Page 79 of Detour

“This is for me?” I take in the strangers staring my way and whisper out the side of my mouth, “Who are all these people?”

“Who cares. They’re here to celebrate your huge accomplishment and that’s all that matters. And yes, it’s for you. I’m proud of you, our little neighbor girl.”

“We’re proud of you.” Coty steps up. “Put her down. I didn’t get to hug the grad yet.”

“No, then I won’t get her back once you get your hands on her.”

Coty lifts an eyebrow.

“Do I get a say here?”

I’m met with a firm “no” from each.

“Fine.” I grab Beckett’s cheeks and lay a close-mouthed kiss against his pliant lips. Ignoring the sharp inhale to our right, I pull back, looking him in the eyes to tell him, “Thank you.” His face softens into a smile as the rest of him stays as rigid as a board. “Now, can you please put me down? The air is really thin up here.” I pretend to gasp making us both laugh. “Also, there’s someone else I have to thank.”

“Alright,” he relents, placing me on my feet, then points at Coty. “But you have to share her tonight.”

“No promises.” And the way Coty’s staring at me, I know he means it.

“Yeah, I figured as much. Anyway, enjoy your party tonight, Angie, ‘cause it’s back to business tomorrow.” I don’t bother correcting him that it doesn’t matter what day it is, this is what they do anyways. Parties are kind of their thing. I do, however, mock chide them about their embarrassing display earlier. They both grow quiet at the mention of my Jeep but have the decency to look somewhat chastised. Well, Coty does anyway, Beckett looks like he’s already cooking up plans for the next prank he can pull.

“Wow.” I face Coty, sticking my hands in my skirt pockets after Beckett slinks back to his female companion. “That hurt worse than I thought it would.”

“What did?”

“Seeing your lips on another man.”

I drop my gaze to the ground. “Would it help if I told you he had horrible breath?”

“I heard that!” Beckett shouts, then quieter he tells the girl, “I don’t. She’s just joking.”

Unable to hold back any longer, Coty and I dissolve into a fit of laughter. It feels good to have my friend back, or whatever he is to me. Do friends give phenomenal oral?

Shaking my head, I give him a thorough appraisal. The white tank he’s wearing covers the top of his black swim trunks that sit low on his hips, showing just enough skin to heat my own. I think back to when I saw him shirtless and my gaze lands on his tattoos peeking from under his shirt.

“What do those mean?”

“That’s for another time.”

“Like when?”

“Like when I don’t still have the image of you kissing someone else.”

Friends definitely don’t get that jealous over a meaningless peck.

A lazy smirk makes its way across my mouth as I step closer to him. “Want me to erase the memory?” My hands snake up his chest, around his neck and into his hair. I feel Coty’s fingers land on my hips and I sway from the proximity.

“If you think you can.” His shrug’s a little too stiff, a little too forced. It’s his darkening eyes that totally give him away though. I have to bite back a smile.

“Oh, I know I can.” His hands grip me tighter, spurring me on as I close the distance, crashing my lips to his. Coty’s greed kicks in when my lips part, allowing his tongue to sweep inside. Mine chases his in a playful game of tag before I pull back with one last flick to his top lip.

Coty keeps his eyes closed as I watch his face. “You’re forgiven,” he whispers before meeting my gaze.

“For what?”

“For sharing those lips with someone that isn’t me.” He kisses said lips again, quickly. Too quickly. “And for ghosting me. I didn’t know what happened to you, and you wouldn’t even answer a single text, or come back to your apartment. I don’t know, I was losing my shit.”

Sighing, I drop my hands from his neck. “I know, I’m sorry.” Straight off a page from Luciana’s overachieving book, I’m giving myself the night off. From all of it—the caution, the guilt, the worry. Tonight, I’m letting it all go. “Thank you for trying though. I may not have responded, but I got every message and they meant a lot, along with you still showing up today for my graduation when you didn’t have to. I don’t deserve you.”