I suddenly felt a rush of confusion. “Wait, do you not want to anymore? Or-”


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    Before I could finish, he kissed me. It wasn’t deep, just enough to shut down my spiraling thoughts.


    After a beat, he whispered, “I want to.”


    I couldn’t help butugh, feeling my cheeks warm up.


    Hayden was flustered too.


    Even with his tan skin, I could see his ears turning red.


    We just stood there, holding each other, not saying a word.


    It was a little awkward, but neither of us wanted to let go.


    So this is what they mean by love being disgustingly sweet.


    Sticky and hard to pull away from.


    We both wanted to get closer, but neither of us knew how to make the first move.


    Were we really going to stand here all night?


    No w


    way. My legs were already starting to go numb, and my back was killing me.


    “So, uh…”


    “Maybe we should…”


    We both started talking at the same time, which made it even more awkward. We went silent again,


    both of us scrambling for something to say that wouldn’t make this worse


    Then, my phone rang.


    Hayden took a step back as I fumbled to pull it out. Lena’s name popped up on the screen.


    Seriously? She barely ever called, and she picked now? Perfect timing, as always.


    “I, uh, gotta take this,” I said, tapping my door.


    “Yeah, no worries. Goodnight,” Hayden said.


    “Goodnight,” I said, spinning around and sticking my tongue out.


    I’d been in rtionships before, but my heart was racing like it was the first time or something.


    Leaning against my door, I answered the call. “Hey, what’s up?”


    “What took you so long? Don’t tell me you were up to no good,” Lena teased. She could always


    read me like a book.


    I hesitated. “Actually, I have some good news.”


    “Let me guess,” she said, her tone full of mischief.


    I grinned.


    “Did you and Hayden finally make it official?” she asked.


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    “Yep, just now,” I said, still smiling.


    There was a pause on the other end.


    I frowned. “What’s wrong? Weren’t you the one always pushing for us to get together? Why so quiet


    now?”


    “I’m just calcting if I’ve got enough in my bank ount for your wedding gift,” Lena joked, making


    me let out a breath andugh.


    “Oh, so you’re nning to hand over your entire fortune to me?‘ I teased back.


    “Yep, but you better double it when I get married, Lena shot back, making me roll my eyes.


    “You’re such a schemer,” I said, acting all annoyed.


    “It’s not scheming; it’s just how things are now. You probably don’t know this, but a lot of people


    aren’t getting married for love or forever anymore–they’re just trying to get back all those wedding


    gifts they’ve given out.” Lena’s words totally blew my mind.


    “No way. Who actually does that?” I scoffed.


    “There’s this couple at my hospital who did exactly that. Got marriedst week, collected all the gifts


    from both families, then divorced this week. Someone caught them on tape talking about their n,


    and it went viral,” she exined, like she had all the receipts.


    I was speechless, staring up at the ceiling, but my mind drifted back to the light show Hayden had


    put on for me. “Maybe some people would do that, but not Hayden and me.”


    “I know, you two are the real deal, all deep love and-“Lena’s voice‘ cut off as my phone buzzed with


    a new notification.


    I nced at the screen and saw it was a message from Cole.


    [Crashed yet?]


    1 frowned, and another message quickly followed:


    [Going to see my dad tomorrow. Wannae?]