Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Does he work tonight?” Jack asks.
“Yeah.”
Avery and Casey high-five, and Avery says, “We’re going to Shenanigans.”
I spot Perry the second we walk in. I didn’t message him to let him know I was coming, and now I’m wondering if I should have…or maybe I should have told the guys we should stay home. We just decided to be boyfriends today, and the last thing I want is to look like a needy, stalker boyfriend who’s going to follow him around.
Just as I’m about to tell my friends I should go home and hide, Perry looks up after putting a bottle away, and our gazes catch. A huge smile spreads across his face.
Oh…wow. That makes me tingly. That’s a great smile, and he’s doing it because of me. I should return it, so I do. Jack bumps into me, which is the only reason I realize I stopped walking.
“Oh, man, he has it bad,” Casey says. I don’t bother arguing because I do.
I make myself start to move again, and we go to the counter. Brax is there again, and I can’t help wondering how often he’s at the bar just to spend time with Ty while he works. It makes me feel better about coming down, but on the other hand, it’s not as if Perry and I have been together as long as them. We’re not in love. There’s a difference.
“Hey,” I say. It’s the only word that comes to me.
“Hey.” He winks.
“What are your intentions with our friend?” Avery asks. “He’s basically the best person ever, so we need to make sure you know it.”
“What’s Theo’s favorite candy?” Casey questions.
“That’s how you make sure he knows how great you think I am?” I playfully shove him.
“That’s not the only question! It’s a Theo Pop Quiz! We’re making sure he knows you.”
“Sour Patch Kids,” Perry interrupts. “He also never eats the crust on his pizza, which is weird as fuck, likes lemonade, is a total lightweight with weed and alcohol, finds joy in making people happy and doing things for others…oh, and he likes it when I tickle his nape with my fingertips.”
My pulse thuds, the rest of the bar fading into the background, like it’s only me and Perry in the room. That was…really fucking sweet. So sweet, I don’t even know what to say.
“Damn. I’m not into guys, and I kinda want to be his boyfriend.” Avery’s words break through the trance Perry has me in.
“Swoon,” Jack adds.
Perry turns to Brax just as Ty approaches. “So…I have a boyfriend now.”
“You’ve had a boyfriend for weeks, dumbass,” Brax counters.
“That’s what we said!” Casey laughs, and then they all are—well, everyone except Brax. Does he laugh if it’s not at some shmoopy thing Ty does? I can’t say I’ve ever seen it. All I know is, I really, really like having a boyfriend, and I’m so fucking thankful it’s Perry.
“You guys want a drink?” Perry looks my way.
I shake my head, but my friends all want one. I sit beside Brax, my crew all standing around us, talking and drinking.
Perry leans over the counter so his face is closer to mine. “Missed me, huh?”
“Nah, but the guys insisted we come down here.”
“Liar.” He grins, then asks, “It seems like it went okay telling them.”
“Yeah, they asked if it was the guy I’d been dating for weeks.” I chuckle.
“Apparently, everyone else was in on something we weren’t.”
“Apparently.”
“Can I kiss you?” His gaze darts away as if he’s embarrassed he asked. I hate that he’s so unsure when it comes to real feelings, that any part of Perry fears I would say no, even if only because I’ve never dated a guy and now I’ll be kissing one in public.
The truth is, I want Perry to kiss me. I wasn’t lying when I said I want everyone to know he’s mine, even if it’s scary. “Please do.”
“I love it when you ask so nicely.” He presses his lips to mine for just a beat before pulling away. There’s not a part of me that doesn’t want more, but I guess making out over the bar counter while he’s at work probably isn’t the best idea.
“For someone who didn’t think he wanted to be a boyfriend, you sure are good at it.”
He presses his lips to mine one more time. “That’s all you, Puppy. All you.”
“Gag,” Ty says, interrupting us, just as Gwen comes over.
“You planning on working tonight or making out with your boyfriend?”
Worry bubbles in my gut before I realize there’s a smile in her voice.
“Can’t I do both?” Perry asks. “I’m a fucking fabulous multitasker.”
Gwen laughs, then ruffles his hair like he’s a kid.
“You should get to work,” I tell him. “I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“Okay, but are you gonna stay at my house tonight? Because if I know I have something to look forward to, it’ll be easier to make myself work.”