Page 54 of Your Kiss Is On My List

I’m not afraid to tell him I’m going back to New York city for my girl and he doesn’t give me a hard time or show any signs of his previous disapproval. He congratulates me and says he hopes to see me playing in the NHL someday soon. I find my parents and Lou next in the crowd outside the locker rooms and we trade hugs of consolation. I tell them about Dani being a finalist and Lou grins.

“You knew, didn’t you?”

“She swore me to secrecy and I promised. It was for your own good.”

“That doesn’t matter now, son. You need to get to New York City,” Dad says. “Need a ride to the airport?”

* * *

Because I want to surprise her, I don’t call her, but I do call Dooley from the airport and he gives me instruction to get in back stage. When I get to the building in the heart of the city I only have twenty minutes to show time, so I run down the back hall where the security guard points me, carrying my coat and my duffel bag, my heart pounding and my head throbbing with anxiety about missing her. What if I don’t catch her in time and she doesn’t know I’m here for her? Fuck. She’ll be fine you idiot, but you’ll have a heart attack if you don’t calm down.

After passing by numerous doors, I get to the open area side-stage where Dooley told me the finalists will all be waiting together to go on. It’s nothing like the Oscars where potential winners sit in the audience. More like a pageant where they parade onto the stage together to all get recognized and wait for the name of the winner to be chosen from among the finalists. I reach the threshold and stop to look around, my eyes scanning the room of college kids looking like they’re dressed for the prom when I hear a female voice squeal my name.

But it isn’t Dani’s voice. It’s Summer and she rushes at me, giving me a hug when she reaches me and holding on a beat too long so that I need to push her away.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” she says.

“Yeah, long story.”

“I made the finals,” she says, beaming and I can’t help giving her a smile back.

“I see—congratulations. Look, Summer, I’m here for Dani. Have you seen her? Do you know where she is?” She spins around as her face falls and she points to where the curtains are and past a few people, I get a glimpse.

As if she senses me looking at her, she turns and lifts her glance in my direction. Our eyes lock and her mouth opens, her face in gorgeous shock like a mild version of an orgasm. Will I be comparing every female face now, even hers, to how she looks in the throes of orgasm?

But Sumer grabs my arms and holds on, saying something to me though I don’t pay attention to what, because Dani’s face falls apart then and she looks down. Fuck.

I can see and feel her disappointment, as if she thinks I’m here for Summer, but that’s crazy. I disengage from Summer and rushes after Dani. Dooley is at her side, holding her hand, right where I want to be. A wave of irrational irritation goes through me compounded by my heightened nerves, my loss and rush to be here. I have too much adrenaline pumping through my veins. Maybe that’s what made her react irrationally to seeing me with Summer.

“Hey Dools.”

“Glad you got here.” He nods, unusually subdued.

“Trey,” Dani says. “What are you doing here?” Her green eyes flash with all kinds of emotion, deep and vivid.

“You two should talk,” Dooley says. “You have a minute.” He walks away and leaves us with a crowd swirling around us as many of the people back stage rush to take their seats out front.

We move back towards the door where I came in and hover there. I put my hands on her arms because I need contact, need to say things, when an usher comes by and taps me on the shoulder outside.

“Sir, you need to take his seat.”

“I just need a minute.” My voice comes out raspy. Dani nods at the usher and says it’s alright.

“Dani, You know I came here for you and no other reason. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thank you,” she gives a hesitant smile. “But what about your game?” I flinch, but then wave my hand and dismiss the loss. I’ll deal with that emotional fall-out later. Her eyes warm because she gets that we lost the game. “You didn’t have to come all the way—"

“Yes I did. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but with you, at your side tonight.”

“Sure. Like a good friend.” She says, a little sad. I swallow the lump in my throat and push past it, force myself to go out on the limb because that urgency of now or never feels like a runaway train in my chest.

“If that’s the way you want it, Dani, we can be good friends. But,” I swallow hard. “I want a hell of a lot more for us. I want more because I have so much more to give than friends.” I pause, emotions and words welling and tangling in a struggle to be free as the space around us quiets to a buzz. I lean in and whisper, “I’m so in love with you.” Her mouth opens and no words come out, but I feel the rush of heat in the air between us. Then she falls into me, embracing me and I cup her face.

“What do you want, Dani? Tell me?”

“I want you—all of you, your friendship, your love, and most especially your hot body.” She laugh cries as she brings her lips to mine and I devour her hot mouth, letting the reality of her letting go, letting me in all the way spikes through me.

A loud cough behind me forces me to let her mouth go, but I hold onto our embrace for another beat.