insufferable moron after all? To say he confused me was the understatement of the year.
On my way back to Ethan’s room, I slowed my steps, only because I hoped I could listen to Chris’s singing a little more. Maybe that was a mistake, because when I dared another glimpse into the kitchen, he looked up. Never stopping his singing, he crooked a finger at me and beckoned me to come to him.
Why I followed his invitation, I don’t know.
His black shirt hung over the backrest of one of the kitchen chairs and the t-shirt he was wearing now was a snug fit, showing off his dancing muscles while he cut more fruit. The dessert bowls he was preparing each had a different name painted on it. Ethan was scrawled on the green one. The blue one spelled Christopher , but somebody had crossed out the opher with a sharpie and written ian above. The yellow bowl was for The best mom in the world , and tonight I was obviously Milk .
When I stopped across from him at the island unit, he sang to me, “ Oh, won’t you…stayyy with meee… ’cause you’re…aaall I need, ” and dipped a slice of peach into the cream in his own bowl. When he held it out to me with a tempting look, I shook my head. I didn’t like peaches.
Unimpressed, Chris shrugged his shoulders and bit off the creamed tip. He put the peach slice away and reached for another fruit. I could do nothing about it when the corners of my mouth tilted up as his hand hovered above a kiwi wedge, and Chris noticed. Knowing he’d finally found my week spot, he smiled, too. He kept singing, “ This ain’t love, it’s clear to see, but darling, stay with me, ” while he dipped that little piece of fruit into his bowl. He held it out to me across the kitchen island once more.
With the cream on it, there was no chance I could take it from him with my hands. But that was probably not his intention anyway. If I wanted it, I had to let him feed it to me. My mouth watered. That was okay, considering it was kiwi, my favorite fruit, he was offering. But why my heart had flung itself into a beating race was unclear to me. Our gazes locked above his outstretched arm. He was patiently waiting for my next move which, frankly, could have been an off remark as well as me catching the kiwi with my teeth.
At this point, neither of us knew which option I was going to choose. What I noticed, though, was that he’d stopped singing while the song played on.
A silent argument started inside my head.
This is kiwi. You want kiwi.
But this is also Chris. I don’t want his fingers to touch my lips, even by accident.
Screw his fingers. This is kiwi! And there’s cream on it.
Still…it’s Chris.
Pretend it’s Ethan, then.
Oh hey, I could do that.
Pressing my lips together for a brief moment, I started to lean forward, never breaking eye contact. I swallowed then parted my lips, and Chris cracked the tiniest smile. He dipped his chin a little lower which resulted in his gaze getting all the more intense as I carefully caught the kiwi between my teeth.
I thought I was prepared for the moment when my lips would inevitably brush against his fingers, but I was not. I didn’t know why it was such a big thing, because it was for the shortest possible time, but a hot sizzle of adrenaline rushed through my body nonetheless.
What made this even more awkward was the way Chris’s gaze remained fixed on me as he withdrew his hand and licked the remaining cream from his thumb and index finger. It was the thought of my lips brushing exactly these spots that ignited another prickling rush through my veins.
Unable to stay a second longer in this room, I spun around and left with a determined stride. Chris’s laughter followed me, then he continued singing, an amused note in his voice.
Chapter 7
THE DONOVAN FAMILY and I came together again at the table five minutes later. Chris placed the dessert bowls in front of us and took the seat to my right again. He played it cool, no remark about
On my way back to Ethan’s room, I slowed my steps, only because I hoped I could listen to Chris’s singing a little more. Maybe that was a mistake, because when I dared another glimpse into the kitchen, he looked up. Never stopping his singing, he crooked a finger at me and beckoned me to come to him.
Why I followed his invitation, I don’t know.
His black shirt hung over the backrest of one of the kitchen chairs and the t-shirt he was wearing now was a snug fit, showing off his dancing muscles while he cut more fruit. The dessert bowls he was preparing each had a different name painted on it. Ethan was scrawled on the green one. The blue one spelled Christopher , but somebody had crossed out the opher with a sharpie and written ian above. The yellow bowl was for The best mom in the world , and tonight I was obviously Milk .
When I stopped across from him at the island unit, he sang to me, “ Oh, won’t you…stayyy with meee… ’cause you’re…aaall I need, ” and dipped a slice of peach into the cream in his own bowl. When he held it out to me with a tempting look, I shook my head. I didn’t like peaches.
Unimpressed, Chris shrugged his shoulders and bit off the creamed tip. He put the peach slice away and reached for another fruit. I could do nothing about it when the corners of my mouth tilted up as his hand hovered above a kiwi wedge, and Chris noticed. Knowing he’d finally found my week spot, he smiled, too. He kept singing, “ This ain’t love, it’s clear to see, but darling, stay with me, ” while he dipped that little piece of fruit into his bowl. He held it out to me across the kitchen island once more.
With the cream on it, there was no chance I could take it from him with my hands. But that was probably not his intention anyway. If I wanted it, I had to let him feed it to me. My mouth watered. That was okay, considering it was kiwi, my favorite fruit, he was offering. But why my heart had flung itself into a beating race was unclear to me. Our gazes locked above his outstretched arm. He was patiently waiting for my next move which, frankly, could have been an off remark as well as me catching the kiwi with my teeth.
At this point, neither of us knew which option I was going to choose. What I noticed, though, was that he’d stopped singing while the song played on.
A silent argument started inside my head.
This is kiwi. You want kiwi.
But this is also Chris. I don’t want his fingers to touch my lips, even by accident.
Screw his fingers. This is kiwi! And there’s cream on it.
Still…it’s Chris.
Pretend it’s Ethan, then.
Oh hey, I could do that.
Pressing my lips together for a brief moment, I started to lean forward, never breaking eye contact. I swallowed then parted my lips, and Chris cracked the tiniest smile. He dipped his chin a little lower which resulted in his gaze getting all the more intense as I carefully caught the kiwi between my teeth.
I thought I was prepared for the moment when my lips would inevitably brush against his fingers, but I was not. I didn’t know why it was such a big thing, because it was for the shortest possible time, but a hot sizzle of adrenaline rushed through my body nonetheless.
What made this even more awkward was the way Chris’s gaze remained fixed on me as he withdrew his hand and licked the remaining cream from his thumb and index finger. It was the thought of my lips brushing exactly these spots that ignited another prickling rush through my veins.
Unable to stay a second longer in this room, I spun around and left with a determined stride. Chris’s laughter followed me, then he continued singing, an amused note in his voice.
Chapter 7
THE DONOVAN FAMILY and I came together again at the table five minutes later. Chris placed the dessert bowls in front of us and took the seat to my right again. He played it cool, no remark about
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