"That I like you," he says in a serious tone with a serious expression.
"Like me how?"
"You know how."
"I um..." I try to catch my breath because my heart's beating really fast. I don't know why. Or why I'm getting that odd feeling in my stomach again. The one I get whenever Cal's around. Or why I'm feeling so excited. Even more excited than just moments ago when I found out I had front row tickets to the monster truck show.
"Cal, I don't know what's happening right now," I say, my eyes searching his face. "What are you telling me?"
"Damn, Birdie, how much clearer can I make it?"
"I don't know. Are you saying you—"
He grabs my face and kisses me. I didn't know until this moment how much I've missed kissing him. How much I've wanted it to happen again.
How much I wanted Cal.
I've wanted him for a long time but wouldn't let my mind even go there. Because he's Cal. Taylor's brother. The guy I hate.
But I also kinda love him.
"So?" Cal says as he lets me go. "You figure it out yet?"
"That you like kissing me?" I shrug. "It's understandable. I'm an awesome kisser."
He smiles. "That's all you got out of that? Didn't figure the rest out?"
"Huh." I pause. "I'm thinking you might be starting to like me."
"That started a long time ago."
"How long?"
"Let's just say it's been awhile."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Wasn't ready to. I kept telling myself to ignore it. I thought if I ignored my feelings they'd go away."
"But they didn't."
"Truth is, I've kind of had a crush on you for as long as I can remember. But it wasn't until last summer I realized it was more than a crush."
"Why last summer?"
"I'm not sure. I think seeing you again after you'd been away at college last year I realized how different you are than other girls. Different in a good way. I've always known that about you but I didn't realize until a few months ago that you're the girl I've been looking for. Someone who surprises me. Challenges me." He chuckles. "Has me coming to monster truck shows."
"So you like me because I'm different than what you're used to?"
"It's more than that. I don't know how to describe it. I just know that you're the one I want to be with. Even when you tell me you hate me, I still want to be with you."
"About that." I smile a little. "I don't really hate you."
"I don't really hate you either. In fact..." He starts to unzip his hoodie but then stops. "I think I'll wait to show you this."
"Show me what?"
"I saw this t-shirt when I was looking for yours. It was pretty much perfect so I got it."
"Let me see it."
"Not yet. Not until you tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"If you feel the same way, or at least are leaning that way. That kiss makes me think you might be but I have to be sure."
"You're asking if I like you? As more than a friend?"
"Do you?"
"I might," I say with a smile.
"That's good enough for me." He unzips his hoodie and takes it off. He's wearing a black t-shirt that has a red and white monster truck on it. Next to it is a girl. A curvy girl with a small waist, big boobs, and wide hips. Written on the shirt are the words I'm in love with a monster truck girl.
My jaw drops when I see those words. In love? He's in love with me?
"Go ahead and make fun of it," he says. "I assumed you would."
Instead I jump up, land on his lap, and hug him, tears threatening to fall.
"I don't get it," he says, hugging me back. "You're either happy or trying to strangle me."
"The first one," I say, loosening my arms around his neck. "Unless this is a joke, in which case I WILL strangle you."
"It's not a joke." He kisses me. "I love you, Birdie."
"I love you too," I whisper.
He pulls back. "You do?"
"What?" I clear my throat.
"Did you say you love me?"
I jump off his lap and back to my seat, looking out at the track. "Less than an hour to go! I'm so excited!"
"Birdie."
"Yeah?"
"Look at me."
I turn to him. "What?"
He's smiling. "You love me."
"Yeah? So? You love me too."
"You don't think that's a big deal? Us saying we love each other?"
"Of course it's a big deal but I don't want to talk about it."
"Why not?"
I sigh. "Because for some stupid reason hearing you say it makes me want to cry and I refuse to cry at a monster truck show."
"Why does it make you cry?"
"I don't know. Sometimes I cry when I'm happy. But I'm really happy being in the front row at the truck show so if I was going to cry it should be over these seats, not you saying you love me."
"Maybe me saying I love you makes you even happier than front row seats at the monster truck show."
"That's crazy," I say, rolling my eyes.
"Or true." He takes my hand. "I love you, Birdie. I love you so much."
I bite my lip, trying to stop the tears. Why is this happening? What is wrong with me?
"Dammit, Cal!" I wipe a tear from my cheek.
He leans down to my ear. "It's okay. I won't tell anyone."
I push him away. "No more saying you love me."
"Ever?"
"No! Just not here! Not until we're out of the stadium."
"But I can still wear this, right?" He points to his t-shirt.
"The shirt is perfect." I smile. "That girl looks just like me. I can't believe they made a shirt with a fat girl on it."
"She's not fat. And neither are you." His eyes move over me. "I love your body. You're so fucking hot." He reaches over and puts his hand on my inner thigh, giving it a squeeze.
"Cal!"
"What? I can't touch my girlfriend?"
"Girlfriend? I never said I'd be your girlfriend."
"It was implied." He gives my inner thigh another squeeze. It's turning me on. Making me want him the way I've wanted him in my dreams.
I can't believe this. Cal's in love with me. And I'm in love with him! I'm also having really dirty thoughts about him right now. Thoughts I never imagined having about Cal. But damn, he looks good tonight. He didn't shave so his face is covered in scruff and that shirt is tight on him, showing off his muscles. He must've just had a haircut because his blond hair looks really short but I like it like that. It draws my attention to his eyes, which are aqua blue. I've always loved his eyes.
"How is it implied?" I ask.
"I love you. And you love me."
"Doesn't mean I'll be your girlfriend."
"What would it take to change your mind?"
"Well, for one, I don't know how you'd be as a boyfriend. I only know you as a friend. You might suck as a boyfriend."
"Are you kidding? I'm an awesome boyfriend. I call when I say I'll call. I'm always on time for dates. I know how to dress." He points to his shirt. "I do things I know my girlfriend will like." He points to the dirt track.
"I'll give you that. This is the nicest thing a guy's ever done for me."
"So there you have it. Proof that I'm an excellent boyfriend."
"I need more than that."
"Like what?"
"Proof that...you know...your talents extend beyond golf."
"What talents are we talking about?"
Before I can answer, he gets what I'm implying and smiles.
He leans over, his hand moving a few inches up my thigh. "I'll prove that to you later."
Does he mean later tonight? Later this week? This month? I'm hoping it's tonight. After all that touching in the pool and those unforgettable kisses, I can't hold out any longer, especially after spending all night at the truck show. The loud roar of the powerful engines always gets me hot and bothered.
"For now," he
says, his lips brushing over mine. "This will have to do." He kisses me, his hand still on my thigh. When his tongue slips in my mouth, I get so into the kiss I almost forget where we are until I hear a loud voice beside us.
"Excuse me," a guy says.
Cal and I look up and see one of the security guys standing there.
"Is something wrong?" Cal asks.
"This is a family show. We got kids just a few rows behind you. Might want to cool it off until you get home."
"You're saying I can't kiss my girlfriend?" Cal says.
I smile when he calls me his girlfriend. But I'm still going to make him prove himself in the bedroom before I accept that title. Cal's very competitive. He's going to make sure it's the best I've ever had.
"You can kiss her," the guy says. "But the way you two were going at it, it seemed like you were about to go beyond that, and like I said, we're a family show."
When the guy's gone, Cal says, "Are they always that strict?"
"I don't know. I've never gotten in trouble for that before. Maybe it's because we're in the front row. We have to set a good example."
"Or maybe he's right and we were about to do something we shouldn't. I kind of forgot where we were for a minute."
"Me too." I pause. "You kinda don't suck at kissing."
He laughs. "Kinda don't suck? Is that your way of saying I'm good at it?"
"I haven't decided yet. We'll have to do it more before I can say for sure."
He leans over and kisses me. I don't want him to stop but I also don't want to get yelled at again.
"Cal," I say, pushing him back. "We have to stop. There's no way I'm getting kicked out of a monster truck show for kissing."
He looks behind him. "It's starting to fill up. You want me to get us some drinks? Food? What do you want?"
"Nothing. I'm good." I gaze out at the track. "I just want to sit here and enjoy my front row view. I can't believe you did this. When did you get the tickets?"
"That night we went to that event to accept my dad's award. We passed that billboard for the truck show and you said how much you wanted to go."
"Is that why you kept leaving to use your phone?"
"Yeah. I know a guy who manages events here at the stadium. I called him to get tickets that night but he said the only seats were way in the back. Then he called back later and said he knew a guy who'd sell me his front row tickets if I gave him golf lessons."
"How many?"
"Ten."
"That's a lot."
"I don't mind. And I got the tickets, which is what I wanted."
"You got two? Thinking I'd go with you?"
"At the time I assumed you'd go with someone else." He reaches over and holds my hand. "But I was hoping it'd be me."
"I'm happy it's you." I smile at him. "You're gonna love it."
"I brought these." He takes earplugs from his hoodie pocket. "I heard it can get really loud."
"That's part of the fun! Earplugs would ruin it."
He puts them away. "Anything else I should know? I'm not sure what to expect."
"I get a little crazy during the show."
"Crazy how?"
"You'll see."
When the show starts I'm out of my seat, jumping up and down, cheering as they bring out the first truck.
I look back at Cal. He's sitting down, smiling at me like he really does love me.
He loves me despite my obsession with monster trucks. He loves me even though I'm not skinny. He loves me even after seeing me hurl in his bathroom. He's seen me at my absolute worst and he still loves me.
"Come here!" I pull on him to get up. When he does, I reach up and kiss him. "I love you."
He smiles. "Because I got you the tickets?"
"Because you're you," I yell over the noise. "My best friend's annoying but really hot brother who I somehow fell in love with."
He turns me toward the track, and stands behind me, wrapping me in his arms, and says in my ear, "I love you too."
This is the best day of my life. Front row tickets at the monster truck show? And finding out Cal loves me? The guy I've secretly had a crush on for years? It couldn't get any better.
At intermission I run to the restroom. When I get back, the guy who greeted me at the VIP door is waiting by our seats.
"What's going on?" I ask.
"You need to come with me," the guy says.
"Why?" I glance at Cal. "Is it the kissing? I only kissed him a few times. And since when is kissing not allowed?"
"Miss, you need to come with me right now."
"What about him?" I point to Cal.
"He's staying. You're coming with me."
"Birdie, just go," Cal says. "It's probably just a misunderstanding."
"About what? I didn't do anything."
"Miss, we're running out of time," the guy says.
"Time for what?"
Cal leans over and talks in my ear. "Go. I promise it's nothing bad."
"You know where I'm going?"
He just smiles.
"Fine," I say with a sigh.
I follow the guy out of the stadium, then down a hall and down some stairs.
"Where are we going?"
He opens a door and my jaw drops. It's the track, right there in front of me. And there's a truck. A green and white monster truck just a few feet away.
"Go ahead," the guy says.
"What do you mean?" I look back at him. "I can't go on the track."
He smiles. "Your boyfriend bought you a VIP Ride."
"What does that mean?" I ask, my heart beating faster.
"It means you get to ride in the back of the truck and go around the track."
"Are you kidding me?"
I've seen people do this at intermission but I didn't know how they were able to do it. I didn't know you could buy tickets. How did Cal do this? How did he even know about it?
"Go ahead," the guys says. "They're waiting for you."
I step out on the track, my heart pounding.
The driver approaches me. "Birdie Finkels?"
"Yeah," I say, barely able to breathe. "Can I get a picture?"
"Sure, but it needs to be quick."
I scramble to get my phone out, my hand shaking from the excitement of being this close to a monster truck.
"I'll take it," a woman says, coming over to get my phone.
The driver poses with me next to the truck. The girl gives me my phone back and the guy helps me into the back of the truck.
"This is so freaking crazy!" I yell, jumping around in my seat. "I can't believe I'm really doing this!"
"Ready?" the driver asks from up front.
"Yeah! Let's go!"
"Put your ear protection on." He points to the bright yellow earmuffs on the seat.
"I don't need it. I like the noise."
"We require that you wear it. It's a lot louder in the truck than in the stands."
"Okay." I put the earmuffs on, then give him the thumbs up.
He revs the engine. It's so loud and powerful I can feel it vibrating my seat. It's even loud with earmuffs. I love it! The noise. The powerful engine. The size of the truck. I love it all.
And even more? I love the guy who made it all happen.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Cal
Watching Birdie circle the track in that monster truck made me happier than when I won my first golf tournament. That was pretty awesome, but seeing Birdie do something she's always wanted to do? Seeing her this happy? It's better than winning a golf tournament.
"How was it?" I yell as she races down the steps to our seat.
She jumps into my arms. "Oh my God, that was the greatest thing I've ever done! I was so excited I was shaking! I still am!"
I laugh. "Let's sit down."
"I can't. I'm too wound up. I just rode in a monster truck! A real monster truck!"
She can't stop smiling. She's been smiling the whole time we've been here.
"Check it out." I
show her my phone. "I got it on video. Already sent it to you."
She smiles. "I'm starting to believe you about the good boyfriend thing, although I still need that other proof."
I'm counting the seconds until I can give her that other proof. Seeing her jumping up and down in that tight t-shirt, those tight jeans hugging her ass, I'm so turned on I'm about ready to burst. I hope she feels the same way but I'm thinking she might want to wait. Even though we've known each other forever, this is technically our first date. She might think it's too soon.
The show starts up again and Birdie's out of her seat, whooping and hollering with the crowd. I join in but I'm nowhere near as loud as Birdie. It's hard to believe such loud sounds could come out of such a sweet little face. It's like I told her, she's always surprising me. Always making me laugh. Making me smile.
Telling her I love her was a huge risk. She could've rejected me, made fun of me, yelled at me. I was prepared for all that and more, but I still had to tell her. I couldn't keep it a secret any longer.
Last week when Birdie and I weren't talking, I realized how much I love her. I knew I had feelings for her but I didn't want to label them. I didn't want to call it love because I wasn't supposed to fall in love with Birdie. That's been an unspoken rule the entire time I've known her. She's my sister's best friend and that's all she was ever supposed to be. I don't know exactly when she became more than that but it happened. I fell in love with her.
The past few weeks, spending all that time with her, I've come to love her even more. She's the girl I've always wanted. The reason none of my other relationships worked out. This whole time I've been searching for a girl like Birdie but they don't exist. There's only one, and she's been right in front of me this whole time.
"You want to grab something to eat?" I ask as we wait behind a line of cars to leave the stadium.
"You have anything at your apartment?"
I glance at her. She has a smile on her face but it's one I don't know. It's similar to her mischievous smile but mixed with something else.
"My fridge is empty," I tell her. "I need to go shopping."
"I'm sure we could find something." She still has that smile. "Unless you really want to stop somewhere."
"No, I'm good."
She seems really eager to go to my apartment. I don't want to get my hopes up but I'm thinking we might have the same idea. I sure as hell hope so because I really want to be with her tonight.
Kinda Hate You: An Enemies to Lovers College Romance Page 26
