“You’re so pretty,” he murmured, gazing down at my lips.
Pretty? He thought I was pretty? Like … that?
My insides gushed everywhere, and I curled my hands around his collar to pull him closer and stood on my toes to close the distance. I didn’t know why I was doing this here, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself. As soon as my lips grazed against his, everything seemed to fall into place, except… he stiffened.
“Ew! Mommy, are they going to kiss?” a kid shouted behind us.
I jumped away from Charlie, my heart pounding in my ears and my face suddenly burning hot from embarrassment. Charlie straightened out his back and swiped his thumb across his lower lip.
“We should continue,” I said, keeping my head down. “We have a few holes left.”
“Yeah,” he said, clearing his throat. “We should.”
“We’re best friends after all,” I whispered to myself. “And best friends don’t kiss.”
Best friends also didn’t fuck each other, but that was a problem for another day.
CHAPTER
NINE
CHARLIE
“Stupid kid,” I growled through my teeth as I walked into Radiant the next day.
Athena had almost kissed me yesterday at mini-golf, and some immature brat had to ruin it. She had taken me by surprise and stood on her toes to reach me, and I had wanted her to so badly.
Derek sat on one of the leather couches in the main room with two girls on his arm. I pursed my lips because I was still pissed at him and headed straight for the private rooms. I hadn’t reserved one tonight, but I hoped they still had some open.
“Hey, Charlie,” Michelle said, flicking through some papers. “Need a room?”
“You have any extras tonight?”
“You’re in luck.” She grinned. “Room nine is free until midnight.”
I nodded, but still lingered by her desk. “How long did Derek get a membership for?”
“Derek?”
“Derek Easton, my brother.”
“Oh,” Michelle hummed. “I didn’t know you two were brothers. You’re nothing alike.”
“Yeah, he’s an asshole,” I growled. “Do you know how long?”
“I’d need to go back and check,” she said. “I wasn’t the one who registered him. Why?”
After sighing, I pushed myself off the doorframe that I had been leaning on and turned toward the hallway to find room nine. “It doesn’t matter. But if you see him here with a pretty redhead, please tell me.”
Michelle stood and hurried over to me. “A pretty redhead? Ooh, who’s this?”
“She’s …” I paused and looked over at Michelle, who loved gossip. “Nobody.”
Once she placed her arm around my shoulders, she pulled me in tight. “Oh, come on. You can tell me. I can keep a secret.”
“No, you can’t.”
“Sure, I can!” She winked. “And you know I’ll pester you until I find out.”
