Chapter Forty
1431 Words
♠ Kim Stans ♠
It still felt so surreal to have been kissed by Austin.
My hands involuntarily moved to my lips, recalling how his had felt on it.
That was the best kiss I'd ever had.
“Why are you touching your lip like that?” Oliver's voice caused me to jerk my hands off my lips.
When I turned to her as she strode into my room, there was a raised brow in askance on her face.
“Why? Did you kiss someone?” With a teasing wink, she added, “Austin, maybe?”
Though I knew she was just joking, it didn't stop how my cheeks burned, only escaping a gasp from her.
“Don't-Don’t tell me you two actually kissed?” There was nothing but pure surprise in her tone.
“No,” but from the speed at which I'd said it, there was no way anyone wouldn't charge me guilty.
Another louder gasp, accompanied by a very loud and high-pitched squeal.
“Oh gosh, what the heck was that about?” Hating myself for reddening even more, I grabbed my purse, dropping my phone, card, notepad and pen in it.
“Oh goodness, tell me how it happened, I'm so shocked, I didn't think you two would reach this stage so soon.”
“We haven't reached any stage, and will not be reaching anything like that anytime soon,” I snapped, hoping it sounded like the truth.
But her smile grew wider.
Obviously she'd know I was lying as I only snapped at her when I wanted her to not question me further on something I didn't want to tell her the answer to.
And here we were.
This was annoying.
“Okay, if you say so,” she bit her lower lip, obviously trying to suppress the series of squeals erupting in her.
“Good,”
She fell on the loveseat, then thankfully changed the subject, “where are you heading?”
Seriously? She had to ask that.
Grabbing my car keys, I quickly moved to the door, before replying, “Austin's place.”
Not waiting for the obvious squeals and teasing she'd throw my way, I rushed out of my room and out of the house to my car.
It was Sunday, which meant she'd soon be in Church, and I'd meet with Austin.
Sincerely, it was relieving to know he'd addressed the kiss issue so things might not be as awkward as it should.
I mean, we still had a long way to go with our mutual agreement and all.
Starting the car, I drove out of the house, heading to his house with the help of the GPS.
It made me wonder what exactly he planned on making us do today.
We weren't going to play, nor did I think he'd want to get back to teaching about things and things while I wrote them down.
So what was it going to be?
***
The last thing I'd have expected Austin to do was for us to sit together on the sofa while watching a basketball game.
Normally, I'd not be able to cope with watching it, but this time, something caught my interest.
Well… someone actually.
We weren't just watching any game, but one he'd played in (that was, before he broke his feet).
“This should help you understand the rules I taught you about the game,” he explained from where he sat on the sofa.
“Hmm, but do I have to watch your match?” I raised a brow at him in askance.
A shrug, before, “you should watch a pro at it so maybe you can make your novel character a pro like me.”
“And perhaps,” he added, gaze focused on the screen, “I bet you might gain more if I'm the one in the screen,”
It annoyed me that I understood what he meant and the fact he was right.
I would understand better if a handsome figure ran around the court, rather than some weirdos I knew nothing about.
But to prevent room for awkwardness by remaining silent, or worse… blushing, I rolled my eyes, turning back to the screen.
“Brag much,”
He let out a deep chortle. Something I felt down to my core, “bragging or not, that doesn't change who I am.”
Another huff.
“You know, you don't have to stay at so much distance,” he broke the few seconds of silence that accompanied my huff, “I don't bite,”
It was only then that I realized I'd unconsciously stayed at the far end of the sofa.
Why? Maybe because of the kiss? Or could it be how his closeness made me feel?
Either way, I dared not voice out my thoughts or make them evident in my expression.
“Who says I'm trying to avoid being close to you?” My gaze didn't leave the screen, not that I was that interested in it.
But I could feel his on me, and knew if I were to return it, that might have a lot of effect on my body.
“Nobody,” a smirk played on his lips, that I had to turn to him, folding my arms across my chest.
Our gaze locked, but I ensured to suppress the rate at which my heart spiked.
“Are you scared of sitting close to me?” His tone dared me to move closer.
“Of course not,” I scoffed, playing in his game of mischief, “I think you should be the one afraid of what effect this pretty lady can have on you.”
My tone dropped into a somewhat flirtish one.
Wait, what the heck was I doing?
Did I seriously just flirt with him? Indirectly telling him I had enough effect on him to want a kiss.
His expression surprisingly didn't hold any annoyance at my attitude.
In fact, his smirk grew wider, “why don't we see who should be more afraid.”
He was actually flirting back.
What?!!
Since we'd already started it, what was the use of me backing out now.
So, instead (and certainly without thinking), I shifted closer, stopping beside him so our knees touched.
The most dangerous of it all was the fact our gaze still stayed locked only arising some desires in me.
I knew this feeling.
It was just how I'd felt Friday night before the kiss.
Just the thought of how his lips felt on mine made me want to have that feeling again.
Last time, it had not been a smart idea, and it probably still wouldn't be.
But at the moment, it felt best to forget about the future (which would probably be like five minutes later) and dwell on the present.
The desires of the present.
“So who is affected by the other's presence more?” His tone dropped into something more hoarse, only sending sparks down my spine.
A smile appeared on my lips as I planned on moving upward to smack my lips on his.
But at that time, my phone began vibrating from where I'd left it in my purse, which lay on the table.
That alone snapped me back to reality.
But although I should've been annoyed at myself and even embarrassed.
I figured out the annoyance was mostly directed to the phone and why anyone would ruin such a perfect moment.
Breaking our locked gaze, I moved to where my purse was, retrieving the phone.
It was an unknown number, which only turned out to be more irritating because there was a possibility it was a wrong number.
Then the moment would just be ruined without being able to get restored since another round of awkwardness would follow us.
Answering the call, I placed the phone close to my ear.
“Hello,” my tone came out more sharp than I'd intended.
Get a grip of yourself girl, there's no use letting him think you are extremely annoyed at not getting a kiss.
So with a throat clear, I repeated in a more civil tone, “hello,”
“Hello ma'am,” an unfamiliar male tone replied, “am I speaking with Miss Kim Stans?”
My brows drew together at the sound of my name.
How did he know my name?
“Yes?”
“I'm Finn, and I just want to inform you that your sister, Miss Oliver Stans, was involved in an accident.”
That seized my breathing, stopping my heart beat.
- Writer
