As I release Cruz's hand from mine, my ballsiness shocks me. I can't believe that I actually kissed him. Well, his hand. But still! I can't believe what I said, either.

There.

All better.

I want to die of embarrassment. My cheeks are burning up. Yet, as I sneak a peek in Cruz's direction, he looks pleased.

A slow smile is spreading across his face, and, to my surprise, he responds to my lame-ass there, all better with—

"Actually..."

I prompt, "Yes?"

Still smiling, Cruz lifts his hand to his face. His thumb traces the cut on his lip. He murmurs, "Hurts here, too."

Oh.

Em.

Gee.

Is this going where I think it's going?

I squeak, "Does it?"

Cruz nods and continues to watch me through a hooded gaze. With wide eyes, I stammer, "What do you, ah, want me to do about it?"

"Dunno," Cruz says, shrugging like he did moments ago. He keeps his expression totally innocent, neutral, and impossible to decode.

I blink. "Um..."

Then, he smirks. "I kinda liked what you did earlier, though."

Wait, what?

Does Cruz-motherfucking-Recker actually want me to kiss him?

My heart does a celebratory cartwheel in my chest. I feel so badass. I feel so wanted. I feel so fucking awesome.

Until—

I remember something that brings me crashing back down to earth. I blurt out, "What about the girl you like?"

His green eyes grow large for a second before they sharpen with some kind of understanding.

Cruz releases a sigh. "Athena..."

"What?"

He shoots me a pointed look. "I'm trying to kiss the girl I like, but she's being kinda thick in the head right now."

I take a moment to process this information.

"Okay..."

0.02 seconds later, I realize that he just insulted me.

Rude!

But I also realize something that blows my fucking mind. "You like... me?"

Cruz sighs again, "Unfortunately, yes."

I decide to let the "unfortunately" slide. For now. I lean toward him with a sly grin. "So... you want to kiss me?"

He arches an eyebrow. "Maybe."

I growl in disapproval, "Maybe?"

He laughs. "Definitely."

"But, like, do you still have feelings for the other girl?"

At this time, Cruz reaches over to flick my forehead with his middle finger. Not hard enough to leave a mark. But hard enough to sting.

"Ouch!" I gasp. "Why did you do that?"

"Because you deserve it."

Rubbing my forehead in indignation, I huff, "What the fuck!"

He chides gruffly, "You're the other girl, you idiot. You've always been the girl I like. There has never been anyone else."

My mouth falls open. "Shut up."

Cruz tosses me a mildly annoyed scowl. "Yeah."

I want to pinch myself. "Really?"

He grunts, "Uh-huh."

Holy moly.

I can't believe that Cruz has liked me this whole time!

I feel like I'm floating on cloud nine. I sigh blissfully, "Wow..."

"Is that all you have to say?"

I glance over to Cruz kind of shyly. "Of course not—"

He waits for me to continue. I assume he wants to know how I feel about him.

So, I confess, "Maybe I, uh... kinda like you, too."

Cruz scoffs, "Maybe?"

This time, I'm the one snickering at him. "Definitely."

With a crooked grin, he reaches over to hold my hand. Cruz looks happy when he says, "I'm glad we finally cleared that up."

I give his hand an affectionate, little squeeze. "Right?"

Our gazes cross again as we sit beside each other on his bed. The mood between us feels quiet, calm, and lovely. As I stare sheepishly into his beautiful green eyes, I feel so at peace and so incredibly blessed. This is a moment to tuck inside my heart, for sure. To remember. To cherish.

I've never felt this way about anyone before Cruz, and I don't know if there's a better feeling in the world than finding out that the person you like actually likes you back. Everything in the universe feels as though it clicks in place, like, Cruz and I are two matching jigsaw pieces who have finally found each other.

In this very moment, I'm so fucking happy that I forget everything else that's wrong and awful and fucked up about my life.

I wish this feeling could last forever. I know it can't, though, because fleeting moments like these never do. That's what makes them special, I guess.

In the next second, Cruz's expression softens as he asks, "So... where do we go from here?"

His question wrings reality back into play. It yanks us away from our happy place and douses me in an ice bucket of problems that I'd much rather forget.

Suddenly, I remember everything that's wrong and awful and fucked up about my life.

Ron and Aunt Katrina are still getting married.

Chrissa and Brody are still looming over me like inescapable shadows.

These problems feel too heavy for me to handle.

Weakly, my head drops onto Cruz's shoulder as I release a defeated sigh, "Honestly, I have no fucking clue."