were faster—more passionate. They gave me chills. I tapped my foot on the floor and pretended I was driving his melody. My fingers moved slowly at first, but I became less aware of everything as the music swam around me.
Justin took my free hand, his fingers sliding over mine and pressing them to the keys. My other hand twitched. I hit G-sharp instead of G.
He used my fingertips to play the notes. For a few moments I felt like a real piano player lost in my own creation. It was incredible. And I didn’t want it to stop.
I leaned on him, letting his warmth draw me closer. His breath hit my cheek. My heart beat faster. I tilted my face up, and his lips met mine. Our hands slid off the keyboard and his fingers inched up my forearms. I had no idea what to do, or if I was even doing it right.
His mouth pressed into mine, parting my lips softly. My skin felt weird. Hot all over and sensitive to every movement.
I pulled back and opened my eyes. “I don’t think I’m doing this right.”
He smiled and ran his fingers through my hair. “The piano or the kiss?”
“Both.”
“Do you want to stop?”
I looked at the faint freckle on his upper lip and the gold flecks in his eyes. “You’re really beautiful,” I said before shaking my head. “God, that probably sounded stupid.”
He touched his nose to mine. “So are you.”
His soft lips pressed into mine again, and I closed my eyes, kissing him back. His arm muscles tensed with my touch, and his breaths grew heavier. I was afraid the spit thing would gross me out, but I didn’t mind it. It made him real. It made
He pulled me closer and kissed my jaw, moving down my neck. His mouth found a spot behind my ear that sent tickles down my spine. The feeling was almost too intense to take.
And then the door upstairs swung open. “Andrea?” Grandma called. “Dinner is ready.”
We pulled apart. I wiped my lips with the back of my hand, wondering if they’d look kissed somehow. Justin sat up straighter and put one hand on the keyboard.
Grandma’s sharp eyes went from me to Justin when she reached the bottom step. “Where’s Naomi?”
“She went home,” I said.
“Oh.” Her eyes rested on Justin again. “What are you two doing down here?”
“Justin was teaching me how to play piano.”
“Don’t you have homework to do?”
“I finished most of it at school.”
“Well, come on, then. It’s getting cold.” She headed back up the steps, leaving the door open. “Juliana!”
I tucked my hair behind my ear and stared hard at my hands. They were still shaking. “Um, sorry. You should probably go, but…”
He moved closer to me again. “But?”
“I don’t really want you to.”
Grandma yelled for my mom again.
“What?” Mom asked. It sounded like they were moving into the kitchen.
“Andrea is down there alone. With that boy.” Even my grandma’s whispers carried.
“Oh, for Christ sake, Mom. So what?”
The corner of Justin’s mouth curved up, but he covered it.
“Go ahead and laugh,” I said. “My grandma is a freak.”
“I’m sorry if I got you in trouble,” he said.
Mom jogged down the stairs before I could answer. She grinned when she caught me smoothing my hair back. “Hey, Justin.”
He smiled and waved at her.
“Sorry about my mom,” she said. “She doesn’t mean to be rude. She’s just—”
“It’s cool,” he said, glancing at me. “I get it.”
“You’re welcome to stay for dinner.”
He studied my face before answering. “Sure, okay. Thanks.”
Mom winked at me before turning around and heading back upstairs. My face burned.
“My grandma’s cooking is really bad. I mean, like mushy vegetables and stuffed pork chops bad.”
Justin put his hand over mine, tangling our fingers together. “I grew up with a bad cook, remember? I can handle it.”
I twirled my spoon in Grandma’s version of vegetable stew. This included no salt, gravy like water, and a bitter aftertaste. She’d chosen twelve-grain bread as a side dish. It was untoasted and stale around the edges.
