His Kiss (18 page)

But later, in my bed, I couldn’t sleep. I was so out of control today. So happy and excited this afternoon when Griffin asked me to the dance, but then, I practically died of heartbreak when he didn’t show up.

I tossed and turned in bed, deciding I couldn’t take this—trying to date Griffin. I liked him too much. My feelings for him were too intense.

My feelings for Aiden were never like this—never so extreme. They were nice and solid and safe. They were comfortable.

“Yeah, like an old pair of tennis shoes,” Jazz said when I called her the next morning, explaining why I didn’t show up at the dance—and then, why I didn’t go to the hospital this morning to see Griffin.

She sighed. “So The Griff’s really in the hospital?”

“I guess so.”

Jazz sounded incredulous. “You seriously haven’t gone to see him?”

“No,” I said in exasperation. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I don’t think I should go see him. I think I should stay away from him—try to forget about him. I like him too much.”

I could
hear
Jazz rolling her eyes. “You are so full of excuses, Ally! First he doesn’t like you enough and he’s a bad-boy and he’s not your type, blah-da, blah-da blah. Now he’s too perfect and wonderful and he’s too
right
for you.”

She made it sound like it was crazy, but it wasn’t. Griffin
was
too right for me. He played the guitar and I wanted to learn to play the guitar, and he wrote songs and I loved to write songs, and he could kiss super good and suddenly I was all into kissing. It was too perfect, too exciting, too much. I couldn’t handle it. I needed vanilla.

“No, I’m serious,” I insisted. “It’s probably just as well we didn’t go out last night. I was so excited about the dance,
too
excited—about going with Griffin, and then when he didn’t show up I almost died of disappointment. I mean it, Jazz—I curled up in a ball on my
floor
—for hours!”

“So you were excited.” Jazz sounded matter-of-fact. “It’s good to have a little excitement in your life, Ally.”

“A little excitement—maybe. But I was
over
excited.” I scooped my cat, Daisy, up in my arms. “I’m so glad we didn’t go out last night—I would have been a spaz. Besides,” I said offhandedly, “if Griffin and I had started becoming a couple or whatever—it would’ve killed Aiden.”

Jazz snorted. “I think he’ll survive,” she said. “I wasn’t going to tell you this, but I saw Aiden last night—at the dance. Brace yourself—he was with a girl—Fiona. Remember, his girlfriend?”

Daisy jumped out of my arms and I flung myself across my bed, slightly grinning from Jazz’s sarcasm. I knew she was right—Aiden wasn’t my boyfriend anymore. I didn’t have to worry about his feelings or if he approved of me dating Griffin. Heck, I didn’t approve of him dating Fiona, but that didn’t seem to matter.

Jazz sighed. “Look, Aiden’s getting on with his life. Why don’t you get on with yours?”

***

By the time I got to Griffin’s hospital room he looked so happy to see me, I felt like a jerk for not coming sooner.
A really
stupid
jerk.

His warm smile got my heart all fluttery.

Just for something to do, so that I didn’t just gawk at him like I wanted to, I announced all chipper and excited, “I brought you chicken soup.” I held up the jar like ta-da. “Jazz and I made it for you.” I leaned against the doorframe, feeling awkward. I couldn’t bring myself to fully enter the room. I’m not sure why. “My mom—she always makes me soup when I’m sick. It helps me feel better.”

Griffin raised his eyebrows. “It’s helping me feel better.”

I gave a nervous laugh. “You haven’t even tried it yet.”

“No, but you made me soup,” he said. “And you came to see me. Seeing you, Heaven—that makes me feel better.”

Aww. That got my heart all fluttery again.

“I brought you a cactus, too.” I held up the tiny plant.

Griffin’s lips quirked.
“I see that.”

“I’m going to put it here in the window,” I said, finally coming completely into the room. “It has this tiny, little bud that is going to blossom in the morning. Tomorrow when you wake up, it’ll be here—a flower.”

He stared at me, his eyes glistening. “Thanks, Heaven.”

I chewed on the inside of my cheek, wondering what I did to deserve the way he was looking at me. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. I was going to but—”

“Hey,” he interrupted my lame attempt at an apology. “Come here.” He held out his hand. “Sit with me.”

Slowly, tentatively, I did as he requested, since it was exactly what I wanted.

Finally I was doing it, trying a new flavor. It was kind of scary, but seeing Griffin smile at me all warm and sweet, and remembering his hot, passionate kiss; suddenly, I knew—the risk was worth
all the
trauma.

The Dating Deal

When Kyle Came Back

A Demon’s Kiss

I’d like to give a special thank you to my readers who buy everything I write—thank you so much! I appreciate the support
so much
! I love you guys! I’d also like to give a shout-out to Ally who was my very first teen fan on GoodReads and to “Ladybug” who did a video review of Fall For Me. I’d never seen one of those before. Thanks!!!!
 
J

Melanie Marks was born and raised in California. She is married to a naval nuclear submarine officer and blessed with three amazingly terrific kids.

Melanie has had over fifty short stories published in magazines such as
Highlights, Woman’s World,
and
Teen Magazine
as well as in various anthologies, many being
Chicken Soup for the Soul
books. She’s had four children’s books published and three teen novels,
THE DATING DEAL, A DEMON’S KISS,
and
WHEN KYLE CAME BACK.
More teen novels are forthcoming in the fall of 2011, such as
THE STRANGER INSIDE
and more
.

Melanie enjoys reading in the bathtub, writing in bed, and living in a house longer than two years. Visit her website at
http://www.byMelanieMarks.com
or email her:
[email protected]
.