Page 63 of Resurgent

"Your best friend just lost a tongue wrestling match to a woman who practically crawled into his lap! Does this happen every time you guys go out?”

Matt searches my face.

"You alright?"

"I..." My voice cracks. "I should go."

His brows lift slightly.

"So soon?"

"I have to meet someone."

“Someone else you’re kissing tonight?”

For a moment, I forget Mattey doesn’t see the real me sitting here. Without meaning to, I fall back into our normal banter and slap his arm.

“Absolutely not!”

“But he’d like to?”

“No!...Yes?...It doesn’t matter either way, I don’t want to kiss him!”

Leaning in, his lips hovering close to my ear, "That's unfortunate for him then."

For a split second, I think he’s going to kiss me again, and I’m already feeling guilty enough about the first one to let it happen twice.

Rushing off his lap, I can’t get back to my feet fast enough.

"Goodnight. I hope your evening gets...less interesting."

A slow smile spreads across his face.

"I’m somehow sure it will."

I offer one last smile, then turn and weave through the crowd toward the restroom before my embarrassment can completely swallow me whole.

The alley is blessedly still empty when I crash through the doors, and I let my faux features melt away.

Within seconds, I'm me again—which is an unfortunate outcome for the shirt I wore in as it literally rips at the seams.

Snatching my hidden clothes from behind the crates, I hurriedly tug my shirt over my head.

“Gods….Gods, Gods, Gods…I kissed Mattey…Fuck! Why didn't I just fake fainting? Spill a drink? Throw a—

"Damn."

The deep voice behind me freezes every muscle in my body.

Turning slowly, I feel as nauseous as I do guilty.

Matt’s leaning against the brick wall with his arms crossed, a wicked grin spread across his face. "Am I really that bad of a kisser?"

"Oh, Gods." My hands immediately fly to my face. "Mattey!"

He pushes off the wall, unable to stop smiling.

"Not that I'd ever imagined that would happen," he says, "but it's a real ego killer to walk outside and find you looking like you're about to puke after kissing me."