WWJD Author Diane Adams Copyright 2011 Diane Adams

Im going to grab some ice cream while youre in there. Jared motioned at the Dairy Queen on the corner across from the bookstore where I was headed. Jared would rather do just about anything than wait for me to pick out books but ice cream topped the list. Cool. Get a sugar cone, I wont be long. Id steal the cone when I got back. I liked ice cream just fine, but they should sell the cones empty, Id buy them. Jared gave me a look. Mmmhmm, was all he said, but yeah smart ass. He knew I was going to steal his cone and that Id be longer in the store than I claimed. It was all good; if Jared didnt want to wait hed say so. There wasnt anything coy about my boyfriend. I kissed his cheek without giving him time to protest and grinned at him over my shoulder on the way into the store. The look on his face tempted me to go back and throw myself into his arms and claim a real kiss. I didnt. The middle of the mall wasnt the sort of place Jared would welcome my tongue down his throat. I guessed he didnt know the way he looked at me was more intimate than any kiss. Just the memory of it was enough to cause heat to curl at the base of my spine. I found Jared sitting on a bench just outside the ice cream store waiting for me when I came out of the store. He had a smile and a nod for everyone and a few girls tripped on their own feet turning back to look at him. I couldnt blame them. Long jean clad legs stretched out in front of him, a blue t-shirt tucked in neatly made it clear just how trim his waist was, especially in comparison to the width of the shoulders stretching the shirt to its limit. His dark hair resisted all his efforts to keep it out of his face. His strong jaw, the easy charm of his smile, and the sparkle of his blue eyes made him irresistible. I understood their reaction but that didnt make him any less mine. A fact I made clear when I settled next to him on the bench, setting my bags on the floor at our feet and sliding under his arm. He stiffened slightly; wed only been together as boyfriends for a single day. Before yesterday wed been not together, and the before that had been some an undefined relationship that had been as confusing and unsettling as it had been incredible. Jared waiting for me to grow up had to be the most wonderful, frustrating experience of my life. And then Pi Day, the first day of the rest of my life. The first day of forever. I came home from school just to see him. To ask a single question. Will you be my boyfriend? He gave me one of those Jared looks and touched my face. Yes. Jared was a man of few words but how he said them. Oh my God. I stole his cone. He grinned down at me and asked about the books. People going by stopped smiling at him. It seemed like they stopped seeing us. I know it bothered Jared the way peoples eyes slid over us when we were doing something that labeled us a couple. I didnt really care as long as Jared saw me, nothing else mattered at all. And when we got up to leave the way he took my hand and tangled my fingers with his told me he understood. ****

So only a couple hours until your dad picks you up for the airport. Jared made himself at home in the empty spot beside me in our chair. mmmhmm. I didnt really look up from my book. Lit was killing me this semester. I hoped my brain would explode and save me a lot of trouble. I didnt know why everything couldnt be as easy as math. Jared reclined the chair and lay on his side, head propped on one hand looking down at me. I could feel his eyes on me and my gut clenched. I teased him, pretending to keep reading. What a lie. I was hyper aware of him, the heat of his body, the weight of his gaze. He touched the rubber bracelet on my wrist. It was black, about two inches wide and stamped in white with four capital letters. WWJD. Thats new. I got it at the bookstore. I didnt have to look to know his smile twitched his lips. Got religion while you were in there huh? My cheeks heated. Not exactly. No? He fingered it, along the edge his fingers brushed my skin. My heart pounded. No. Something that seemed a little clever and romantic in the store edged toward stupid now that I had to say it. Its just. When I have to decide something, especially if its important, I always ask myself what you would do. Its hard you know? Because you always do the right thing, take the high road. Im better because of the man you are. Jareds strong callused hand closed around the bracelet and he didnt say anything for a long time. Finally he took my book with the other hand and dropped it onto the floor beside the chair. His eyes met mine, dark blue, pupils blown but there was more than lust in his expression. Love, pride, need so many things I couldnt identify half of them. He touched my face. Fingers tracing my jaw, his thumb moved along my cheekbone. Thats funny because when I have to decide what to do about something, Im usually thinking what would Alex want me to do. Jared. My voice broke on the whisper of his name. He growled and pushed me onto my back. One hand still locked around my wrist and the bracelet, the other on my face. I spread my legs and he settled into the cradle of my hips. The physical evidence of what he was feeling unmistakable. His forehead touched mine. You understand dont you? Why I had to send you that letter? I was cross-eyed trying to look at him so I closed my eyes and nodded. Im sorry I hurt you. His lips brushed mine. His fingers tightened around my wrist, thered be bruises.

Im sorry Im not 30. There was a moments still silence as he absorbed that and then he laughed. Foreheads touching once more he rubbed his nose against mine. Oh Im not sorry at all. Its going to be so worth the wait. Cross eyed or not our eyes met and my smile lit my face. God I loved him. I wanted to pull his shirt out of his jeans and slide my hands up the bare skin of his back. I wanted to wrap my legs around his waist and rub against him until we both found some relief from the throbbing ache of our lust. But What would Jared Do? Wait. His hair was silk under my hands as I opened to his kiss. Because he was right. It was going to be so worth it. The End