m falling, Imi,” he breathed.

“I’ll catch you,” I promised.

Lies. So many of them. They became our truth.

They would be our end.





Present

Unexpected phone calls were not a great way to start the day.

“Hello?”

“Imogen Marie. I’ve been trying to get ahold of you for days!”