The top to the coffin Archie was in opens, and he pops up, staring at us. ‘Try this one. Very comfy.’
Dex’s body is trembling. I feel it in his hand, and when I look over, he’s laughing. My lips curl up as he moves toward the coffin, watching as Archie gets out of it. Then Dex loosens his hand from mine and takes Archie’s place.
‘Come on. Let’s see how strong this is.’
My cheeks heat, and I shake my head at Dex. I was trying to get back at him earlier, but it’s backfired.
Absolutely not. No fucking in coffins.
When I don’t crawl in next to Dex, or on top of him, for that matter, he hops out of the coffin and moves toward Archie. Seeing his quick approach, Archie takes a step back, and Dex stops abruptly, obviously getting the hint. Instead, he just tells Archie from a yard away, ‘You right. Very nice. Comfy. Thank you.’
Archie nods in agreement and then turns back to the salesman.
‘I want buy.’
Dex stares at me, and I crane my head toward the exit. He obviously can take a fucking hint because he grabs my hand,and we rush out of there. As soon as the light hits us, I feel him burst out in laughter, and I can’t help but join him.
‘You got into a coffin,’ I say, my chuckle filling my lungs. When was the last time I did this? When was the last time I truly laughed?
‘I wasn’t lying. Itwascomfy.’
I shake my head and drag him away. ‘Why you think Archie wants that?’
‘Don’t know. Probably to sleep in?’
‘Vampire for sure.’
Dex shrugs. ‘Maybe.’ His eyes catch on something else, and I let out a long sigh as he pulls me toward a tent full of tie-dyed shirts.
‘No matching shirts,’ I tell him, but he just rolls his eyes, holding one up to me. Bright pink with green and purple swirls.
‘Can’t match. Each one is unique,’ he tells me, then tucks the pink one under his arm and grabs one swirled with turquoise, maroon, and white. He holds it up to himself, then turns from side to side as I do my best not to groan.
‘Makes your eyes look pretty,’ I tell him.
His cheeks flush bright red, and he looks a little startled. I make a grabby-hand gesture, and he frowns as he hands them off to me. ‘I’m gonna buy.’
I shake my head. ‘No, I will buy. You go get frozen lemonade.’ I point across the little walkway to a stall that’s selling that and salty soft pretzels, and his eyes light up.
It’s not exactly fine-dining date food, but from the look on his face, it might be better.
He bounces on his toes and nods. ‘Yes yes yes. You want to share or get two?’
‘Share,’ I tell him. ‘Two straws.’ That’s date-like, right?
His smile softens, and he leans in. I know what he’s goingfor, and I’m tempted to deny him the kiss just to tease him. To remind him I’m not supposed to be given kisses until I get my final score.
But I’m not a fool either.
I let his lips brush mine, and just before he pulls away, I wrap my fingers around the back of his neck and hold him there. It’s still chaste, but it lingers.
I feel him hum against my mouth, and I catch the sound on my tongue, swallowing it down.
“Thank you,” I murmur, just to watch his lips part in a soft inhale. He’s earned a few treats, too, for being so him. For making me laugh and taking away the nerves I felt at the beginning of this.
As I watch him weave through the growing crowd, I test the word ‘boyfriend’ on my fingers. I spell it, fingers against my thigh, then imagine what it would feel like to sign it and mean him.
Dex.
