Sooo, I know it's supposed to be winter, but I forgot that while writing this chapter. I know, I suck. Let's pretend it's summer, okay? :)

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Chapter 34: Candles and Love Handles

After my kiss with Luke, I couldn't stop smiling even if my life depended on it. My heart had swelled and the love I had for Luke returned in no time. His lips were soft and foreign, and all I wanted to do was familiarize myself with the side of him that was never in reaching distance for me. I spent the next week walking on air and found myself constantly daydreaming about our future. Dad said I had the swooning blues; Emma (Luke was still a shaky topic for us to talk about) could tell I was as infatuated as ever; and Luke was just there. He, too, had a smile on his face whenever we were together.

However, this honeymoon period did not last long. By the time February  rolled around, Luke was growing more distant than I would've liked and made no attempt to ask me out for Valentine's Day dinner. When the thirteenth came, I was sure that I wouldn't, again, have a valentine. It wasn't heartbreaking, but I just thought that with all of the commotion that surrounded me I would have a date for tomorrow night. Since my night with Luke, the members of the Top Four carried on with their everyday business, but then the bad boy just had to mix things up.

"I know this is last minute, and you're probably going with Luke, but I was wondering if you wanted to be my valentine? This includes dinner, by the way."

I knew it wouldn't be fair to Luke if I accepted, but I would never get an opportunity to have another valentine if Luke and I were to be together for the rest of our lives. I felt like I needed one last fling (just to be sure) before I actually made a decision on him. I did like Tyler, not as much as Luke, but I had fun with him. "Will this dinner be McDonald's?"

He shook his head. "No fast food this time, but I can add a toy if you'd like," he said, winking.

I laughed. "That's not necessary. I would love to be your valentine, Tyler."

"Don't worry, Charlotte. It'll be perfect."

I wasn't sure what his definition of perfect was, but I couldn't wait to see.

***

I may have underestimated Luke's romantic abilities. I felt bad because he came over to my window, threw plastic bottle caps at the window until I opened, and asked me, while holding a single rose, to be his valentine. Needless to say, it was a tad bit awkward when I told him I was going out with someone else on the fourteenth.

"Are you serious?" he demanded, outraged.

"He asked me first! It's not like we're exclusive or anything."

"I thought it was a given! I didn't know you wanted a title."

"Well I thought you wanted the title of the Virginator."

He recoiled and winced at the word. I had clearly offended him. "You know that I've dropped out of the competition."

"You can't just 'drop out,' Luke."

"I know, but I'm not doing this because of the stupid title. I'm doing this because I want you."

"And you will have me once this school year is over."

"I have to wait the entire school year?!"

"It's three months."

"Three months too long."

"Don't be a baby," I muttered. "I waited three years for you to even look at me than something other than a sister."

"You should've said something earlier. It's not my fault you didn't have the guts."

"I was scared, Luke!" I shouted. "You had this plethora of girls at your disposal. How was I supposed to know that I remotely had a chance?"

"Because I've always chosen you, Charlie. I would choose you over anyone else."

"But you didn't know that back then."

"I did. I just never showed it."

"I'm sorry, Luke. I'm spending tomorrow night with Tyler. We could hang out Sunday if you want?"

"Whatever."

***

It was nearly sunset, and Tyler looked startlingly handsome in his fitted navy blue dress shirt. All of the buttons were present and any traces of his "bad boy" qualities were nonexistent. Strands of his dark hair rippled in the wind, making him look even more irresistible than usual. It might've been the hormones talking, but all of the guys, especially Tyler and Luke, had gotten more attractive.

Tyler offered his hand to me. "Shall we?"

I took it. "All right..."

I didn't know where this new, chivalrous Tyler came from, but the girly romantic in me loved it. He escorted me through the long grass, which tickled my legs. A river came into sight, and it reminded me of the scene from The Notebook. A white, worn rowboat was tied to the edge of the short, wooden dock. There were dozens of tealight candles scattered throughout the water, but only one, which was near the edge, was lit. I heard Tyler groan as he let go of my hand. "They burned out," he muttered. He turned to me to explain. "I lit them all before I came to get you."

I touched his arm in an attempt to comfort him. "One is still burning!" I said optimistically.

"The date is ruined. I'm sorry this happened."

"The date is not ruined. It was a nice gesture, and I really appreciate it."

He rolled his eyes. "Appreciation is something people have when they aren't pleased."

"What did you have planned, Tyler? Surely looking at candles floating in the water wasn't the main event," I said, eyeing the rowboat.

"We were going to go for a ride in that," he jerked his thumb over to the dock.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

Tyler helped me into the boat before untying the rope and getting in himself. The boat toppled to the side when he jumped in, causing an oar to fall to the side. It floated away before Tyler realized that it was missing, and by then it was out of reach. He attempted to pull it in with the remaining oar, but lost his grip on it. Cursing, he reached over the boat, his body flailing desperately, to grab it. During the midst of his internal turmoil, he tumbled into the water, making an even bigger splash. I just hoped he didn't drag one of the candles under with him, not that it mattered anyways.

My eyes widened as I peered over the side of the boat. "Are you okay?" I asked, my eyebrows knitted with concern.

He grabbed onto the edge of the rowboat. "Go to the other side. I want to try to balance it a little bit so you won't come flying in after me. Unless you wanted to go for a swim?"

"No, thank you." I did as he said and retreated back to my previous position. I saw him swim away. "Where are you going?"

"To get the oars. I don't want a repeat of what just happened."

He handed me both oars and instructed me to keep a tight grip on them. He heaved himself back into the boat, his clothes sopping wet. He was my personal rainstorm. Unwanted, but mine. "Did you bring a towel?" I asked.

He looked around the rowboat. "Does it look like I did?"

"Sorry."

"It's not your fault. Do you mind if I take my shirt off to get the water off?"

I shook my head, speechless because I was about to see Tyler shirtless. "Not at all. Go ahead."

He smirked. "Don't get too excited now."

He slowly unbuttoned his shirt. It was like an excruciatingly painful striptease. I didn't feel the urge to jump his bones, but I wouldn't mind touching his muscles. I wanted to scream, Just hurry it up already, but I couldn't because I knew that if I did, I would be subject to eternal mockery. He wrung his shirt out and draped it on the side.

"You're not going to put it back on?"

He looked at me. "Do you want me to?"

Now I was at an impasse. I could lie and say yes so my dignity would not be jeopardized, or I could say no and be a very happy Charlotte. "It's up to you."

"I'm not particularly fond of wearing wet clothing, but if it makes you uncomfortable, I'll put it back on."

"I wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable..."

He smiled knowingly. "I'll keep it off."

I felt my cheeks heat up. "But keep your pants on."

"If you insist."

"I do. So what's up with all of this?" I gestured to the river, to the boat, and to the candles.

His face fell. "You don't like it?"

"No!" I quickly assured him. "I love it. It just doesn't seem like you."

He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I was just trying to be romantic, but I guess it didn't really work out too well."

"It is romantic."

He shook his head. "It's a disaster."

"The disaster is what made it memorable."

"You mean you wouldn't have remembered it if I hadn't fell in?"

"No, I would have, but it definitely made things more interesting. It was funny. It's like a romantic comedy!"

"Great."

"Seriously, Tyler. This is the best Valentine's Day I've ever had." And it was the truth. Even if I had gone on dates before, which I hadn't, this would have far surpassed them. This definitely beat the chocolates and stuffed animals my dad had given me out of pity.

"I try."

I smiled. "I know you did. Thank you."

I could tell he wanted to lean in for a kiss, but for some reason he wasn't going in for it. It's not like I didn't want it, because I'm sure every fiber of my being was screaming, "Kiss him." My face was practically begging for his lips. Our faces were inches away, and all I wanted to do was to close the gap between us.

"I'm sorry...You deserve a better day than this."

I couldn't stand it anymore. The tension between us was getting to be too strong for me to handle."Tyler, it's perfect. Just kiss me."

Surprisingly, his lips were incredibly soft. It took us a minute and a couple of trial kisses, but we learned each other's rhythmic patterns pretty quickly. Soon enough, they were in synch, and I could concentrate on nothing but him. He snaked his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I wrapped my arms around his neck. I wanted to touch his chest, which was bare, naked, but I resisted the temptation. I knew I would be a goner if that happened, and I didn't want to give him any ideas.

When the kiss finally ended and we pulled apart, there was no sound except for our heavy breathing and the occasional bird. "Wow," I said.

"Wow, indeed."

"I was not expecting that."

"Me neither."

"Happy Valentine's Day, Tyler."

"Same to you, Char. Same to you."

Going on this date was supposed to reaffirm my feelings for Luke, but fate had another thing coming. I wanted to say I regretted it, but I didn't. Not a single moment. That night, and for the rest of the nights that followed, all I could think about was Tyler, our kisses, and the supposedly easy decision that would later affect my views on love.