Last Heartbeat by T.R. Lykins Page B

around and see Phillip smiling at me. My heart rate picks up as soon as I lay eyes on him. He is turning me into one of those girls who you read about in books. You know, the girl whose heart beats fast and breathing becomes difficult. I really get it now that it is happening to me.
    He kisses me on my check and I smile at him. I like waking up in his bed. Is that bad of me? We didn’t do anything but sleep. This feels so natural, and like I should be here. Now I believe I am getting ahead of myself, because he can’t feel that way about me - yet. He did ask me to be his girlfriend last night. I think he did or maybe it was a dream. I was awful tired last night.
    Phillip rises up and says, “I made you breakfast and coffee. We better go eat it while it is still hot. I made coffee, but I’m not sure you like coffee. I will learn what you like and soon.”
    He pulls me out of bed and I notice that he looks down at my legs. I then look down and see that the t-shirt has slid up to my belly button. I quickly pull it down. I am embarrassed and my checks are on fire. He puts his hand on my check and that calms me down.
    “Hey. Don’t worry that I saw you like that. You are beautiful and have nothing you should hide because every bit of you is something amazing.” He looks into my eyes and moves closer like he is going to kiss me.
    Before he does kiss me, I remembered my morning breath. I step back out of his trance and move toward the bathroom. He yells at me to hurry so that we can eat and leaves the bedroom. I yell back that I will.
    I look at myself in the mirror and my face still has a crimson color. I then notice my hair. Oh no ! Look at my rat’s nest. He must think rats have taken up in my hair and are never going to leave. I try to smooth it down. Then I brush my teeth and use the bathroom. I reach over to grab my shorts to put them on, but I keep his t-shirt on. I hurry out of the room and head to the kitchen.
    As I reach the kitchen, I see the outside balcony table set with plates of food, coffee, and orange juice. It looks picture perfect and the ocean background is what makes everything so peaceful. I feel as if I am in a dream and when I wake up, something bad will happen.
    Phillip looks at me and says, “Come join me.” I go sit down beside him and thank him for the breakfast. We start eating, and when we are almost done with our food, we hear noise inside the condo. Phillip frowns. “I forgot about those two staying the night. Hope they don’t scare you off with their bad hangovers. They usually would still be sleeping in, but I guess they woke up to go to class. That is a big surprise.”
    I take a few more bites and look at Phillip. “No they won’t scare me off. I have to leave soon too so I can get ready for class. This food is really good. Where did you learn to cook?”
    He laughs, “This is all I can cook. I wish I could make other things, because I would cook dinner for you sometime. What time do you want to study tonight?”
    “I can cook some things. Maybe if we are studying here, I can fix you something sometime. I only have two classes today and should be done around four. Let me know what time will be good for you.”
    We get up and take our dishes back inside. I load up the dishwasher. When I turn away from putting the dishes in the dishwasher, I run right into Phillip. He laughs and pulls me in close enough that I can smell his wonderful scent. My tummy does flip-flops.
    Jacob comes rushing in the kitchen but stops and looks at Phillip with a big smile on his face. “What do we have here? Are you two an item or just hooking up?
    Phillip seems to get angry with Jacob, “We are not hooking up, Jacob. I am really interested in being her boyfriend, if she will have me. Right now we are hanging out and getting to know each other until she accepts me to be her boyfriend. I will wait on her to decide.”
    Jacob turns to me, smiling wide, “Why are you keeping my boy hanging? I am waiting on