Elm Creek: A Readymade Family, Volume 2

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FIFTEEN

Charity was on tenterhooks the entire day at school as she impatiently waited to see Kevin after school. Throughout her day, she was unable to concentrate at all. Instead, she replayed yesterday in her head and daydreamed about Kevin. Unfortunately, the teachers appeared to notice her lack of attention, for they kept calling on her to answer questions.

“Charity, which treaty ended World War I?” Mr. Gifford, her American History teacher, asked.

“Uh...” Charity floundered. If she’d been able to pay attention to the reading assignment, she may have known.

Jake, across the aisle from her, raised his hand.

Mr. Gifford nodded at him. “Yes, Jake?”

“Versailles.”

“Correct.”

Charity had no idea if Jake had spoken up to help her or not, but she was grateful. But when she smiled in his direction, he averted his eyes.

When the school day came to an end, Charity was relieved. She packed her bag hurriedly and was among the first to leave the classroom. She made a short trip to her locker to get what she needed and leave behind what she didn’t. Then she exited the building among the rest of the student body.

Once the group of kids around her whittled down to nothing, she headed for her and Kevin’s secret spot. When she arrived and her eyes landed on his waiting car, her heart leaped. Restraining herself from running toward it with the enthusiasm of a child—she needed to appear mature in Kevin’s eyes since he was so much older—she walked a steady pace toward it. Her heart seemed to pound harder with every step closer, but somehow she managed to feign a calm she didn’t feel.

By the time she reached the car, Kevin had emerged from the driver’s side. The very sight of him sent her heart thrashing wildly in her chest. She was unable to look at him, but she managed to walk to the front passenger door at a sedate pace that didn’t give away her raging emotions.

But before she could reach for the door to get in, Kevin grabbed her hand. “Hey, why aren’t you looking at me?”

She froze and stared at her feet as her heart pounded wildly and her hand trembled in his. She couldn’t even speak.

“Charity?” he prompted in a soft tone. “Are you mad at me?”

She violently shook her head. Of course she wasn’t. She’d never been so happy with him as she was now.

“Then look at me.”

It took a great degree of courage to force her face up to his. The instant their eyes met, her heart jumped and heat spread across her face. She didn’t need a mirror to know she was blushing, and Kevin could see it.

A smile spread across his face. “You’re cute when you blush.”

Even though Charity was relieved Kevin didn’t tease her, the words made her blush even more. He lifted her hand and placed a kiss on her palm that made her tremble. Why does he make me feel like this?

He opened the door for her. “Get in.”

Moving past him, she got in. When he got in beside her, he took her hand in his and squeezed before letting go. Then he reversed the car to drive away from the school. “You’re free to go somewhere with me today, right?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Good.”

As he drove, Charity studied him from the corner of her eye, thinking about what was happening and her growing feelings. What is happening? Are we a couple now?