"No," he shook his head, "They're focused on the superficial things. None of that matters. You believe that I can be a good person. A better person than my father was. I remember every time you put me in my place, and I thank you for it." "You don't have to thank me," I whispered. Luke has done more for me this semester than anyone I could have ever dreamt of. Of all people in this school, how can the handsome athlete be the one to take care of a nobody? He gave me a lot of bullsh*t along the way, but ultimately, he was there for me. How did someone like me and someone like him ever connect this way? "I want you to know that I'm telling the truth," he continued, "When you asked me why I never invited you home before, I lied. The truth is I didn't want you to meet my family because I'm scared you'll see a part of me you don't like. My family..." "I won't think of your family. I know they love you, but you are your own person with your own destiny. And I know you." He nodded, but he didn't say anymore. I didn't want to pry into his family life. All I knew is what Jake had told me; that Mr Dawson was married to his mother before he cheated on her. Both women became pregnant and Mr Dawson left Jake's mother for the other woman... Luke's mother. "Are you going to give me a sign?" he asked, his eyes lighting up an electric blue. I saw specks of gray darting in his eyes, dancing across them. His mischievous nature was back. "What do you mean a sign?" I laughed. "A sign that you like me," he answered simply, "You're like a statue, Millie. I can't read you." Oh wow. His smile broadened and my lips couldn't find the words to speak. Stepping close to me, he whispered, "I know you get shivers every time I touch you." His fingers lightly brushed my arm and, as if by reflex, sending shivers tingling through my spine. Damn he must be smug about that. "And I know how uncomfortable you get whenever I take my shirt off," he continued. I gasped, "You're not going to-" "Cool down Mills. We're not in a magic mike movie." "Could've fooled me," I muttered. My cheeks were blushing, and I wanted to fan myself to cool down. "Aside from our chemistry," he said, "I want to know if there's a deeper part of you that likes me." "That's a really big question," I answered. "OK," he accepted, "How about this? You miss a shot and you answer a question." He raised a basketball in his left hand and casually twirled it in the air. I stared at him. He threw the ball at me lightly, and I couldn't catch it. I fumbled and the ball went between my legs. I chased after it and, when I finally returned with ball in hand, I said, "No, no. If I get the ball in, I'll answer a question." AKA, never buddy. "OK." He accepted the deal. "Three chances." I threw the ball into the air and it went in a pathetic half circle, right into Luke's arms. "Aim for the hoop, right? Not me," he clarified. "Yeah, I know that," I said, embarrassed to admit that I "Bend your knees," he coached me, "And form a 'c' shape with your shooting arm. Make sure your hand is under the ball, not off to one side-" "Luke!" With all this coaching, I might actually get the ball in. Which is not the goal. I jumped and threw the ball. It soared through the air, much higher than I thought I could throw. Luke turned around, mouth wide, to watch it. The ball bounced off the dashboard and onto the rim of the hoop. We watched it. The ball rolled around the rim. And fell off. Luke cursed and I laughed. "See! You shouldn't bet on me!" "I always will," he responded and handed me the ball again. This was my last chance. Luke clapped me on. I turned the ball in my hand until I felt comfortable with the grip. I raised it towards the hoop. "OK, legs bent," I repeated his words, trying to concentrate. "Arm higher," he said, walking towards me. "Where do I aim?" I asked, my eyes focused on the towering hoop, even though Luke walking towards me was insanely distracting. He was next to me now. His tall strong body standing next to me. "Focus on the rim," he said. How can I focus on anything? I inhaled his musky scent and heard the deep undertone in his voice. Now that he was this close, I could see the sweat glinting off his smooth skin. He took my arm and raised it higher. He adjusted my fingertips under the ball with his fingers. His hand trickled down my waist and he pressed down, so that my legs would bend more. "Where are you going?" I whispered, feeling his body move behind me. "Focus," he whispered, his strong hands resting on my waist. Suddenly, I felt the weight of the floor under me disappear. Luke lifted me into the air and walked us towards the hoop. His strong arms wrapped around my waist as he lifted me higher. His movements were smooth and steady. "Shoot," he said. I did. There wasn't far I needed to aim. Luke had taken me so close and lifted me so high, that f I reached out, I could touch the rim. The ball smoothly went into the net with a satisfying swish. "Yes!!" I yelled out as Luke lowered me with equal energy. I jumped into his arms and he wrapped them around me. "You did it!" My head buried itself in his shoulder and felt the comforting warmth of his protection. I looked up at him and realized that his gaze was different... Blue eyes that could melt me with his stare. Pink lips that were so soft to touch. Perfection. If there ever was such a thing. The colors around him blurred. All I could see was Luke. His face leaned towards mine. He held my gaze with a tenderness that filled my heart in anticipation. Trepidation. Bliss. What about that question? Our lips were close, teasingly close. He exhaled onto my lips and I shivered at the feeling. We had been this close before, but we had been interrupted. Twice before. This time... No interruption. He brushed a strand of hair out of my eyes and kissed me. The distance between our lips disappeared into a kiss that was passionate and tender. Luke's lips felt soft and secure on my skin, like they belonged there. The sensations I felt before melted into one, just as I felt myself melt into him. His smooth hands on my body tightened as he felt me weaken. I breathed in deeply, surprised by the sensation, and my lips parted. Our tongues touched. His hand rested on the side of my neck, and the tips of his fingers touched my face. He raised my chin gently towards him and deepened the kiss.