Free One Song Away by Molli Moran Page A

am in no way prepared for another kiss like the last one. He must know, so he keeps this one gentle, but still lingering. I sink into him, but the kiss ends too soon, and he straightens.
    “Goodnight, Claire.” Before I can say anything, he gets in his car and drives into the night. I stare after him, my hand pressed to my lips.
     

 
    Chapter Nine
     
    I see Jake before he notices me, so I stop walking. It’s not often I get a chance like this. He’s leaning against the front wall of the movie theater, and the light from the marquee is shining down on him. His hair is just long enough that it needs a trim, and as he glances down at his phone, a few dark strands fall into his eyes. He types something, and a moment later, my phone buzzes. I feel my heartbeat increase as I pull my phone out of my purse and unlock it.
     
    You never should have let me pick the movie. We’re watching this new action flick I’ve been dying to see. Can’t wait to see you tonight.
     
    There’s a smile playing at the corners of his lips, and he looks so cute, I can’t help but type a return text. When I look up from my phone, Jake is holding the door for an elderly couple as they enter the theater. I can practically feel myself melting.
     
    Almost there. Action, huh? You’re buying me popcorn and candy for this, Coop.
     
    I watch him laugh as he reads the text. He looks…happy. My phone buzzes a few seconds later.
     
    Wouldn’t have it any other way.
     
    Ducking behind a minivan, I give myself a few seconds to catch my breath. It’s becoming more difficult each day to balance my friendship with Jake, with this pretend relationship. This is our first real “date” since the dinner with my family. Even though logically I know it isn’t an actual date, my mind—or more likely, my heart—is blurring the lines. I know he’s just doing all of this to help me, out of the friendship we had before graduation, and because he is a genuinely good guy. I just hope we can go back to our easy friendship once this is over. I know that’s the only relationship we’ll have, and that on his part it hasn’t changed, but things for me are infinitely more complicated now.
    I can do this. Smoothing my skirt as I round the vehicles, I approach him. He still hasn’t seen me, so I drink in a final unabashed glance. He has his hands in his pockets and his sunglasses on, but when he sees me, he takes them off and smiles. And that smile almost undoes my otherwise successful attempt to appear calm and unflappable.
    I can lie to my family, but I can’t lie to myself. I am not calm and I am not unflappable. Truthfully, I’m a teeming mass of first-date nerves, because even though this is all an act carefully choreographed over late nights at Freshly Ground, it feels real. If only to me.
    Jake straightens as he catches sight of me. “Hey.” He hooks his sunglasses onto his shirt collar and opens his arms to me.
    I walk into them without hesitation. I’m too far into this whole ruse to back out right now. I have to follow it through and pray I don’t end up making a fool of myself. Jake is doing a bang-up job of straddling the line between real and pretend, so I better be able to do the same. I wrap my arms around his neck and lean into him. When I kiss his cheek, his scent surrounds me, but I force myself to hold the pose in case anyone is watching.
    For probably the millionth time, I realize “dating” Jake wasn’t my most brilliant idea ever. I want to feel confident, but I feel completely unhinged instead.
    “Hey.” When I finally put some space between us, he takes my hand before I’m outside his reach. I’m getting better at not letting his gestures surprise me, but I can’t deny that his casual arm around my shoulder, or his hand on the small of my back feels more than friendly.
    “Where are you going?” There’s an unmistakable flirtatious tone to his voice. Is he trying to kill me?
    I make the mistake of looking at him, and