33. Peck

                                    

                                          
Josephine 
I lean back on my elbows and glance at the lake. At the people in the near and far distance. There are groups of friends. Couples. Parents with their little children.
I see a little boy running away from his father while shrieking and laughing. He's trying to look behind his shoulder, but his little feet tangle and he falls on his butt.
The sight makes me smile.
For the past week, Leo and I saw each other every day. Either at my place, cooking, then watching a movie while lounging on my couch. Or we take long walks and he steers me to various kinds of restaurants. Some low key and some very, very fancy. We even visited the zoo yesterday. It was fun feeding the monkey as they dangled from my shoulders and arms.
After the incident where he cut his finger and I realized I have feelings for him, I couldn't stop thinking about it. About him.
Sometimes I think he only sees me as a friend, but when he grabs my hand to steer me in a different direction than I'm supposed to and holds tight to my hand, I think he likes me the same way I do him.
Thankfully, no one interrupted our time together at my place. Maybe because they feel bad after last time or maybe because I've picked up the habit of locking my door once I enter my apartment.
Now, we're laying on the grass in a park after eating at a sushi place. It's the beginning of august and the weather couldn't be more perfect.
I'm wearing a shirt that ties at the front and a black skirt.
I sense Leo leaning his weight on his elbow, his temple on a fisted hand.
Facing him, I see he has his eyes on me already. My eyes stay on him. Even if I tried, I wouldn't be able to turn my gaze away.
Whenever our eyes meet, they latch together with such intensity that only a great force is able to break them apart. I've grown fond of the way his eyes wrinkle at the side with his soft smile. A smile directed at me.
I let my eyes trail his features as I lie flat on my back.
He's the most beautiful human being I've ever seen. His gray eyes shining under the sunlight. His brown hair seems lighter in the sun and it's messy from the humidity and his hands constantly fussing with the strands. His framed cheekbones and sharp jawline rival those of a Greek marble statue. All his features make him look truly a work of art.
As if he was made by an artist that traveled the world, looking for the most gorgeous and breath-taking features and drafted all of them together and the result was Leo.
His lips pull back even more in a wider smile, and I smile back at him. His hand comes up in the air and he, almost hesitantly, reaches for my face. The back of his knuckles graze my cheeks. Then he straightens a bit and his fingers reach the back of my neck.
Our gazes are locked and the world around us seems to have vanished.
His eyes have never been clearer than now before. They're focused on me and only me.
My gaze drops to his tongue darting out to wet his lips and when I meet his eyes again, they're a little more hooded and his face has become serious.
He inches forward and my breathing starts to become erratic.
This is it.
He's going to kiss me.
We've been dancing around our attraction for each other for quite some time now.
But we never cross the line. For what reason, I'm not sure. Maybe we were both afraid it will ruin our friendship. But I'm willing to take that risk.
And so is he, by the way he inches even closer.