I must look like the Joker with how big the smile on my face feels.
Connor
Okay, now that we’ve established Ender is in love with Gabe, can we get back to planning his birthday?
Ender loves me?
Kaden
Chill, Connor.
I got it covered. I’ll send the invites out by Friday. See you all tonight.
I put my phone back on the nightstand, ignoring the chimes that continue until they slowly die down.
He loves me?
His best friends know him better than anyone, so it has to be true—right? I want to pick apart every detail of our recent time spent together, but I can’t at the moment. I need to come up with a game plan to make sure his first birthday with me is special—and I have the perfect person to help plan it.
We were so busy planning the event—because there’s no such thing as just a party when my mother gets involved—that I was late getting home to get ready to meet everyone at the bar. Ender said he’d ride with Connor and meet me there, but I feel like a crazed lunatic when my eyes dart through the crowd looking for him as soon as I walk through the door.
I spot him in a back corner of the main room with the gang. A smile plays on his lips, threatening to rip the beating heart from my chest just so it could be near him at all times. As I close the distance between us, his gaze meets mine. The softness that warms his face steals my breath away—he’s perfection personified.
I faintly hear the gasps behind me when I crash into Ender, pinning him against the wall, while my lips devour him as if this kiss were the only way to stay alive.
His hands find their way under the hem of my shirt—the firmness and warmth of his skin on mine feeling like the sun has wrapped itself around me. I’m so lost in him—until he grunts, and I realize my hand has found its way to his scalp. I capture his lower lip between my teeth as I pull away from him.
“Fuck…sorry, Bean.”
“What are you sorry for?” he says with a devilish grin. “Do it again.”
I give him one more hard tug—how could I not?—and watch his lashes flutter while he moans softly against my lips.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Why is everyone so goddamn horny in this group?” Faith’s voice breaks the spell I’ve been under since I laid eyes on Ender.
“Zip it, Faith. Leave the lovebirds alone.” For once, Connor is the voice of reason, until I see the expression on Ender’s face. He looks almost…scared?
With one last peck on his lips, I clear my throat and turn toward our friends. “Hey, everyone. Sorry,” I say with a sheepish smile as Luke hands me a beer.
“Don’t be sorry. I’d be on him like white on rice too if I was in lo—” Kaden elbows Connor in the ribs, cutting him off. “Owww, what the fuck?”
Our friends join Kaden in chuckling over Connor’s antics—except Ender, who’s staring blankly across the room, suddenly interested in anything other than me. I wrap my arm around his lower back and rest my hand on his hipbone, giving it a gentle squeeze. He quickly gives me a one-sided smile and looks away.
After our second beer, I can tell Ender is still out of sorts. I try to give him a sliver of reassurance with a light kiss near his hairline that I know he loves. The swell of his chest and hoodedeyelids every time my lips touch his temple stir emotions inside me that I didn’t even know existed until I met him.
“I’m going to get us shots. Be right back,” Ender says before he rushes off to the bar alone. I watch him walk away, debating whether to follow him, until Connor mentions the birthday party.
“If you need any help with planning, just let me know.” Connor starts to ramble off a slew of ideas he has to make the party ‘memorable.’ I’m only half listening since I’m too busy watching Ender nervously fidget while he waits for the bartender.
Connor notices and says, “Try not to worry too much. He’ll be okay.” Having never heard his serious tone before, I turn to listen as he continues. “He just needs to get used to someone other than us loving him.”
The tiny crack that Ender’s story made in my heart a few weeks ago just grew exponentially. When he makes his way back to us, I want to wrap my arms around him and tell him just how much he means to me—but I know I can’t. Not after his reaction to Connor’s remark.
The shot glasses are barely even empty before Connor excitedly asks me, “Gabe, do you have any cute brothers?”
“Nope, only child here. Sorry.” I shrug.
“How about a hot dad? I’m always down for an older man.” He steeples his fingers in anticipation.
