Asher's eyes stay on the road but he shakes his head. "Nope," he replies easily.
                          
"Well I was thinking, maybe, if you want, it's no big deal if—"
                          
Asher cuts off my rambling. "Spit it out Maeleigh," he tells me with a chuckle. The deep laugh eases some of the nerves that claw their way through me.
                          
"I was wondering if you would want to come over tonight for dinner and meet my mom?" The question comes out messy as I spit the words out quickly.
                          
My pulse resounds in my ears as my hand sits clammily in Asher's waiting for him to speak.
                          
"Sure," he says with a small shrug as if the response was easy.
                          
A smile stretches across my face. "Really?" I breathe.
                          
He turns his head and meets my gaze as we stop at a light right around the corner from school. "Yeah," he responds. "I'd love to come over," he tells me without hesitation.
                          
My hand squeezes his as once again that deep winding, heart-racing emotion of love fills me.
                          
"Cool," I murmur trying to act calm even though my body is overflowing with happiness. "Does six work for you?"
                          
"Sounds great."
                          
"Thanks for driving me," I tell him as I've told him every day so far this week. I don't live as close to the school as he does so he has to drive out of the way to take me. I offered to take the bus, but he refused and has showed up every morning.
                          
"Stop thanking me for driving you. It's honestly just a selfish excuse to be around you," his words strike my heart and my cheeks burn at his words.
                          
We slowly pull into school and Asher finds parking near the front entrance.
                          
"Plus I like giving you breakfast," he teases before handing me a small white paper bag. A paper bag I know holds a pink frosted donut with sprinkles.
                          
I open the bag even though I know what it holds. I dip my finger in the sugary frosting before licking it off. "Thank you," I tell him truthfully.
                          
Asher leans in and places his lips against mine. He's gentle as he lets his lips move against mine with a slow burning passion. He pulls away too quickly and let his eyes linger on me. Those dark eyes burn me as he takes me in, watches me as if he's in awe of me.
                          
A pout paints my lips at the fact he pulled away. "Why'd you stop?" I tease.
                          
At my words his lips pull into a smile. My smile.
                          
And I can't help but melt.
                          
* * * * *
                          
"Mom?" I call out as soon as I walk through the front door of my house.
                          
"In here!" Her voice rings from the kitchen. I drop my backpack and turn the corner to see her at the table on her computer.
                          
I pause not knowing how to start. My mouth dries and my tongue darts out to wet my lips and try and find the right words.
                          
"Is everything okay?" My mother questions her eyes narrowing in on me from across the room.
                          
I nod. "Yeah," I trail, feeling my heartbeat echo throughout my entire body. "Do you remember that boy I talked about?" I question bringing up the boy I spoke about during our spring break road trip.
                          
A smile touches her lips. "Of course," she responds gently.
                          
"Well...we are dating now...I guess," I stutter out awkwardly on an uneasy breath. "I want you to meet him so he's coming to dinner tonight," I confess. I wanted to tell my mother sooner about dinner, but nerves kept holding me back.