Page 133 of Make Me Laugh

Frankie grins at my wide-eyed look, slapping the side of my leg. “Me, Enzo, and Kell have a group chat and made a bet the night of Oktoberfest.”

I’m not shocked they know, and I’m certainly not shocked there’s a bet going on if Frankie’s involved. We’ve been sneaking around for weeks, even after Frankie found my sweater outside West’s door in Philly.

I thought maybe if we pretended nothing was happening around our friends, it would make it easier to walk away when tour’s over.

“Naturally, I won when I found your sweater the very night the bet was made.” Frankie blows me a kiss and skips upstairs.

I sit in the living room for a while, mulling over the fact they’ve all known since the night I made West promise to keep quiet about us.

Eventually, I crawl into bed after washing my face and brushing my teeth, my bones heavy from the long and exciting day. I expect to fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, but my mind won’t stop replaying all the little pieces of my day with West.

Him knowing my coffee order and ordering my cocktail correctly when I went to the bathroom at dinner. His hand on my thigh while he drove. It hadn’t been sexual, he’d just wanted to touch me, his thumb swirling aimless circles. I’m almost positive he let me win at Mario Kart tonight.

I let out a heavy breath, grabbing my phone from the side table to shoot him a text, certain he’s already asleep.

Me

You up?

I put my phone on my chest, hoping to fall asleep before a response comes through. He replies less than a minute later.

West

Are you booty calling me?

Me

Not tonight…

I wanted to thank you for today. You didn’t have to do any of that.

West

I know, but I wanted to. You deserved a day all about you.

Especially after everything you’ve done for me.

My fingers hover over the screen, the dull light glowing against the white bed sheets.

Me

There is one thing I didn’t get though…

West

What’d I forget?

Me

My birthday kiss.

I delete and retype it three times before hitting send.

There’s a creak in the floorboard before my phone’s out of my hand. A few more squeaks follow seconds before the dim hall light filters in through the opening door.

I sit up at the same time West crawls onto the end of the bed. When he reaches me, his hand immediately slides to the back of my head, and he brings his lips to mine without saying a single word.

I’d wait another full day for a kiss like this. It starts out gentle and slow, smooth caresses of West’s soft lips. I’ll never get over the way he kisses me, like he’s painting a picture and wants to make sure he doesn’t miss a single stroke.