Stuck With You (First Kiss Hypothesis) by Christina Mandelski

Author:Christina Mandelski [Mandelski, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Teen & Young Adult Dating & Sex Fiction, Teen & Young Adult New Experiences Fiction, summer love, Christina Mandelski, sweet romance, Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance eBooks, texas, Category length romance, YA romance, friends to lovers, forced proximity, childhood friends, A First Kiss Hypothesis, Entangled Publishing, first kiss, First Love, series romance, Sweet Romantic Comedy, Teen & Young Adult Self Esteem & Reliance Fiction, Teen & Young Adult Romance eBooks, Being a Teen eBooks, Teen & Young Adult Social & Family Issue Fiction, Short Stories in Teen & Young Adult Literature, crush, beach
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2019-09-02T04:00:00+00:00

After we run to the Big Store for cookie supplies, we decide to head down to the beach. He brings down a couple of folding chairs and the umbrella. It’s hot as hell, not unusual for July on Bolivar Peninsula. The sun is searing, but honestly, I love it like this. There’s a stillness in the air that is almost magical. It’s like time stops and only restarts for a dip in the water, which feels like a little bit of heaven when you go in. We go back and forth, shore to water—I sit and read my book, and he lays out and naps and wakes up and goes back in the water. Our conversation is easy, as long as I don’t let myself think about last night, the near kiss.

Stop. Stop thinking about it, Cate! Clearly he’s going to pretend it didn’t happen. It was a mistake.

I actually think we might be able to do this, make it through these next two nights, he and I. Just friends, blah, blah, blah. Totally doable. He walks out of the breakers and flicks water at me. I cuss at him and kick some sand half-heartedly. He flops back down on his chair, sandy and sparkling with water and salt. Utterly beautiful.

“You getting enough shade under here?” he asks, checking out where the umbrella’s shadow stops at my ankles.

“Yup,” I say and watch as his eyes roam up and down my legs. They’re short, yes, but also one of my best features. I think the lines of my face are sharp, my chin is too pronounced and square, and my eyes could be bigger and more fetching. Is that even a thing? I don’t know, but I do know my legs get attention. When I glance sideways, I’m disappointed, because he’s not looking at my legs anymore. His eyes are closed, and his face is so perfect it’s almost unfair. His mouth quirks up on one corner.

“Whatcha looking at, Dixon?”

Oh shit. “Nothing,” I say and feel a fiery blush cover me from head to toe. “It’s just you got burned yesterday.”

That’s all. The only reason I was looking at you. I stare out at the water, absolutely busted and embarrassed.

“So did you.”

I look down at my arms. “I know. Mom’s gonna kill me.”

He chuckles like he saw right through that sunburn thing. So now he thinks I’m watching him? Pining for him?

“Caleb,” I start. In the interest of friendship, I decide to put this whole idea of kissing him to bed. No, not to bed. To pasture. That’s better. “Can I say something?”

He lets out another low, easy laugh. “Never needed my permission before.”

“Yes. I know,” I huff. “Ha ha. But— I just want to say that I am sorry, again, for leaving like we did last night. We shouldn’t have, and I hope you’re not still mad about it, because I really do want us to be”—I clear my throat here, just to be sure he’s listening—“friends.”

Even though you almost kissed me last night.

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