Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 52440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
She laughs, pressing her face against his arm. "I don't think it works that way, He-Man."
"It should."
"I'll always be your little girl," I promise, flinging my arms around my dad in a fierce hug, trying to soothe him.
He grumbles and then squeezes me tight, but he gives up complaining about my dress. Thank God. Because this is definitely the dress that's going to make Teo crack, and I need him to crack.
I've been waiting my whole dang life for him to kiss me—really kiss me. If he doesn't do it tonight, I may cry. I want this thing between us to finally be official. I'm tired of telling everyone we're just friends when I'm not sure if we've ever been just friends. Can you be just friends with someone who feels like they're part of you? I kind of doubt it.
"Oh, Nadia," my little sister, Innessa, says, popping her head into the room. "You look so pretty. Maxim! Come and see Nadia's dress!"
Exactly two and a half seconds later, our seven-year-old brother comes racing down the hall, bumping into walls the whole way. He skids to a stop at the door, tripping over his own feet. His dark eyes settle on me, his expression somber.
"I don't like it," he says after a minute, crossing his arms just like Dad. "It's short."
"Mom!" I cry, throwing my arms out in protest. What is wrong with him and my dad? The dress isn't too short!
"It is short," my dad mumbles to his little mini-me. "But it is her body and her choice, Maxim. We do not decide what women wear."
"Then what do we do?" Maxim demands, clearly not liking this answer.
Dad gives him a smile that's pure wickedness. "We go downstairs and have stern talk with Mateo about where his hands do and do not go at this dance."
"Oh my God," I groan, flopping down on my bed as Innessa giggles.
Maxim practically launches himself down the hall, more than willing to help terrorize Teo even though he has no idea what my dad is even talking about. He's seven!
Innessa follows him out, with my dad trailing behind.
"Do you need help finishing your hair, sweetheart?" Mom asks, lingering in the doorway.
"Zoya is going to help me finish it," I say, referring to my almost sixteen-year-old sister.
"Then I'll go make sure your father behaves when Mateo gets here." She presses the back of her hand to my cheek, giving me a reassuring smile. "You look beautiful, sweetheart. Your daddy thinks so, too." A soft laugh escapes. "He wouldn't be so upset if he didn't."
"I know," I agree, my lips twitching, and then I hesitate. "Um, Mom? Can I ask you something?"
"Anything. You know that."
A blush steals across my cheeks, staining them as I fidget, not sure how to ask this. "Um…how did you convince Dad to kiss you for the first time?"
"Oh," she whispers softly. "You want Mateo to kiss you?"
I bite my lip, staring at her with wide eyes. "I think so? I mean…maybe?" I squeeze my eyes closed as my cheeks burn. "So bad," I finally admit in a whisper. "But he never does!"
I've done everything but outright ask, and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I know he wants to kiss me. He looks at me sometimes like he's going to snap if he doesn't kiss me. But then he just…doesn't do it.
It's driving me crazy!
"Well," Mom says slowly, "your father is a crazy man. He didn't take any convincing."
I giggle because she's not wrong. My dad is crazy about her. And crazy in general. He chases her around like they're newlyweds.
"But Mateo is a little bit more reserved than your father. He loves just as fiercely, but you two have been friends for a long time. And he's always looked out for you. I think maybe he's trying to look out for you now."
"How so?"
Mom settles beside me on the bed. "How do you think he'd feel if he kissed you and it ruined your friendship? He'd be pretty upset with himself."
"Yeah, I guess that's true." I didn't really think about that. "He'd probably think he did something to hurt me."
"Exactly. So if you want him to kiss you, I think you're going to have to be direct and tell him that, sweetheart," she murmurs, sliding her arm around my shoulders to hug me. "That way, he knows he has permission."
"Ugh," I groan. "Relationships are so complicated."
She laughs quietly. "They aren't so complicated. Be honest, be patient, and be kind to one another." She hesitates. "And don't rush things, Nadia. You two have plenty of time to grow up and explore other facets of your relationship. Don't force things too soon just because you're in the heat of the moment or because it's what everyone else is doing, okay?"
"Are you talking about sex?" I ask, my eyes narrowed on her.