Since You Came

Ch. 14

I think the best part of today is hugging Dan.

Feeling his body warm against mine, his arms secure around my body, I don't know. I don't think there's anything in the world that feels as amazing.

Except, maybe, knowing he loves me.

Even though "love" is a deep, but broad term. He can just love me, but not love me. You know?

I'm not sure what I'm saying, but I want him to love me. Because that's how I felt for him.

We walked out of the gym together, and his fingers lace with mine. His hand was warm and the skin was smooth and soft. My thumb traces over the hard veins on his hand.

He stares at me as we walk through the halls to lunch. I stare back. "What?" I ask.

He shakes his head, laughing. "Nothing. I'm just trying to wrap my head around the fact you said yes."

"Oh, please," I say, rolling my eyes.

He smiles. "I'm being serious!"

"You do know I've never had a boyfriend before, right?" I say.

A sincere, loving smile spreads across his face. "Yes, you have. As of," he checks the black watch he always wore on his left wrist. "As of five minutes ago. You've had one boyfriend."

I blush. "Well, true. But you are my first," I say.

"Then I plan to make it the best one you'll ever have," he says, squeezing my hand a little.

We walk into the lunch room and find our table. Ryan is there, smirking. "You better be good to this girl, Dan. I'm watching you."

"You can trust me," Dan says. We sit beside each other and I place the bouquet on the table.

"The flowers are gorgeous, by the way. Thank you," I say.

"They reminded me of you when I bought them," Dan tells me.

I feel heat rush to my cheeks. I'm about to pull my lunch bag out of my backpack when Dan puts his hand on the zipper of my bag.

"No. Look," he says, holding up a takeout bag from Panda Express.

I think I let out a squeal, but I'm not sure. That's my favorite place to go. "You are honestly the greatest human being ever," I tell him.

He laughs. "No."

I open my mouth to argue, but he places a finger on my lips. "Just eat. We both know you're the most amazing person to ever live."

I roll my eyes, letting him place the food in front of the two of us.

"Thank you," I say. "You literally thought of everything."

A smile touches his lips. "Well, maybe so, but you haven't even seen all of it yet."

My cheeks turn a deep shade of pink. "What? All you did was ask me out."

Dan laughs. "That's something you don't understand, Maddie." his eyes lock with mine. "I take my heart very seriously. I do things in plan for the big run. So when I ask someone out, or tell someone I love them, I'm giving them clues."

"What clues?" I ask.

His eyes glow. "That I want more than to just be their boyfriend. I want us to last until death," he says.

I have to look away to avoid crying. He was the sweetest thing ever. "You're too much," I say.

His fingers lace with mine. "I'm nowhere near as much as you are to me."