Falling Into You by Jasinda Wilder Read Free Book Online

out late, though. I’ve already cleared everything with them. Our temporary curfew for tonight is two a.m.”
    I cut my eyes at him. “Two? Planning on keeping me out that late, huh, Kyle?”
    He blushed. “Maybe.”
    I took a deep breath, knowing I had to broach the subject. I didn’t think he would. “About tonight. Are we…I mean…if we’re staying out late, does that mean you’re planning on us—” I couldn’t get the words out.  
    Kyle fiddled with the gearshifter, chewing on his lower lip. Finally he glanced at me as we pulled to a stop at a red light. “Look, I know what you’re getting at, and…I’ve made arrangements. You know, in case that’s what we want. But we don’t have to. I want it to be right.”
    “You’ve made arrangements? What does that mean?”
    He blushed again, redder than ever. “We have a room at the Red Roof Inn. It’s just down the road from where we’re having dinner.”
    I tried to joke. “Getting a bit presumptuous, are we, Mr. Calloway?”  
    Kyle grinned at me, but we both knew the joke had fallen flat. “Just…in case.”
    A thought struck me and I blurted it out before I had a chance to over-think it. “Kyle? Have you thought that maybe we’re not ready if we can’t even talk about it without getting uncomfortable?”
    He laughed, a nervous sound. “Yeah, that thought has crossed my mind.”
    “Are we doing this because it’s what all our friends are doing?”
    He glanced at me in irritation. “No! I mean, Jason told me about him and Becca, and I know Aaron and Kyla have done it too, but no. No. And we’re not doing anything, necessarily. I just wanted to have the option available.”
    I laughed, more at myself than anything else. “I don’t know if I’m touched that you thought ahead, or weirded out that you assumed we would.”
    “I didn’t assume anything, Nell.” Kyle sounded almost angry. “I just—you know what, yeah. I did assume. I mean, I really want to be with you, Nell. I know we’re young, but I love you. I think we’re ready.”
    I stared at him: he’d said the words. “We’re sixteen, Kyle.” I quirked an eyebrow at him. “And aren’t you supposed to wait until a romantic moment during dinner to tell me you love me? The middle of an argument doesn’t seem like the best time for it, you know?”
    “Is this an argument?”  
    I shrugged. “Kind of? I don’t know. I don’t want it to be.”
    “Me neither. And I guess you’re right, but it’s out there now. I do love you. I’ve been wanting to say it to you for weeks now, but I’ve been too chicken. I was planning on telling you tonight. I had a whole thing scripted. Like, actually written out.” He dug into his pants pocket and pulled out a folded piece of lined notebook paper, edges ragged with ripped-out spiral-bound tags.  
    I know we’re young, it read. And I know most people would say we’re just kids, or to young too know what love is. But screw that. I’ve known you my whole entire life. We have shared everything together. Every important thing in our lives has happened together. We learned to ride bikes together and we learned to swim together and we learned to drive cars together. We failed 8 th grade algebra together. (Remember how nasty Mr. Jenkins was? How many times were we sent to the office that semester?). And now we’re learning how to fall in love together. I don’t care what any one else says. I love you. I’ll always love you, no matter what happens with us in the future. I love you now and forever.  

    Your loving boyfriend,
    Kyle

    I read the note through several times. I wasn’t aware that I was crying until something plopped onto the crinkled, much-folded page, spreading a wet blue stain over the ink. This changed everything.
    “I love you too, Kyle.” I laughed, even as I sniffled. “This note is so sweet. So perfect. Thank you.”
    He shrugged. “It’s true. I know this wasn’t maybe the most romantic way for me to tell you I