AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah?”
He blinks as Jalen also leans back. We’re still hugging, so our faces are pretty close together, our warm breaths coming out in clouds of smoke. Colby bites his lip and looks between us. “Uh, yeah,” he says like he’s punch drunk. “I don’t remember ever being this happy. And it’s because of you guys. So thank you, I guess. I…I love you.”
Now, I know that word can mean different things. There are all kinds of love. So I hold my breath and give my sweet boy time to think about what he’s said.
Jalen isn’t so patient.
“You know I love you too, right? Likelovelove you.”
“Yeah, of course, but—” Colby says bashfully, and I can already tell hedoesn’tknow.
Luckily, Jalen has been given an opening, and my little firecracker is nothing if not opportunistic.
“No, no ‘buts.’ I reallyloveyou, Colby Wilson. I moved to Australia for you.”
I watch Colby with bated breath as Jalen’s words sink in. “You…really…?”
Jalen glances at me. I nod, so happy for him I think I might burst. He looks back at his best friend. “Colby?” he says.
“Jalen?” Colby utters at the same time.
The matter is cleared up once and for all as Jalen’s mouth crashes into Colby’s.
CHAPTER16
Jalen
Bey on a battleship!I’m doing it. It’s happening.I’m kissing my best friend!
More importantly, he’s kissing me back.
I’ve got one hand cupped against his face as I frantically claim his sweet, delicious mouth. The other is interlinked with Andreas’s, our gloved fingers squeezing together like an anchor in a storm. That’s what eventually pulls me back, gasping, and I stare at Colby in disbelief for a second.
“Did that really just happen?” I croak.
Colby swallows, already looking worried. “Is it okay?” he whispers.
I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of me, startling him. “Honey boo, I’ve only been dreaming about that for approximately one HUNDRED years!”
The way his pretty pink lips pop into an ‘O’ shape makes my heart melt. He really had no idea how crazy I’ve been for him all this time.
But then he gasps and looks guiltily at Andreas. “I…uh…”
Nope. Time to clear that up right away. Onto my next conquest.
“Daddy?” I say to Andreas, immediately getting both their attention. Colby is still slightly shocked, but Andreas’s eyebrows shoot up, and he gives me the cutest, hopeful smile.
I think we both move at the same time, kissing eagerly. He’s more confident than Colby but just as sweet from the hot chocolate. My heart flutters, and there’s one heck of a party happening in my pants.
The only reason the embrace is so short is because I hear Colby gasp and can feel his anxiety coming off him in waves. So I break away from Andreas to give my bestie a big, reassuring smile.
“AllIwant for Christmas isbothof you,” I declare not only to them but all of Brighton Beach. I don’t think there’s anyone else around to hear me, but the beach itself knows now.
Colby looks like he can’t believe what he’s hearing before he turns to Andreas. “Is that what you want, sweet boy?” Andreas asks. He cups the side of Colby’s face and caresses his cheek with his thumb. It’s such a beautiful, tender moment it snatches my breath away.
Yes, yes,yes.This is exactly what I want! My Daddy and my baby boy all at the same time.Lizzo on a life raft,they look soooooo good together like that.
“I…I want…” Colby squeaks, looking so afraid it breaks my heart. I lean in and nuzzle my nose against his other cold cheek.
