Page 63 of The Secret to Belonging

and your first kiss story is going to forever share the

pedestal with your most embarrassing moment story

and someday at your twentieth high school reunion

you will cringe remembering how pathetic you were

Alison will shake her head in disappointment and you will still

feel just as mortified then as you’re about to now

but he catches you

he steps forward and snow crunches under his boot

you feel his hands on your back

and you’re upright

and even closer

and you can smell his aftershave

and you remember that you also have arms

and you wrap them around him and tilt your head

so he doesn’t have to bend as much

and you feel him smile

and you laugh

later

after he walks you home

past the skating track

past the old church

over the hill

(he walks you all the way

even though it’s the opposite direction

from his rented rooms)

after he kisses you again at the gate

and then again at the step

and again as you lean against the house

do you trust me? he asks

no, you laugh