Until the Stars Fall From the Sky by Mary Crawford Page A

did summer camp, sports and drivers ed. Let me tell you, driver’s education is an interesting experience when your dad’s a trucker,” I comment with a quirky smile.
    “I’m not trying to make you feel bad, I just want to be able to help if I’m needed,” Jeff assures me, stroking my shoulder tracing a patch of freckles.
    “It’s okay Jeff. You’ve been amazing. Do you mind if we return to the party? I’m feeling much better now; thanks to your magical first aid. I feel bad for making you miss any of it.” I announce, trying to smooth any wrinkles out of my dress.
    “Don’t feel bad. You didn’t make me do anything I didn’t want to do. This quiet time with you in my arms has been a highlight of my evening.” Jeff leans down and kisses the tender area behind my ear.
    I gasp from the intimate contact and squirm as my nipples tighten against my strapless bra. Jeff nibbles his way down my jaw and captures my lips in a barely restrained kiss. He is thoroughly and firmly exploring my mouth with his lips and tongue. I’m amazed that I’m turned on. I’ve had other guys try this, and it’s been slobbery and gross. I not only find it sexy, I’m enticed to try other things — a first for me. I expel a helpless whimper and run my fingers through Jeff’s short dark hair. “Wow, this is a little too fun,” I murmur.
    “Pip, you undo me,” Jeff confides as he pulls away reluctantly.
    I try to reassure him with a lopsided, teary grin, “You’ve pretty much rocked my world too, and I’ll never be the same.”
    “C’mon Pip, we’ve got a date to finish,” Jeff says as he gently kisses my forehead.
    As we reenter the banquet hall, it appears that the speech portion of the evening just concluded, and dessert was being served. It is my lucky day they are serving chocolate cheesecake with raspberry sauce or crème brûlée. I can’t go wrong with either of those choices. Jeff and I decide to order one of each and switch halfway through dessert. This is our first official date, and we’ve already made a radical U-turn into “cute couple cliché-ville.” Seriously, in many ways it feels like we’ve been dating for months. It is a thrilling, yet scary concept.
    Jeff leans over to whisper in my ear, “Do you feel up to dancing some more?”
    My body shivers violently as his lips brush the top of my ear. I quickly glance around the room to see if anyone else has noticed my body’s betrayal. To my relief, it seems that no one is paying attention to us. I surreptitiously glance at Jeff under my lashes. It is clear from the expression on his face that my involuntary reaction does not go unnoticed by him. Much to my chagrin, I blush as I nod, “Yes, Jeff I would love to dance with you.”
    The dance floor is practically empty, but the DJ is trying his best. He is playing Footloose , which is one of my favorite songs. I give Jeff a mischievous grin, “Are you ready to stop being a gentleman and become ‘footloose’?” I can see every muscle in Jeff’s body freeze for just a moment as the wheels in his brain process what I’m saying.
    “Pip, I believe that I can do that,” Jeff says with an answering grin.
    “I hope so, PC. I’m kind of counting on it.” Jeff is true to his word, and we have the most riotously fun fast dance I have ever experienced. By the time it is over, and audience has gathered to watch us dance and gives us a round of applause. Several people have offered to buy our drinks at the open bar. The next dance is a slow dance to a Taylor Swift song that I have never heard of called Today Was a Fairytale . I felt like I could have written the lyrics. I still can’t believe that Jeff feels comfortable enough with me just to pick me up and hold me in his arms to dance. It is so amazing that if I think about it too much, it makes me want to cry.
    Most people around me tend to keep their distance. They feel uncomfortable doing simple things like keeping eye contact or shaking my hand. It is