I smiled and nodded. Anne climbed the stairs, leaving Brody and me sitting on the couch, alone, in the great room. I suddenly became very nervous.

“So…” Brody let the word trail off and looked at me.

“Yeah.”

“You’ve met my family. My mom and my aunt. When do I meet yours?”

My heart sank. Everything around me slowed. I could hear my heart plodding along in my chest, squeezing blood out like a sponge. The ticking clock slowed. A second felt like a minute. Then, just as fast as time slowed, everything sped up and righted its self.

“My mom and stepdad are Jaden fans. It’s going take them a while to adjust to the break up and accept the fact that there’s a new guy in my life. I think we’re going to have to take it slow if we want them to be okay with us.”

Brody stared at me for what seemed like forever. I fought the urge to squirm under his gaze. “Is that the only reason?” he finally asked.

“What do you mean?” I paused. Then it clicked. “Yes! Do you think I’m embarrassed for you to meet my parents? That’s not even close. I’m not embarrassed by you. I’ll stand on the busiest corner of town and scream that I’m Brody Victor’s girlfriend if you want me to. I’m embarrassed by them. I know them and how they can be, especially Ralph.”

He didn’t say anything, just stared into my eyes, his bright blue ones boring into mine. Finally, a slow grin spread across his face. “You don’t need to scream. You can just wear a sign.”

I laughed. “Yeah, okay, I’ll get right on that.” I sighed and stood. “I need to go. I don’t want to be late for curfew.”

“Okay. How are you going explain your face to your mom?”

My hands stilled for just a moment as I gathered my things. I took a breath to steady myself and looked up at Brody. “It won’t matter. She’s used to it.” I could see his jaw clench. His hands opened and closed in fists. I took one of his hands in mine. “Hey, it’s okay.” I smiled at him.

He nodded once and tried to give me a smile, but it wasn’t one of his easy smiles that made my heart flutter and insides melt. It was forced. I reached up and brushed my hand over his cheek, wanting to wipe away the sadness and anger I saw in his expression. He turned his head and kissed my palm, making my knees feel like jelly and my breath hitch in my throat. Just a simple kiss caused my body to rage with emotions, and I didn’t want it to stop.

I could feel his breath quicken against my skin, and it made my heart beat faster. I took a step closer, nearly touching him. He laid his hand on my hip, gripping the waistband of my jeans in his fist. When he wrapped his other hand around my hair, I gasped at the shocks of electricity that sizzled through my body.

I looked into his eyes and watched them darken, his gaze locked on mine. It felt as if the world had stopped spinning. Everything was still, waiting for what came next. It was all I could do not to grab his shirtfront and yank him to me. My lips tingled with the need to feel his lips on them. My very core needed his closeness. It wasn’t just a kiss. It was so much more. Emotions were both confusing and all encompassing. I needed him, needed that connection, and I could tell by the way his eyes darkened and lips parted that he felt the same.

He lowered his head toward mine. My heart sang in my chest. But he didn’t kiss me. At least, not how I longed for him to. He gently placed an open-mouthed kiss on the curve of my neck, sucking at my skin ever so slightly. I moaned and ran my hand through his silky hair, opening and closing my fingers around the dark strands. He planted soft kisses up the side of my neck until he reached the sensitive area behind my ear. Kissing it gently, he let his tongue touch my skin, pulling another moan from my lips.

“I think I’m falling for you,” he whispered.

He lifted his head and looked into my eyes. I cupped his face with both my hands, rubbing my thumbs over his checks.

“I think we’re free falling together.”

He leaned his forehead against mine before lifting his head and kissing it. “I’d better get you home.” He pulled back slowly.

Oh. Holy. Hell.

I put a hand on my chest, trying to slow my breathing. My heart still fluttered. I took two deep breaths and let them out slowly to calm myself.

Jenna’s right. He’s turning my world upside down, and it feels friggin’ awesome.

Brody pulled up in front of my house, and ran around the Jeep to open the door for me. I still couldn’t get used to that.

He stood in front me, one hand on the side of the Jeep, the other on the door, blocking me in. “Are you free tomorrow?”

I tilted my head as though I was thinking and tsked. “I’ll have to check my schedule, Ace.”

“Oh, you have that many appointments, do you?” He stepped closer to me. His cologne swirled around me, invading my senses.

“I’m in demand, but if the right offer came along, I think I could make an exception.”

“I was thinking maybe we could go out, you know, on a real date. Maybe something boring like dinner and a movie.” His eyes held a question. Would I brave being seen with him after the nasty break up with Jaden and admitting that we’d been seeing each other while I was still dating him—would I go out with Brody when my reputation just got trashed because of our relationship?

“I thought you’d never ask.”

He blew out a breath and smiled. “You pick the movie. I’ll pick you up around four?”

“Okay, but I’m warning you, I’m going to pick a really cheesy chick-flick.”

He grinned. “I’ll watch anything with you as long as you wear one of your famous T-shirts for me.”

“Deal.”

We looked at each a few seconds, minutes, hours, who knew how long?

Just kiss me already! If you don’t kiss me soon, I’m going to spontaneously combust. Kiss me!

Finally, Brody let his arm drop from the Jeep’s door so I could pass. He grabbed my hand as I walked by and brought it to his mouth, kissing the inside of my wrist and sending fingers of longing through my body.

Damn it. Stop doing that and kiss me. Why won’t you kiss me? If you don’t do it soon, I won’t be held responsible for my actions. I’m gonna jump ya, and it’s not gonna be pretty… it’s gonna be pretty awesome.

“See you tomorrow.” My voice came out all breathy and soft.

He smirked. I think he loved torturing me. “I’ll text you later tonight. And probably tomorrow, too.”

“You’d better, Ace.”

I’d only been home an hour. I was locked in my bedroom, wondering if Jaden would call and break the news to my mom and Ralph. It’d be just like him to call, pretend to be upset, and ask to talk to me. When they’d ask him what was wrong—and they surely would because to them, he hung the moon—he’d tell them I’d broken up with him. And with that, world war three would begin.

I had no delusions that my mom and stepdad would ever accept my decision to break up with Jaden and date Brody. They’d never accept Brody. In my family’s mind, Jaden and I were as good as married. The news that our relationship was over was going to go over about as well as a fart in church.

We just had to get to graduation. Then I’d leave Jaden, my mom, and Ralph in Middleton while I went somewhere far, far away to college. There was just one problem. Where did that leave Brody and me?

My phone chimed, and I jumped. I really didn’t want to look at it. It could’ve been anyone texting to find out if the rumors of my break up were true. It could’ve been Jaden. That thought made me cringe. The only reason I looked was because it could’ve been Jenna or Tim. I smiled when I read the name.

Brody: Told you I’d text.

Me: Hey, Ace. Miss me already?

Brody: Always.