Page 94 of Kickoff

The jerky motion of the ride coming to an abrupt stop propelled us forward. Melinda screamed, and I extended one arm across her chest to prevent her from crashing into the opposite seat.

We heard a commotion below us, and I repeated the same words I had spoken earlier. “Don’t look down, just straight ahead. And you’ll be all right.”

“What—? What’s going on?”

“Emergency break. Huh…I think.”

“You…think?”

“Seems like it.” I framed her face with my hands. “Breathe in. Breathe out. You’re okay, Mel. I’m here, remember? I’m keeping you safe. That was the deal. You. Are. Safe. I’m right beside you. Everything will be okay. And I’ll feed you that treat once we return to solid ground.” My lips stretched at the corner, and a small chuckle passed hers.

“You won’t let it go, like ever, right?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” I intertwined our fingers. “We’re okay. Look at that view. We’re lucky because we now have more time to admire it.”

She perused our surroundings. The sky was picture-perfect, a work of art made of pink, orange, and purple brush strokes. “Wow. It’s even more mesmerizing from up here. Thanks. For offering me a front seat to this.”

With our fingers laced together, we watched the colorful display for a little longer before the reality of our situation came back. “Can-can we like fall?”

“Nah. Nothing to worry about. Keep your eyes on me, or that sky, and don’t stare down.”

Melinda sucked in a long breath.

I kissed her forehead—the one thing I kept doing whenever we spent time together. We were suspended in time, the world around us spinning faster as we both remained frozen until I sat back and cleared my throat but said nothing.

“Thanks, Mase. For being here with me. Not like you have a choice since you didn’t activate the emergency brake, but still… Oh gosh, I’m rambling.”

My attention drifted back and forth between her eyes and her mouth. The temperature soared, and I had no idea what to say or do. Other than football, Melinda Shepard was the only thing in my life where I possessed such a focus.

“Mase?”

I coughed, trying to break the spell. “Yeah?”

“What are you thinking?”

“Of doing something I should have done a long time ago.”

I leaned forward, and my heart stopped.

Her breath hitched.

My entire being felt like it was being lit from the inside as I erased every inch separating our bodies one by one.

My lips were a hair’s breadth away from hers.

My hands turned moist.

The thrum of my heart accelerated, stronger and faster than ever before.

I moved closer. I could feel Melinda’s minty breath tickling my upper lip.

If she didn’t want me to kiss her this time, she had point five seconds to react. Either she let me mold my lips to hers or she leaned back and put an end to it.

My brain became a mushy ball.

I pushed her hair behind her ear with my fingers. Melinda’s eyes darkened, their turquoise shade now a penetrating dark-cyan abyss.

It felt as if we were seeing each other for the first time again. “Hey.”