Chapter 23: Date (Hope's POV)

"Bye, Mr. Kingston," Blake smiled at my dad. We just finished dinner and he's about to head back home. 

"Bye, son," my dad said, already halfway to his room. 

"Son?" Blake mumbled to me. "In law?" he whispered with a smirk.

"Don't you think you're way too into your head sometimes?" I asked, pushing him towards the front door. 

"No," he shook his head. 

"Not at all." 

"Hmm, well I do," I chuckled. 

"Well, I think you're wrong." 

"I think I'm right." 

"Sorry to disappoint, but the lady isn't always right," he smirked. 

"She is right now," I said, opening the door and pushing him out. 

"How rude," he scoffed. 

"Goodnight," I sang. 

He grabbed my waist and kissed me quickly before pulling away. "Bye," he smirked. 

I shut the door and shook my head clear of the hazy thoughts before going into the kitchen to grab some ice cream. I grabbed a spoon and was taking a bowl when I jumped, seeing Blake in front of the kitchen window. My hand flew to my chest while I exhaled. I rolled my eyes, setting the bowl down and opening the kitchen window. "What the hell are you doing?" I asked. 

"I was just about to leave, relax," he smiled, leaning his head through the window, resting his elbows on it. "I just had to ask you something." I raised my eyebrows at him questioningly. "Are you free tomorrow?" 

"Depends on why you're asking," I smiled. 

"I'm asking because I was wondering if you'd want to go out," he paused. "On a date." 

"Oh?" I chuckled. 

"Oh," he nodded. 

"And where do you suggest we go on this date?" I leaned forward, my hands on the edge of the counter and my face inches from his. 

"I suggest we decide that together so neither one of us is complaining," he said, his eyes traveling down to my lips. 

"Good idea, where do you want to go? I'll let you know what I think. Then I'll suggest a place and you let me know what you think." I brushed his hair out of his eyes but that one strand just kept falling forward so I let it be. It looked good that way. 

"I suggest..." He started leaning in but I grabbed his chin, tilting his face up. 

"You suggest?" 

"I suggest the arcade. It's where we were together last before you left. Not to mention, it's really fun." 

I couldn't help but grin at his answer. "The arcade it is." 

"I'll pick you up at four?" 

"Four," I nodded in agreement. "See you then." 

He leaned in, stealing another kiss. "Bye." 

"Bye," I chuckled. He turned around and left and I closed and locked the window, taking my ice cream up to my room. About ten minutes into the ice cream session, it dawned on me that this is a real date. Even if it's just at the arcade, it's a real date. I put the empty bowl down and stood up, heading over to my closet. I opened the closet and started looking for something to wear. 

I want to look pretty but I don't want to be uncomfortable for the whole day either so we're going to meet in the middle, of course. I first grabbed my favorite boyfriend jeans and tossed them onto my bed and then turned to all my crewnecks and sweaters. I found a simple white one with cherries stitched all over the top. It was a v-neck sweater with four big buttons down the middle so I guess it also works as a cardigan top. But I'm just going to wear it as a sweater. 

I tossed that onto the bed as well. I grabbed white sneakers and laid them out on the floor as well before closing the closet and then went over to my vanity, pulling out a pair of hoops and placing them on top of the table. I let my hair down from the bun it was in and brushed it through, grabbing my straightener. I whined, plugging it in and leaving it to heat up. This is such a long process and I dread it every time yet I continue to do it. 

My alarm rang the next morning and became my wake up call. I turned it off and rubbed my eyes, slowly getting out of bed. There was a knock on my door and I looked at my phone in confusion. It's nearly noon and it's not a Sunday, so it's not my dad. "Come in!" I called out. 

The door opened and revealed Blake. "Hi," he grinned. 

"What are you doing here?" I laughed. 

"What do you mean?" he frowned in confusion while walking over to me. 

"I mean the date is at four. How did you even get inside?" 

He lay beside me on his stomach, grabbing my hand and fiddling with my fingers. "I know where the spare key is. And I came a little early," he shrugged. 

"Four hours. Just a touch too early, don't ya think?" 

"No, of course not." 

"Of course not," I chuckled. He puckered his lips, asking for a kiss. "I haven't brushed my teeth yet," I shook my head. 

"Then go brush your teeth, honey," he sang. 

"Okay, honey," I laughed, throwing the covers off and climbing out of bed, heading to the bathroom. I went into the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and splashed some water on my face. I patted my face dry and when I removed the towel, he was standing right beside me. "What's up?" I asked. 

He didn't reply, just grabbed my face, squeezing my cheeks together and leaning in, kissing me. I kissed him back and from the looks of it, he wasn't going to break it any time soon, so I did. He sighed, looking at me blankly. 

"That desperate for kisses, are we?" I smiled. 

"You have no idea," he replied. 

"You're here four hours early, what are we supposed to do with all this time to kill?" 

"Make out." 

"Or?" 

"Uh... make out," he shrugged. 

"Any other suggestions?" 

"Oh, how about make out?" he grinned. 

"In the bathroom?" I raised my eyebrows at him. 

"Sure," he shrugged. 

"No," I laughed, shaking my head. 

"In the bedroom?" he smirked. 

"No, try again." 

"Then where?" 

I started pushing him out of my bathroom and then out of my room. "In the kitchen, while I make myself breakfast." 

"Works for me," he smirked. 

I turned him around, keeping my hands on his shoulders as we descended the stairs and entered the kitchen. "What can I make for you?" I asked, heading to the stove. 

"Hash browns. Nobody makes them better than you," he said. "I'm genuinely curious, what's the secret ingredient?" 

I snorted, "There's no secret ingredient. Oh, I add hot sauce to them while making them so they're a little more tasteful, does that count?" 

"Sure does," he shrugged, standing behind me with his arms on my waist while I got to making them. 

I turned the stove off when I finally finished and was turning to open the cabinet and grab a plate when he grabbed the hem of my sweatpants and pulled me back. My hand flew to the part of my sweatpants he grabbed onto and I grabbed his hand. "What are you doing?" I asked, not bothering to turn around when he pressed his chest into my back and snaked his arms around my waist. 

"I'm second-guessing this date, can't we just stay here?" 

"And?" 

"Make out." 

I turned to face him. "We're going to the arcade." 

"But we can't make out there," he whined. "There are kids all over the place, they'll kick us out." 

I chuckled, "That's like the whole point." 

He rolled his eyes in response, "Haha. That's very. I'm dying of laughter," he said sarcastically. 

"We've got a little less than four hours. Isn't that enough?" He shook his head in response. "It seems more than enough to me, honey," I said mockingly. 

"No to me, honey," he smirked. 

"Then you're just needy." 

"You're just stubborn. Making out isn't a bad thing, it isn't a sin." I looked at him, genuinely amused by his desperate-ness. "But you're worth every sin," he shrugged. "I wouldn't mind committing a few right now," he smirked. 

"Hmm, I would. I don't plan on going to hell. The hash browns will go cold. Why don't we eat and then think about it?" 

"What's there to think about?" He frowned in confusion. 

"I have loads to think about. Especially what I'm gonna tell you to do, cause we can't make out for four hours." I looked at him. "Sorry." Not really. 

"Don't tell me what to do," he scoffed, taking a plate with two hash browns from me. "Unless you're naked." 

"The pan is still very hot and I wouldn't mind burning you with it. Put a tight lid on that mouth of yours and focus on the food." 

"You're being real bossy," he sighed. 

"Maybe I like being bossy," I shrugged, turning to face him with my plate in hand.

"Here or... in the bedroom?" 

"Maybe both," I chuckled. 

"Nah, not in the bedroom," he shook his head. 

"Excuse me?" I asked, slightly offended. 

"I know you, Hope." 

"You don't know me in the bedroom," I scoffed. 

"No, but I bet you're real submissive. If not, you will be now."

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Chapter 23

I just killed a mosquito omg fuck those bitches.

anyway, a lot of you want my next book to be a college romance. I just wanna know how many of you really want that so let me know in the comments and I'll start brainstorming some ideas cause I'm down to write a college romance

next chapter: arcade