(RORY’S POV) The air around us seemed to hum with an unspoken understanding, a delicious secret we shared. “Good morning, Candy,” he murmured against my lips, pulling back just enough for me to breathe. His eyes, the color of warm honey, gazed into mine, full of a tenderness that made my heart ache in the best way.“Good morning,” I whispered back, my voice a little breathless, my cheeks still warm from his kiss. I leaned into his touch, savoring the warmth of his hands on my face, the feeling of being utterly cherished. The earlier embarrassment with Rosalie faded into insignificance. All that mattered was this moment, with him.He dropped his hands from my face, but immediately reached for my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine, a familiar comfort. He opened the passenger door for me with a flourish, his smile widening. “After you, my lady.”I giggled, a genuine, unforced sound, and slid into the seat. The scent of his cologne, a subtle, musky scent that was uniquely him, env
(RORY’S POV)“And I’ve got a blank space, baby! And I’ll write your name!” I sang loudly, my voice a joyful, unburdened lilt, as I expertly flipped a pancake in the gleaming non-stick pan. My earphones were plugged in, a blissful barrier against the mundane, as Taylor Swift’s infectious melody filled my ears. This beautiful early Wednesday morning felt charged with an almost tangible sense of anticipation, and my mood was soaring, light as the fluffy chocolate chip pancakes I was meticulously crafting.My sister, Rosalie, was perched on a stool by the counter, her head resting on her hands, her eyes, usually sleepy at this hour, following me suspiciously around the kitchen. I didn’t even spare her a glance, too immersed in my own joyful bubble. I continued singing off-key to Taylor Swift, the melody a buoyant accompaniment to my movements as I arranged a stack of golden-brown pancakes on a plate. Humming, a soft, contented sound, I then poured us both some fresh orange juice, the vibr
(TODD’S POV)The best part of spending time with Rory was spending time with Rory and the worst part of it was the night coming to an end.The moment we were leaving there, I could feel myself already missing her strongly. Trying my best not to beg her to stay longer in there with me and have more ice cream.So that we could keep on talking integer for ages! But the truth is that even if I beg her to spend more time with me, I would still find it hard to let her go. The drive to her house was quieter, a comfortable silence settling in the car, filled only with the gentle hum of the engine and the soft brush of our joined hands. When I pulled into her driveway, the house was mostly dark, a soft, welcoming glow coming from an upstairs window.“Thanks for tonight, Todd,” Rory said, her voice soft, almost a whisper, as she turned in her seat to face me. The distant streetlight cast a faint halo around her hair, highlighting the delicate curve of her cheek, making her look almost ethereal
(TODD’S POV)Rory’s wide, breathless smile was like a shot of pure sunshine after the chaotic whirlwind of the day. Her lips, still wonderfully swollen and rosy from our kiss in the car, were an irresistible invitation, and it took every ounce of my self-control, every shred of discipline I possessed, not to pull her back into my arms right there in the brightly lit Scoops parking lot. The way her eyes had fluttered when I pulled away, the soft gasp that escaped her lips, told me everything I needed to know. She felt it too. This raw, untamed current that surged between us, a magnetic force powerful enough to blot out every external distraction.“Now, ice cream it is, love?” I’d asked, trying to sound casual, even as my own heart hammered against my ribs like a drum solo. I loved that little nickname for her. “Candy.” It was gotten from her middle name Candace and It fit her perfectly, sweet and undeniably addictive. She’d managed a shaky “Yes. Ice cream it is,” and I’d almost laughed
(RORY’S POV) A burst of laughter escaped my lips, a light, bubbling sound that still felt wonderfully unfamiliar. Amanda had just recounted a hilariously awkward exchange she’d witnessed in the cafeteria, and I was genuinely amused, a rare, unburdened moment. The carefree feeling, however, shattered in an instant when I felt a warm, strong hand snake around my waist. My breath hitched, a sharp gasp catching in my throat, but just as quickly as it appeared, the hand was gone, leaving a ghost of warmth in its wake. Todd was suddenly walking beside me, a mischievous, goofy grin plastered across his face, his eyes sparkling with a playful glint that mirrored the one in Amanda’s. I stopped dead in my tracks, and so did he, and Amanda, who had been strolling casually on my left. She cast a knowing smirk between the two of us, and I immediately noticed that familiar, conspiratorial glint deepen in her eyes, a silent, teasing acknowledgment of the very conversation we’d just had. “Hey, can
(RORY’S POV)I love listening to what Amanda is saying. It feels la genuine and so true and I feel like I am soaking in her words very well.Now, I am more than ready for whatever she wants to say because I really want to hear this part.The reason why Todd pulls away. “You said you wonder if it’s because you’re not doing things right. Let me tell you right now, that’s almost certainly not the reason. You’re overthinking it. If he treats you like a princess, as you said, and if he likes you as much as you like him, then his hesitation probably comes from a place of respect, not disappointment.”She picked up a pen and twirled it between her fingers, a small gesture that hinted at her own experience. “Boys can be just as nervous, if not more so, than girls, especially when they genuinely care about someone. He might be stopping because he’s trying to be respectful, trying not to push your boundaries. He might be worried about making you uncomfortable, or he might be trying to gauge y