“Don’t worry,” I assure him. “I won’t.”
He studies me a moment longer, probably trying to intimidate me, which isn’t easy seeing as I tower over him, but I appreciate the effort.
Before I can say anything more, Ben laughs. “Archer, back off. I can fight my own battles.”
Archer blinks hard at him.
“I mean it. You guys need to stop babying me. I’m a grown-ass man.”
Someone gasps.
“Did Ben Harris just curse?” Nate says.
I give his hand a squeeze before leaning down to whisper in his ear, “I’ve heard you say worse.”
He’s blushing when I pull away. It might just be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
I pull him into the living room by the hand, noting that the music is not his kind of music at all.
“Why aren’t they playing your sad girl playlist?”
He shrugs. “No one wants to listen to sad girl music at a party.”
“But this isyourparty. You should listen to whatever you want.”
Miles is scrolling through a playlist on a phone attached to the speakers. I ask him if I can have it. He looks to Ben for confirmation before he hands the phone over.
I find what I’m looking for and grab Ben. If he doesn’t want to dance with me in front of everyone I’ll understand. I just want to hold him. For him to have whatever music he wants on his birthday.
“You like this one, don’t you?”
“It’s the wrong coast, but yeah, I love this one.”
“Are we not on the West Coast?”
He laughs.
When the song gets to the swoony bit, Ben puts his arms around my neck and kisses me while he sways his hips in time to the music.
He breaks away from the kiss only to rest his head on my shoulder. I look around and discover we’re not the only ones dancing.
“Ben?”
Ben looks up from my shoulder with a sleepy, satisfied expression on his face.
“Hm?”
“Can I sleep in your room with you tonight?”
His smile fadesa little.
“Are you sure I don’t keep you awake with my snoring and weird sleep questions?”
“Oh, we are definitely getting you one of those sleep journals to decipher the meaning of that weird recuring dream. But no, you don’t keep me awake.”
The smile spreads again before he rests his head back on my shoulder. He hums. “I like sleeping next to you.”
“Especially when I’m inside you,” I whisper in his ear.
