All That Glitters Newsletter Bonus Scene
Note from Annah: Thank you for reading All That Glitters and for becoming/being a newsletter book babe! I hope you enjoy this prequel scene for Jameson and Goldie. -AC<3
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Jameson Sinclair
The First Kiss
Marigold’s laughter floats on the evening breeze. The smell of magnolias in bloom lingers in the air, and the stars above us illuminate our blanket by the lake.
“We’ll have to find a diner to go to since Kimmy’s is far away,” she says, looking up at the sky.
I’m staring at her, something that’s always been a habit of mine, but it’s grown worse lately. She somehow gets more beautiful every day, and with us heading to college it feels like perfect timing to become more.
“We will. We can’t go without ice cream floats. How else are you going to survive algebra?” I tease, in hopes of hearing her laugh again.
She gifts me with the sound, and I smile.
“Surviving is the perfect word, because there’s no way I’m going to thrive in a math class.” She shudders and I chuckle.
Her curls are the color of rich wine in the moonlight, standing out against her pale complexion. She lets out a contented sigh. I echo the sound. I could stay in this moment with her forever.
Her head turns toward me, and I watch her perfect hazel eyes light with surprise when she catches me blatantly staring. I don’t look away. I meet her gaze straight on, though my heart is thumping in my chest.
What if I lean in and she pulls away?
What if I ruin our years-long friendship, all for one kiss?
I know she loves me, she’s said it before, but that doesn’t mean she’s attracted to me. My eyes dip to her mouth. Soft and pink and enticing. A deep longing tugs at my insides, but I’m frozen.
Then, Marigold is moving toward me. I barely have time to process what’s happening before her lips are on mine. Everything within me lights up. It’s as though every atom of my body has been waiting for this moment. Like my heart has been waiting by the door for her to come in, and now she’s here and I’m made complete.
Her hands grip my T-shirt and tug me closer, making me smile against her mouth. There was never any reason for me to doubt. I know Marigold’s heart like it’s my own. This has been building for some time. She was waiting for the right moment just like I was.
I do my best to memorize every sensation. The moment her mouth parts for me. The little sound she makes when my fingers thread into her curls. Her body pressed against mine. The breeze creating goosebumps on her skin that I run my fingers over. I write each moment with archival ink on the pages of my mind, determined to not forget the moment my best friend kissed me beneath the stars.
When we break apart, a smile overtakes my lips. I’m about to confess my feelings for her, when I notice something is wrong. She’s not smiling, and there’s a fear in her eyes that I’ve never seen there before. My heart drops.
What did I do?