I press a hand to my chest, groaning. “You just broke my fragile ego. I think my heart is failing. Quick! Give me CPR,” I joke, causing Alondra’s hazel eyes to sparkle as a laugh slips from her.
“Shut up,” Alondra says.
“Make me.”
This time, her eyes land on my mouth, and I really need to stop thinking about how her fingers curled into my shirt, pulling me closer.
I wink at her, leaning back to rest against the couch cushions, hoping to can calm the racing of my heart. “So what happens at spa night? Karaoke? Naked pillow fights? The saddest romance movies ever made?” I ask, trying not to think about how her leg is pressed up against mine.
“You and Dylan do know we wouldn’t get naked to have a pillow fight, right? Nor do we actually have pillow fights.”
Obviously, but can’t a guy dream a little?
“Darlin’, you’re killing my fantasy,” I complain, and Alondra tries to push me, but unfortunately for her, she lacks the muscle necessary to make any impact.
“Can you move? You take up so much room.”
“It’s because I’m so big,” I say, fully aware I sound like a conceited ass, but if you got it, flaunt it.
Fuck, maybe I shouldn’t take advice from Dylan.
Macy bursts into laughter, doubling over as she holds her stomach. “Oh, you’re funny.”
“Are you and Chadwick back together?” I ask, batting my eyelashes at her innocently.
She sputters, and I feel like an ass for a moment until she laughs, shaking her head at me.
“Don’t be mean,” Al scolds, pushing me again.
“I’m literally sitting here with gunk on my face and a headband. Pretty sure I’m allowed to make comments about how big my dick is without getting laughed at, but I’m sorry, Macy. It was a low blow.”
“Just like I’m sorry for this,” she says, pointing her phone at me, and I realize the grave mistake I’ve made. Next thing I know, my phone is going off with a chime of alerts, but the thought of trying to look at all the messages while keeping up with the conversation sounds mentally exhausting, so I don’t even bother reaching for it.
I know my friends well enough to know they’re going to get a kick out of that photo.
“Lots of big dick talk from his highness over here,” Alondra reads out loud, and I’m not even sure I care they’re making fun of me because of how goddamn dazzling her smile is.Dazzling?What the hell is wrong with me? I’m not sure I’ve ever used that word in my fucking life. “Sorry, Jack. I’m with Macy on this one,” she says, shifting in her spot.
“Go ahead, it’s okay to laugh. I’m secure enough in my masculinity and my manhood to take it,” I say, and then Al rotates, draping her legs and simultaneously the purple fuzzy blanket over my thighs, making herself comfortable. I, on the other hand, am trying to keep my shit together because I’m spinning out in my head, realizing Al didn’t have to read Macy’s text out loud.
“Macy, can you please press play on the movie so I don’t have to listen to princess here talk about his dick anymore?”
Shit, maybe I should have just moved over when she asked because my brain is malfunctioning while trying to figure out what to do with my hands. I’ve tried really hard since the day we went skating to be careful, letting Al make the first move when it comes to touching her because she’s not mine to reach for. But Alondra was the one who put her legs on my lap, so I have to assume it means she’s okay with me touching her.
I thought spa night was supposed to be relaxing, but instead, I’m overthinking every little thing.
I rest my hands on her shins, and she doesn’t budge, helping some of the coiled tension in my body melt away as I let myself get sucked into the movie.
“How cute. If I didn’t sit here with Al and Ellie last week and help them with your dating profile, I’d say you guys look like a domesticated couple doing your face masks and sitting on the couch together,” Macy coos, and at the mention of the dating profile, I manage to laugh, but the truth is there’s a heavy dose of fear coursing through my veins.
“Right, you were in on that too,” I muse, trying to ignore my dad’s voice ringing in my ears as Al pulls away, standing up.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Jack. You’re going to be just like me.
“Instead of refusing to go on a single date, you should be thanking us. We worked hard to find the right girl for you,”Alondra says, and I feel off-balance, like I’m standing on a rowboat, rocking back and forth in the middle of the ocean with nowhere to go.
“Sorry you wasted your time,” I say, and Macy stands too.
“They’re all really nice and pretty. You’re missing out,” she adds, but I disagree.
