Wes’s head snaps up, and he smiles when he sees our group, shuffling his way through the growing crowd on the deck. He’s collected some souvenirs since we last saw him. A rubber stethoscope hangs from his neck, and there’s a light blue button with a ribbon pinned to his shirt that readsBaby’s 1stBirthday.“Hello again, favorite people.”
He squeezes in between Kaden and me, and a shiver runs down my spine at his proximity. He’s both too close and not close enough—I can never make up my mind anymore. I debate leaning a little to my right to brush my arm against his, but I don’t want to be like all those other girls that grope him in the halls.
Kaden snorts. “Cute button.”
Ben flicks the stethoscope and asks, “Where the fuck did you get that?”
Wes chuckles down at it. “I have no idea,” he admits. “I blinked, and it appeared.” He raises the chest piece at the end. “Anyone need their heart checked?”
“Ivy does,” Quinn says with a smirk. I nudge her as Wes’s dark eyes turn on me.
“I’m okay, thanks,” I tell him quickly, my face warming at the thought of him moving closer to my chest.
Wes grins. “Let me know if you change your mind.” I avert my eyes to the ground, thankful when he changes the subject. “I see you’ve met my housemates.”
“Oh, we’re old friends by now,” says Ben. “Who do you think invited her?”
I peek back up at Wes to find him rolling his eyes. “Well, I couldn’t exactly invite her to a party I knew nothing about.”
“I’m shocked you didn’t sniff it out,” says Kaden. He directs his next words at me. “He’s very nosy.”
“He said the same thing about you guys,” I say, surprising myself.
Ben makes a show of looking mock offended. “After we threw you a party?”
“This was before,” Wes clarifies. “And youdidgo into my phone and steal her number.”
“Out of the goodness of ourhearts.”
“It was necessary,” says Kaden. “You were allIvy thisandIvy that. We had to invite her.”
Quinn nudges my shoulder this time, but I’m dead focused on Wes. Unless I’m mistaken, a faint blush colors his cheeks as he glares at his housemate. “Wow. Thanks, K.”
Kaden shrugs and says, “I tell it like it is.”
“You three are something,” says Quinn, taking a sip of her drink.
“We’d make an excellent reality show,” says Ben. “K’s the realist. Doc’s the charmer.”
“And if it weren’t for Ben, we’d all starve to death,” adds Kaden.
Ben nods. “You would.”
“I can cook!” Wes protests.
“You can cook one thing well,” Ben points out. “That’s not ‘cooking.’”
Kaden looks at me. “Has he made you his signature dish yet?”
“Chicken piccata?” I guess.
Kaden bursts out laughing.
“You betrayed me,” Wes jokes, brushing my arm with his. Despite the layers of fabric between us, goosebumps raise across my skin.
“Dang, you hit her with the chicken piccata already?” asks Ben. “Now she has nothing left to look forward to!”
“You really need to branch out,” Kaden agrees.
