Free Accidental Love (Accidental Crush #2) by Adrienne Torrisi Page A

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