Pieces of Me by Erica Cope Page B

frenzy.
                  “Holden, don't kiss me.”
                  He blows out a gush of air, tilting his head towards the star-strewn sky before looking back at me with those crazy, intense eyes that make me feel like I'm the only girl in the entire world. “Okay, I won't kiss you. Not today. But someday, it's going to happen.”
                  “I hope not. It would ruin everything,” I whisper softly.
                  “I disagree, because Aria, if, no when you ever decide to kiss me...” He steps closer, leaning down until our noses practically touch before continuing,“I can guarantee I’ll be the last guy you ever kiss.”
                  “Don’t hold your breath.” The words come out a little too breathy. I feel my cheeks redden in embarrassment and silently pray he doesn’t notice. But the smirk painted on his face tells me he did.              
                  “Good night,” he whispers huskily in my ear before turning around and walking down the stairs back to his motorcycle.
                  I stand there, frozen in time and place, unable to move or breathe until I no longer hear the rumbling of his bike's engine. I can't stop thinking about Holden even as I let myself into my apartment. I shower, do the dishes, clean up the living room, and I even try to study a little bit—anything to keep me out of my bedroom where the box labeled 'Pieces of Us' still remains untouched like a cursed tomb.
                  Finally, I flip on the television, make myself comfortable on the couch, and get lost in a sappy Lifetime Original movies until I can't keep my eyes open another second.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 11
     
     
    I’m not sure what I was thinking when I agreed to open this morning. It’s so early. I didn’t even have time to drink a cup of coffee before I had to leave. Of course I guess that’s one of the perks, no pun intended, of working at a coffee shop. The espresso machine is calling my name.
                  “Good morning, Sunshine,” Holden says as he sneaks up behind me.
                  “What are you doing here?” I try to stifle a yawn as I lock up my bike.
                  “What? Don’t you enjoy starting off your day seeing my handsome face?” he smirks.
                  “Eh, you’re not that handsome,” I lie. Totally lied.
                  “There you go, breaking my heart again,” he mocks. “I didn’t know you worked today.”
                  “I wasn’t supposed to. Mason asked me if I could cover the shift this morning.”
                  “I see. I guess my day just got better.” He smiles way too cheerfully for this early in the morning as he unlocks the door and holds it open for me to enter first.
              “Yeah, mine will be better after my first cup of coffee. How are you so awake already?”
              “Morning person,” he says simply before grabbing my iPod out of my front pocket.
              “Hey! What are you doing?” I demand.
              “Just getting a head start on bugging you today.”
              I try to grab it back from him but he's way too tall. He just laughs at my attempt as he puts my ear buds in and starts looking through my playlist.
              “Hmm, you like country music?”
              “I like a little bit of everything.”
              “Everything? I doubt that. That’s just what people say to sound more interesting.”
              “I’m not trying to sound more interesting. I’m certainly not trying to sound more interesting to you,” I snap. It's way too early. I'm a bear without my coffee. My dad always says there should be a warning sign around my neck in the