“So … ” I said with a glance around at other people, who were laughing and talking with total ease. “How did you manage to get here without being stalked by paparazzi?”
“That’s not a problem anymore — they found better news. A popular singer — can’t remember her name — quit the business to join the marines. So I’m off the media radar.”
“And onto mine,” I said, stepping closer.
“I’ve been waiting a long time … to be with you.”
“Me too.”
“We still haven’t kissed.”
“Really?” I said in a flirty tone, tilting my face up toward his.
He reached into his pocket and held out a silver-wrapped triangle.
“A candy kiss!” I said, laughing. “That’s not exactly what I had in mind, although I never refuse chocolate.”
When my fingers touched his as I took the candy, I felt a shock of electricity that had nothing to do with the other side — it was all about living on Earth. He must have felt something, too, because he stumbled backwards, bumping into someone carrying a cup of punch. The cup flew and dumped sticky red punch on Eli’s shoes.
Eli looked so embarrassed, which was kind of sweet and made me love him even more. While he went to wash up, I plopped the chocolate kiss in my mouth and imagined how much sweeter the real thing would be.
I was staring in the direction that Eli had gone when I became aware of a smell … a salty breeze, a whiff of the ocean. I sensed someone behind me, but when I whirled around, no one was there.
Just my imagination, I decided with a shrug.
Someone tapped my shoulder and I turned with a start.
“Eli!” I cried out with delight.
“Expecting someone else?” he teased.
“No one,” I said firmly. “Only you.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“You know what I’d like even more?” I asked with a flirty smile.
“Chocolate?”
“Guess again.” Then I reached up to hook my arms around his neck, pulling him close and lifting my lips.
Finally, we shared our first kiss.
