But I wish for it anyway.
~ ~~
Penny
Autumn is dead asleep on the couch from today’s festivities and I’m packing up leftovers from the cake and food.
“I swear to God, Declan was going to eat your face off if there weren’t people in the room,” Jordan tells me from my left while I place pizza bites in a container.
“You saw that too? Oh my god, I’m not a voyeur, but I would pay to see them kiss for the first time,” Becca tells her from my other side.
“And did you see the way he placed his hands under hers on the cake? Like he had to touch her,” Jordan replies.
“Ugh,” Becca groans. “That was so hot. It was like the ultimate foreplay.”
I drop the container on the counter, loud enough to get their attention. “I’m right here, you guys.”
“Oh, we know. And what do you have to say for yourself?” Jordan crosses her arms and faces me while leaning a hip against the counter.
“Yeah, I thought he was on our shit list,” Becca says, coming to stand next to Jordan.
I pull my sweater sleeves over my hands and say, “Yeah, well, he told me his reasoning for saying what he said, and I forgave him.”
Jordan quirks an eyebrow. “Just like that?”
I nod my head. “Yup.” I pop the p for effect.
“Must have been a really fucking good reason,” Becca says.
“It was.”
“He'd better thank you with some clit rubbing… and I don’t mean with his fingers. That tongue piercing needs to be put to good use,” Becca says, and my eyes go wide.
“Um, no!” I exclaim. “We’re just friends. Plus, I have a date on Wednesday. I plan to get some action then.”
A throat clears and has all three of us turning our heads. Declan stands off to the side, with Lucas and my dad flanking him.
Shoot me now.
I can’t get a read on Declan’s face, but my dad looks like he would rather be anywhere but here right now.
And Lucas, he’s holding back a laugh.
Asshole.
I can feel my cheeks heat and decide I need to make an exit. “I’ll be right back,” I say with a tight-lipped smile. I don’t look at anyone as I leave, completely mortified by what they heard.
Luckily, the door to the front porch has a clear path, and I make my way outside.
“Shit, fuck, dammit,” I whisper as soon as the door shuts behind me. Could that have been any more embarrassing?
I put my hands on the top of my head and fill my lungs with the crisp, cool air. How the fuck am I ever supposed to face my dad or Declan again? It’s one thing for Lucas to hearme say those things; it’s another for my dad and Declan to hear them.
My stomach turns at the thought of Declan knowing I’m going out on a date to get an orgasm. I shouldn’t care. I don’t. It’s not like he likes me like that. Our friendship is purely platonic. But why do I feel like I just betrayed him in some way?
I shake the thought from my head and turn when I hear the door open. Declan steps out onto the front porch with me, his eyes narrowed in on mine. Why does he have to be so good-looking? It would make it a lot easier if he weren’t, because my body might finally get the memo that she needs to back down. Unfortunately for me, my body is on a whole other wavelength.
“Oh no no no, you go back inside. I’m out here to drown in my embarrassment,” I say while pointing to the door behind him.
