Palindrome

Fifty-Four

Chapter 54 

"Is your find my iPhone or tracking thing on?" Ma asks for the billionth time as I zip up my boots. 

"Haan Ma," I repeat, patiently petting Felix and then standing up. "Can I go now? He's been waiting for longer than five minutes." 

"And he'll wait longer if he cares," Papa grumbles, picking up Felix from the ground. 

"On that note, goodbye," I say, opening the door and stepping out. 

"Remember no-" 

Thankfully, the door shuts before the entire neighborhood can hear Ma's warning about no sex before marriage. Leaning on the wooden surface, I inhale loudly before my eyes dart up. Paxton's waiting for me, his head resting on the hood of the car. His eyes sweep over my body as if he's taking me in for the first time again. 

Ignoring the butterflies in my stomach, I walk over to him. "Are you sure you should be driving? We've only got till eight." 

Paxton rolls his eyes, opening the door to his car for me. "I've gotten better." 

"Sure, you have," I say, sliding into the seat of his mom's car. 

The interior of his car is entirely different from mine. It's warm, the scent of cherries in the air, and the leather seats are immaculately spotless. A sudden spark of nerves shoots through me. Drumming my fingers against my thigh, I try to steady my breathing before it gets out of hand. 

"Are you okay?" 

Am I? I look at Paxton's way, unable to really put a finger as to why I'm this anxious. Energy seems to spark from my fingers, but not in a good way. Then it hits me. 

This is technically my first date. 

With Abraham, it was literally all the time we had together in school and occasional events with friends. There was never a time when we were distinctly alone. 

"I'm anxious," I admit. 

"Why?" he asks curiously. 

Waving my hands around, I try to think of the right words that won't make me sound like an utter idiot. Paxton studies me before something in his expression softens. 

"A bit much, isn't it?" 

I nod, gesturing to the space between us. "I don't want any of this to change." 

"It won't," he says firmly. 

"How do you know that?" I fire back. 

A thoughtful expression takes over his features before he takes out his phone, dialing a number. 

"What are you doing?" I ask, but he presses a finger to my lips.

"Hello, yes, I have a reservation for seven," He says into the phone. His hands reach for the controls of the radio, turning it on so that soft music filters from the speakers. 

"Under the name Enjelical," he dictates for the stewardess on the other side. There's more back and forth from the other end before he smiles. 

"Yup, go ahead and cancel it." 

My mouth hangs open as Paxton holds back laughter. He taps the bottom of my chin, getting me to press my lips together while he wraps up his conversation on the phone. When he's done, I chuck a bracelet from my wrist his way.

"Why would you do that?" 

He catches the flung object slipping it onto his wrist by the band he always has on. "I'm keeping this."