And before she could get her breath back from that, he put his hands back on her shoulders and said, “I have to ask you a question.” “Okay.” “But I’m embarrassed.” “Okay.” “But it’s important.” “You’re making me nervous,” she said. “I’m thinking of kissing you,” he confessed. She actually felt this sentence in her chest. With his hands on her shoulders, she wondered if he could feel the reverb. “That’s not a question,” she managed. “I’m getting there, I’m getting there. Don’t rush me.” He smiled his lopsided smile at her. “Will you be happy if I kiss you?”
