Felix pulled me up from my seat. He puts his arm around me and escorts me to the front door of the coffee shop. He exits first and leads me out by the hand.

It's a few steps outside before I get a hold of myself and the situation. I tug on his hand.

"What's going on? Where are we going?"

He steps in close to me and says, "I'm taking you home."

I can't look at him in the eyes, he's too close.

He smiles and laughs a little, " I mean I'm walking you back to your apartment".

I laugh a little nervous laugh and he bursts out laughing.

Why are we laughing? I'm a idiot. Why am I like this?

He squeezes my hand and starts off in the direction of my apartment again. He has a quick pace and I feel like I can't keep up. Not that I couldn't try to walk faster but my bruises still hurt. I whimper a little as he jumps up the sidewalk curb in front of my apartment complex.

He stops in his tracks. He turns and looks me in the eyes. " I'm gonna carry you the rest of the way". He picks me up bridal style.

What?

"Hey Felix put me down. I can walk the rest of the way."

This is so embarrassing and unnecessary.

"Stop and put me down right now."

Felix puts me down. It seems like he's pouting.

He holds my hand again, "Are you in a lot of pain?" Then he starts walking to my front door and much more slowly.

I smile in spite of myself. I'm not sure but I may be blushing.

"I'm okay. You don't have to carry me."

Felix stops in front of my door.

My heart begins to beat faster.

What am I thinking? He's not gonna do anything, right?

He comes in close. "I'm sorry but I'm gonna have to say good bye here."

I have the feeling of a deer in headlights and a tightness in my chest.

He steps back, "I'll call you soon".

Then he turns and walks away. I watch him walk down the hall and disappearing around the corner.

I lean back against my door. I feel flushed. I take a deep breath and stand up. I let out that deep breath slowly and go to unlock my front door.

I put the keys in the lock, but then I feel someone grab me from my shoulders and turn me way from my door.

When I'm spun around, it's Felix. Felix pulls me into him and kisses me.

At first I'm so shocked. I didn't expect this, but now that it's happening I realize that I hoped he would kiss me a moment ago. I lean into the kiss. I circle my hands around his neck and gently brush his hair.

The kiss ends and he hugs me tight. He whispers in my ear, "I had to."

Now my heart is pounding and my stomach is flip flopping. I take a deep breath and let it all out at once. I feel like I can't breathe.

He laughs. I can feel his body shake with laughter.

He looks me in the face and smiles. I look at him. He leans in a kisses me again. I don't know what to do. "Now this is really good bye."

He steps away and starts walking. He's walking backwards down the hall. " I'm gonna call you soon. " Then leaves, while waving like an idiot.

I turn around. I unlock my front door and go inside. I toss my keys on my dinning table. I sit on my couch. Then I am so overwhelmed I grab an nearby pillow and break down into a large amount of embarrassment, self loathing and glee.

He kissed me! Why me? Why did he have to carry me? He's so cute! Why am I so stupid? Why did he kiss me? What is happening? Was this coffee date a real date? I feel so happy and so dumb. I didn't think he was gonna come back and kiss me. He "had to". Oh, my goodness. He's too handsome.

This may had gone on longer, but then there was the sound of a text alert coming from my couch cushions. The cell phone from the hoodie was beeping.

[Stay safe] it was from Felix

What do I reply?

Then another text comes in [*kiss emoji]

I toss the cell phone onto the couch. Forget it. I'm blushing as red as a tomato.