“Aaron!” Jude batters me with his fists, and I laugh and push him away. He tries to go for the sides of my stomach to tickle me, but I’m not having any of it, and I grab both of his wrists. I’m about to tell him,I told you that I’m stronger, but the words die on my lips at the look he’s giving me.
“The answer’s yes,” he says.
“Yes?”
“Yes, I’ll be your boyfriend, Aaron Richard Wynn.”
I laugh.
“Ryan?” he says. “Riley? Robert?”
“It’s not a common name,” I say.
“Romulus? Remus? Raphael? Reuben? Romeo?”
“Okay —”
“Riordan? Remington? Regulus? Roderick?”
“So how bout it? The dinner?” I interrupt.
“I know you’re just trying to change the topic,” Jude says, “but sure.”
“Great. Mimi and Lily are organising it, so they’ll let you know the details.” Now that that’s sorted, I lean forward, intending to return to kissing.
Jude blocks me, pushing a single finger against my lips.
“Reese? Ricardo? Rogelio? Rudolph? Can you give me a hint, at least?”
“Are you really not going to let me kiss you until I tell you?”
For a moment, it looks like Jude really will hold out, and I don’t doubt his stubbornness. But, just as I’m about to give in, he leans forward and kisses me.
If I thought our making out was passionate before, it’s nothing compared to this. Jude’s halfway out of his seat, and our hands are sliding up each other’s shirts.
“I want to have sex,” he murmurs.
“What, here?”
“No.” A breathy chuckle. “Not here. I haven’t totally lost my mind. I’m just… really horny.”
My eyes dip down to the bulge in his pants. Fuck. I want nothing more than to shove them down and take him in my mouth.
With a sigh, Jude pulls back and slumps into his seat. He pulls out his phone and checks the time. “I should take a moment to gather myself. I’ll be meeting my mum soon.”
I push down the disappointment. It wouldn’t have been able to happen anyway. It’ll be nice when we’re older and have our own places and a lot more freedom.
We sit quietly for a moment. Jude uses the flip-down mirror to check his reflection and pat down his uniform. Slowly, after several minutes of no touching, my own boner delates.
Jude taps his fingers against the passenger-side door handle as he stares out the window.
“Is something wrong?” I ask.
He turns to me and shakes his head with a tiny smile. “No. Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Seeing Mum. I hope she doesn’t ask me any awkward questions. And I think I’ll call Winona tonight.” His expression goes distant again, his lips twisting, and then he says, “Was I too uptight when I was establishing all those ground rules?”
