16
JOYOUS TOMFOOLERY
The Past
My Mother: Your eyes are glowing a very bright blue.
I’ve noticed they do this when you’re really, really excited and happy.
The Present
We’re in a Christmas store, of all things, and Timmy pulls a stuffed octopus toy from the shelf. It’s one of the few non-Christmas items they sell, and he puts it over his head like a hat. He looks ridiculous, and I giggle at him.
Then he puts the octopus on my head and laughs.
And he tilts my chin up, and he leans down and kisses me.
It’s like somethingout of a movie.
Time stands still as our lips meet, and everything fades away but us.
His tongue finds mine, and he’s a wonderful kisser.
It’s like our mouths are made for each other.
Thank god. Nothing worse than starting to dig a person and they turn out to have a lizard tongue or they kiss like a grandma.
But thankfully, this is far from that. It’s the most special, most romantic first kiss I’ve ever experienced. This is how it’s meant to be. Like literal magic. I almost want to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.
I love the way I have to tilt my neck, and the way my body feels against his.
His arms are wrapped around me and I feel safe and secure and comfortable, and very, very giddy. And turned on as hell.
“You know you’re not staying over tonight, right?” I say, suddenly anxious that it’s what he’s expecting after this kiss.
But his smile is easy. “Oh, I know.”
I glance at him, trying to read him.
“We need to build a friendship,” he says, “and I’m not just going to try to slide straight into home base.”
My body clenches at the thought of home base, and I’m glad he also understands it’s not going to happen today. But oh, how I want it to happen and soon.
He holds my hand as we leave the store. And not in a possessive way that makes me feel like he’s being a sleaze. But just like he wants to hold it, and because it feels good to him to be touching me. And, for me, it’s the first time in so long I feel a bit protected by that type of action. He might be tipsy, but he’s also obviously smart. And very, very cute.
As we’re walking down the street, he suddenly pulls me to him. “Kiss me, now!” he says. And I do. “Keep kissing me, the cops are going by,” he says. “You’re my disguise.”
I laugh, but I oblige. Again, the feeling of his lips on mine is exhilarating.
Finally, we pull away from each other. “Haha!” he says. “I tricked you into kissing me again. Yesss!”
I pull back and he winks and laughs, and I swat at him playfully.
“You’re so silly,” I grin.
Because he absolutely did not have to trick me. I will willingly kiss Timmy every day, every moment, no tricks required.
He gives me butterflies again.