I didn't sleep that night.
Not because I was upset, or restless, or haunted by Kaylee's words.
No—this time, it was something else.
I was wide awake because I couldn't stop smiling.
Because every time I closed my eyes, I felt it again. Liam's lips. The heat of his palm against my cheek. The way he looked at me right before—like I was the only girl in the world.
I must've replayed the kiss a hundred times in my head, each time trying to dissect every little detail.
The way he hesitated, just slightly, like he was waiting for permission.
The way his breath caught when our lips met.
The way I melted into him like I'd been waiting for it all my life.
And maybe… maybe I had.
I rolled over in bed, biting my lip as I stared at the ceiling.
Was that what a real kiss was supposed to feel like? Because it felt like time paused. Like my heart folded itself into his hands and trusted him not to drop it.
It scared me, how quickly I wanted more.
By morning, I was still in the same hoodie, still sleepless, but beaming like an idiot. I probably looked deranged, but I didn't care.
My phone buzzed.
Liam: Morning, trouble. Sleep okay?
I blushed. Like actually blushed.
Me: Eventually. Took a while to stop thinking about… things.
Three dots appeared instantly.
Liam: Same. Last night was… yeah.
Me: Yeah.
We were dancing around it. Neither of us saying it out loud yet. But it hung there in the space between texts—last night had changed something.
By the time I got to school, my nerves had kicked in. What if he regretted it? What if it had just been in the moment for him? What if, now that it happened, he pulled away?
But all those thoughts vanished when I saw him.
He was leaning against my locker again, like he belonged there. Like I belonged to him. And when he saw me, his whole face lit up.
"Hey," he said, straightening.
"Hey." I hugged my books to my chest like a shield.
He glanced around, then leaned in just enough for only me to hear. "So… is it weird that I've been thinking about kissing you again since the second we stopped?"
Butterflies. Everywhere.
I laughed, looking down to hide my face. "Maybe a little."
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "But you liked it, right?"
I looked up at him, heart thumping in my ears. "Yeah. I liked it."
I hesitated, then blurted before I could chicken out, "It was actually my first."
Liam blinked. "Wait. Your first kiss?"
I nodded, suddenly nervous. "Yeah. I mean, I've had guys try before but… I never let them. It just never felt right."
He stared at me for a moment, eyes softening. "Wow."
"What?" I asked, suddenly defensive.
"Nothing. Just…" He smiled. "That means a lot. That you gave that to me."
"I didn't give you anything," I muttered. "You kind of took it."
He laughed. "Fair. But still."
There was something different in the way he looked at me now. Not like I was a challenge, or a distraction. But like I was precious.
And God, it messed with me.
The bell rang and we both groaned.
"Lunch?" he asked.
I nodded, already walking backward toward class. "Only if you bring snacks."
"I'll bring the entire vending machine."
I laughed all the way to history.
Throughout the day, I kept reliving that little moment. Telling him it was my first kiss had felt like ripping my chest open, but he hadn't laughed. He hadn't mocked me. He hadn't even made it weird.
He'd made it feel special.
And that? That was something no one had ever done for me before.
⸻
That night, I lay on my bed, legs kicked up against the wall, texting him again.
Me: So… how does someone know if they're officially dating someone?
A moment passed.
Liam: Usually the guy asks. But I can make an exception if you want to beat me to it.
I rolled my eyes, smiling.
Me: Fine. You ask.
Liam: Zara Stone, will you be my girlfriend?
Me: Yeah. I will.