Another week passed without any luck. It didn't seem to matter what combination of flirts Steph came up with, Jer seemed immune. Steph had even decided if he would just lean in a little, she would finish the lean. But nothing! Never in her life had Steph met a more clueless boy!

A benefit of her intense flirting, however, was that Jer was hugging her more. Steph was not a hugging person, but hugs from Jer felt so comfortable. Usually Steph would do just about anything to avoid hugs. She was known by her friends to give "headbutts of affection" instead of hugs. At this point, she couldn't remember the last time she'd headbutted Jer to avoid a hug. 

And so, Steph found herself wrapped in Jer's arm in front of her apartment late one night. She had him wrapped in her arms just as tightly and was leaning her head on his chest.

I really, really want a kiss from him. Steph scrunched her eyebrows together and looked at the ground. I want one so bad, it's starting to hurt.

Steph looked up at Jer to find him looking at her with a soft expression on his face. Steph caught his eyes with hers.

"I really want to kiss you right now," Steph said softly. Flirting didn't work, being obvious didn't work, saying it outright had to work. Jer was going to kiss Steph tonight. She had decided.

Jer blinked at her a couple times. Steph made sure to keep her head conveniently angled. She knew Jer had no experience kissing. He had never been in a physical relationship. It was the only reason she had been this patient with him. She was going to get a kiss from him and she was going to make it as easy for him to kiss her as possible.

"Do what you want," Jer said without even leaning in a bit. Steph wanted to scream! Was he really not going to kiss her? 

Steph scowled at Jer. Jer innocently blinked at Steph. With a sigh, Steph reached up and kissed Jer.

To say that there were fireworks would be a lie. There were no butterflies and there were no sparks. Every description in every romance novel of a first kiss was not applicable here.

What there was, however, was peace. Steph felt peace. Jer was definitely worth Steph breaking her "I don't kiss first" rule.