The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2010

In the dim light of the movie theater, Balfour’s eyes gleamed with an intensity that left Ivy tongue-tied, unable to muster the words of rejection.

If she did, she knew she’d feel as though she’d committed a grave error, shattering the hopeful anticipation in his heart.

“Look, how about this? I owe you one for today, and I’ll make it up to you with a gift tomorrow, okay?” Ivy offered, her voice tinged with hope for a compromise.

Balfour’s gaze dropped slightly, locking onto hers with a ripple of emotion, “No, after today it’s not my birthday anymore. Since you didn’t bring anything, why not improvise with what we have here?”

Ivy blinked, befuddled by his suggestion, “But we’re in a cinema. There’s nothing here.”

Before she could finish her sentence, Balfour’s hand reached out, cradling the back of her head, and he pressed a warm kiss. against her lips.

The heat of the contact sent Ivy’s eyes wide with shock, her whole body tensing.

She couldn’t fathom why Balfour had suddenly kissed her, but even more startling was the fact that she didn’t find herself repulsed by it.

and he simply allowed their lips to touch

sent Ivy’s

on, and

quickly released Ivy. They both sat straight in

catch a single scene. Her mind kept replaying the moment Balfour

beside her, was equally distracted, absentmindedly adjusting his tie as if

two at the club, but he was clear-headed, and that amount of alcohol

when he looked into Ivy’s eyes, he felt intoxicated, losing his reason momentarily and leaning in without a second

he realized what he was doing,

did that

a position to chat, Ivy felt a mix of boredom and awkwardness.

beside her and reached for a piece, hoping to ease

out for popcorn, and their hands brushed against each other in an