My laughter bounces off our eardrums and he continues to tickle me.
“Stop! Stop!” I shriek in between breaths.
"You want me to stop?” he asks continuing.
“Yes!” I shriek again, gasping for air.
And then he does. I look up at him trying to catch my breath.
“Are you sure?”
I nod.
But he doesn’t get off me; he stays there staring down at me. And then he licks his lips and I know what’s coming next. My heart starts to beat wildly and my breath catches in my throat. He moves closer and closer to my face bringing one of his hands up to cup my chin.
My heart stops as he closes his eyes and closes the last couple inches-
“Hey Joe! Get in here! I wanna start the game now!” Luke calls from the other room.
Joe freezes. I had completely forgotten that they were there, that Drew and Luke could have possibly seen all of that.
“Okay,” he calls still not moving. He opens his eyes and looks back down at me, mixed emotions raging in his chocolate eyes.
"Glimpse of heaven,” he whispers so softly I can barely hear him as he looks me in the eyes. He sighs and gets off me and walks in the other room to his brothers, not even offering me a hand up.