Accidental Love (Accidental Crush #2) (7 page)

I glance back at Shane and Sid with a smile
, and they both look relieved that they don't have to make the long walk to our lockers with the anti-Valentine me.

"
Hi," I say as I make my way through the herd of students to finally get close enough to smell his amazing sent. This is what I've been waiting for all day, and he's wearing my favorite light blue thermal shirt.

"
Happy Valentine's Day." He wraps his arms around my waist, and I feel my face start to flush. When will I ever get use to this?
Probably never.

"
Oh, so you did remember?" I'm not going to let him off that easy.

He laughs and looks up to the ceiling with a smile
. "Just come with me." He intertwines his fingers with mine as he guides me through the crowded hall.

"
What class did you have this big project for? I missed you today."

He turns to look back at me as he keeps walking
. "It was really important. And I missed you, too." His smile solidifies my forgiveness, but I need more information. I mean, no one else had this really important assignment.

As soon as we turn the corner
, I know where we're going. I see our closet in the distance. The closet he asked me to prom in, the closet we've escaped school in a few times for amazing make out sessions. Somehow, Todd, being Todd, made friends with the school security guard, Charlie, and he lets him borrow the janitor's closet key occasionally. It's become our special place in school, and it sure beats The Quad. Now, whenever I smell bleach, I think of Todd and our closet. Actually, when I think about it, most of our special places are sterile: hospital chapels, janitor's closets. I'm sensing a theme.

"
Ash? Ashley." I look up to see Todd staring at me with concern. "There you are. Where were you just now?" He strokes my cheek.

I feel the flush wash back over them
. "Uh, I was just thinking about... uh, bleach." I shrug.

Todd laughs
. "Bleach?"

"
Yeah, um, never mind."

"
Okaay…" I can tell he's still trying to figure it out by his sideways glance as he starts to pull out the key. "Close your eyes."

My heart flutters with excitement
. There's no way he can top his prom ask. I start to object, but his look tells me he's not kidding or taking no for an answer, so I squeeze my eyes closed then feel his hand in mine. I hear the key open the lock, and as soon as we step inside, the familiar smell of bleach fills the air, and I smile to myself at the conversation we just had.

"
Okay, open your eyes," he whispers. I feel his cool breath on my neck as I squeeze his hand a little tighter before I open them.

Our closet is filled with pink twinkle lights
, creating a sparkling, pink glow around us. It is hands down more amazing than when he asked me to prom.

"
Look down," he says, squeezing my hand back.

I think I just gasped out loud
, though I'm not sure because I'm in such shock. The floor is covered in bright red rose petals in the shape of a giant, perfect heart. In fact, we're standing in the middle of it and I didn't even notice.

"
It's beautiful," I whisper. It's all so magical it doesn't feel right to speak loudly; it might disrupt the beauty. I bend down to touch the petals then start to unzip my boots.

"
What are you doing?" Todd asks with a laugh.

"
I'm taking off my shoes."

"
I can see that. Why?" He gives me a sly smile.

"
Because when else can you stand in a million rose petals in the shape of a heart? I want to feel them on my toes." They are unbelievably soft. I can't help jumping up and down, my feet landing on what feels like the softest pillow in the world. The petals are cool as they caress my feet, tickling my toes as I stand up on them to kiss him. His lips are the only thing I've ever felt that are softer than these petals.

"
You're amazing," he whispers between kisses as he laughs at my bare feet.

"
I'm amazing? I can't believe you did all this."

"
Well, it was a really important class project." His smile tells me he knows he got away with it.

"
This was your project? This is why I didn't see you all day?" I look around to really take it all in.

"
Guilty." He steps closer to me and grabs my waist. "I started at six-thirty this morning and worked on it every break I had and all through lunch."

"
It's incredible. It sure beats the Student Council VD's." I kiss him through the smile I can't wipe off my face and lose myself in the clear blue beauty of his eyes. "This was totally worth the wait." Then I think of my gift to him and suddenly feel guilty; it's nothing compared to this. "Hey, did you go to your locker at all today?"

"
No. Why?" He asks, pulling back slightly, his curiosity clearly piqued.

"
Well, it's just… that's is where your Valentine's gift is." I look down, embarrassed to meet his eyes since my gift pales in comparison.

"
Really?" He seems so genuinely surprised I got him something I can't hide my smile.

"
Of course." I step in closer to give him a gentle kiss.

"
And you snuck it into my locker?" His grin is deepening, and I can see that he's impressed.

"
Hey, I have connections, too, you know." I kiss him again, pressing my body into his. We are so close now it's impossible to get any closer.

"
Well, what is it?" His cool breath brushes against my lips and I feel his grin on mine.

"
I can't tell you that. You'll have to wait and see." I feel like I should give him a small taste of his own medicine, but I can't do it. I wait exactly one second and then cave. "Okay. I tried to re-create our first date, so sitting in your locker right now is a thermos with very cold hot chocolate and what I'm sure at this point are two pretty disgusting homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

"
Wow. Ash. You did that for me?"

"
Duh." I kiss him again with a little more force.

"
I can't believe I missed it. The one day I didn't go to my stupid locker."

"
Well, if it makes you feel any better, I think this was worth it." I glance around at his amazing surprise. Our lips collide before he pulls back, returning my smile as he bends down.

"
What are you doing?" I ask with a curious laugh.

"
I'm taking off my shoes. You're not the only one who wants 'to feel a million rose petals on your toes,'" he mimics my earlier tone.

I can
't help but laugh as we both stand barefoot in the middle of the most amazing rose petal heart I've ever seen with sparkling, pink lights surrounding us.

I feel his hands make their way back up to my face
as our lips crash into one another. The room is spinning in a blur of twinkle lights and soft lips as I let myself fall into him. We're enveloped in a Valentine Wonderland. Then he picks me up, and the next thing I know, my legs are wrapped around him and I'm on a shelf next to twenty bottles of bleach.

I love his taste
. I love his smell. I love him.
Wait. Did I just think that?
I start to freak myself out for a second before I fall back into the moment and enjoy the bliss of this perfect Valentine's Day.

And to think
, I spent the day doubting him. I make a silent promise to myself to never doubt him again. Then I just enjoy the moment without over thinking it for once in my life.

Chapter 7:
March—Happy Birthday to Me

I'm so excited! Today is my fifteenth birthday and Todd has a surprise planned. He hasn't said a word, but luckily, Sid can't keep a secret to save her life. My parents are in on it, too, and I'm getting a little annoyed that everyone seems to know except me.

From my bed
room, I hear the doorbell ring and my dad open the door downstairs. "Todd, come on in." Even when my dad says his name, my heart flutters.

"
Hey, Todd," I hear Ryan say, walking into the living room—he must have been in the kitchen. As they move farther into the house, their voices get more muffled, so I can't make out what they are saying. I can tell they are talking lower than normal, though.

My heart
is pounding and my stomach feels like it's on a roller coaster. I have a love-hate relationship with surprises. I can't wait to find out what Todd has planned, but I hate that everyone else knows and I don't; and I really, really want to know.

"
Ashley, Todd's here," I hear Dad shout upstairs.

"
Thanks. I'll be right down." I've actually been ready for thirty minutes, which isn't like me. I'm usually always at least ten minutes late for everything. However, I've been sitting here dressed and fully ready, running through a million scenarios in my head.

What could we be doing? I
'm going crazy!
Ever since Sid let it slip that Todd was doing something special for my birthday, I've been trying to read everyone for clues, yet they've all been too good at hiding it, even Sid. After her first slip, she hasn't said a word. She's also been avoiding me as much as possible out of fear she will give something away.

Another thing I hate about not knowing what we
're doing is that I have no idea what to wear. But it's my birthday, so I've decided to dress up. I'm wearing a new seafoam green floral dress with a leather belt and heels. I've been practicing walking in the heels all week and finally have it mastered, sort of.

As I make my way downstairs, I take each step with caution
in order to keep from falling down the stairs and dying before I find out what Todd has planned.
I didn't practice the stairs in heels, damn!
Internally, I keep telling myself to calm down so I don't look like a crazy person when I see Todd, although since technically I'm having a conversation with myself, I guess I am a crazy person.

The living room is empty
, but I hear voices coming from the kitchen. When I walk in, my dad, mom, Ryan, and Todd all instantly stop talking. Todd gives me that smile that I love so much while my Dad looks like he might be in shock. Ryan is the first person to actually speak,

"
Wow, Ash. You look so grown up. You're awfully dressed up for McDonald's and a movie." A sarcastic smile spreads across Ryan's face as Todd pushes him in the arm.

"
Shut up, Ryan." Then he turns his gorgeous gaze toward me. "You look beautiful, Ash." He walks up to hug me. We only hug in front of parents and it still feels weird to have any sort of PDA, but smelling Todd and feeling his strong arms around me is worth the awkwardness.

Shit. McDonalds and a movie
. Is that really what we're doing?
I can't help thinking. I mean, what if Ryan is telling the truth?

"
My baby is all grown up." My dad finally speaks, tears are welling up in his eyes as Mom rubs his arm. I'm pretty sure she is about to cry, too. I. Want. To. Die.

Todd glances at his phone
. "Oh, we better go, or we're gonna miss our train."

"
Yup, let's go," I say, grateful he hasn't noticed the parental waterworks display. "Wait, train?" I turn to look at him.

Todd just laughs and grabs my hand.
"I promise I'll have her back by eleven, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor. See ya, Ry."

'
Eleven?' I mouth to just Todd, and he smiles back. His smile says it all. I can't wait to see what he has planned, and I can't believe we are allowed to stay out until eleven.

***

The next thing I know,
we are on a train on our way into the city. I can't believe it
!
I never get to go into the city
,
especially without my parents. Our town is small
,
but we're actually only thirty minutes outside of Manhattan. It always feels so far away even though it is right next to us. I swear I can count on one hand the number of times I've been there.

Todd
's fingers are entwined with mine. We're sitting so close our knees are touching in our own two-seater
.
The train is packed
,
ye
t I feel like we are the only people on it. I can't stop grinning as the suburban scenery blurs by and changes into the overwhelming skyline that only Manhattan owns. You can feel the electricity in the hustle and bustle of the city even from our seats on the train.

"
I can't believe we're going into the city." I'm so full of shock and excitement I don't even care if we just ride the train into the city then take it back home.

"
I know you love it and don't get to go very often
,
so I wanted to make your birthday special."

"
Anything would be special
,
but this is amazing."

"
Just wait. Today is a day of firsts."

For once
,
I think I love surprises
. P
art of me is dying to know what we're doing
,
but I trust Todd with my whole heart and can't wait to find out what he has planned. So I decide to just go with the flow, as hard as that is for me.

***

Before long
,
we are running to make a ferry.

"
Come on
,
Ash
;
pick up the pace
,
" Todd says through laughter
. I
t couldn't be
clearer
how much better shape he's in than me. I'm already out of breath while he's striding along like he's going for a slow jog.

"
I can't make it
,
" I say through breaks of laughter and wheezing. "Save yourself."

"
You can do it. Let's go, Taylor." He uses his best coach voice.

I start to laugh even harder
, which makes it more difficult to run
.
"I'm not Ryan. I don't play sports, remember
?
" I stop and pull him back. "Can't we just stay here?"

"
No." He shakes his head and smiles at me. His eyes are glistening in the sunshine, just like the water behind him. Then he picks me up and starts running through the crowds of people. I bury my head in his chest
,
partly out of humiliation and partly because I can't stop laughing at how ridiculous we must look to everyone walking by
,
yet Todd could care less.

We just make the ferry by seconds. We were in such a hurry to get on I didn
't even realize where the ferry is going
,
but once I notice, I can't believe it
.

"
Are we going to the Statue of Liberty?"

"
Yup
,
"
h
e says with that same I
-
know
-
I
-
pulled
-
one
-
over
-
on
-
you grin. He brushes a loose strand of hair out of my face and places it behind my ear. "You said you've never been, so I wanted to be the one to take you. It's one of my favorite things to do in the city." His clear blue eyes are locked on mine
.

"
I don't know what to say. Thank you."

"
Just wait." After he pulls me up, we make our way out onto the boat deck. The air is cool
with
a tinge of spring, and you know warmth is right around the corner.

"
Turn around
,
"
h
e whispers to me, and when I do
,
I see all of lower Manhattan. Seeing the city from the train is one thing
,
but seeing it from the water is magical. It seems unbelievably massive, and yet
,
almost like I could reach out and touch it, as if it's a toy.

"
Wow
,
I've never seen the city from here before."

"
Incredible, right?"

"
Exactly the word I was thinking."

His arms are wrapped around me from behind as we both stare in awe and
she
er
amazement of the city. I love feeling his warmth envelop me. He leans in and kisses my cheek
,
send
ing
chills through my body.

"
Happy birthday
,
"
h
e says as he continues to kiss my neck. I can't help giggl
ing
at his feather-like breath.

The Statue of Liberty is just as majestic as I thought she
'd be, and there is something incredible about seeing her from the water as we pull up to the dock
.
I can't help thinking this is exactly how our ancestors saw her for the first time. She is so much more imposing than I've ever imagined
;
you don't realize it until you are standing right under her.

I can
't believe how high up we are as we stand on her narrow platform. The wind is whipping around us, causing my hair to blow everywhere. Everything is amazing except I'm extremely afraid of heights, and all I really want to do is go back down to the ground level where my feet can safely touch the grass. My hands are sweating and my heart feels like it's now beating in my stomach.

When I look up at Todd, I realize my hair is
smacking him in the face and some may have just blown into his mouth
—
how humiliating
—
but he seems extremely comfortable, like he doesn't have a care in the world. When he looks down at me and smiles, the look on his face changes as soon as he registers how uncomfortable I am
.

"
What's wrong, Ash? Are you ok
ay
?"

I give him a nervous smile and laugh
.
"I'm just a little, tiny bit afraid of heights." I pull my hand away from his, but he reaches back for it and feels the sweat on my palms.

"
Wow, you are?
Y
ou better get ready then because we're going all the way to the top."

"
What?"

"
Yeah
,
I bought tickets for the crown."

"
You what?"

"
Nothing but the best for your birthday
. B
esides
,
you have to see the view from up there. I told you it's a day of firsts." He cradles my face in his hands and turns me toward him so our gazes lock. "Trust me
,
Ash
;
you can do it
.
I'll be right there with you." He strokes my cheek with the pad of his thumb
.
"Wow, you're really scared
,
aren't you?"

I squeeze my eyes shut, mostly out of embarrassment, and shake my head yes.

"Listen, we don't have to go up if you don't want to
.
I just think you'll really love it once you're up there. But, if you don't want to go, we won't."

Something about Todd understanding, really unde
rstanding, and that he's giving me the option not to go makes it all ok
ay
. His wanting to share this with me makes me want to do it. That is
,
until we get to the tinniest steps I've ever seen in my life. They are so small my entire foot doesn't even fit on them, and I'm wearing my stupid heels, which I'm not very good with on regular, flat ground
, never mind going up a million microscopic steps!

We have to walk single file because the space is so tight there is no way another human could fit next to me. Todd is in front of me
, and I'm holding onto the waist of his pants for dear life.
I am going to kill him. KILL him.
My heart is pounding like a hammer inside my chest while I can't bear to look anywhere except at Todd's butt right in front of me, consequently I guess there is one positive. Even that doesn't seem worth it, though; I can look at his butt anytime I want.