“Having fun?” I yell, our hands still connected.
“The most fun I’ve ever had,” he yells back.
Words can’t describe how proud I feel. All I wanted was for Felix to have fun tonight, and I succeeded.
Chapter 26
Felix
The glass of ice water I chug at the bar feels heavenly on my dry throat. I’ll be hoarse for a week with the way I’ve been screaming. The band is taking a twenty-minute break, and we thought it’d be a good time to grab a drink.
“You want anything besides water?” Torren asks.
I do, but I also know he’s not drinking because he’s driving, and nobody likes to be the sober babysitter to a fool who’s shit-faced. “Nah—good with water for now.”
Torren and I crowd surfed for at least a few songs. I think. Honestly, it could have been longer, or even shorter—heavy metal, so it all just bleeds together in my opinion. Never in my life has my ass been grabbed that many times, and I’m not mad about it one bit.
It’s about time people appreciate this peach!
Torren leans against the bar, his elbows perched on the ledge, watching the scene before us and looking absolutely delicious. I tap his shoulder and slide my water his way.
“Thanks,” he says with his deep voice that makes my butthole twitch. He brings the glass to his mouth, and I notice howsexy Torren’s bottom lip is. It’s pillowy and smooth, with a rosy hue but still super masculine.
Not sure how long I’ve been staring at his lips, but the side-eye glance he’s giving me is conveying it’s been too long. I snap my eyes away, scanning the people mingling in front of the stage.
Torren slides the drink back to me, a wicked smile on his face.
“Oh, Felix,” he sighs.
“Sorry. I know…just friends.”
Torren nods, but I detect a slight melancholiness, and it gives me hope that maybe he wants us to be more than friends.
Don’t get your hopes up, Felix.
I can’t make a move and ruin things. Do I want to suck Torren’s face off right now? Yes. But I also need a friend who actually gives a damn about me. I’ve never really had any friends. My mom was the only person who really understood me, so I spent most of my time with her. Even at Cornell, the people I met weren’t interested in really getting to know me. Everyone was so wrapped up in their own ego that there wasn’t any room left for anyone else.
Tonight means a lot to me.
“Okay,” I say as I slap my hand against the bar. “I promise I will keep this strictly platonic, Torren. No more staring at your perfect lips, and no more fishnets.” I say the last one with a laugh. Of course, I was hoping he’d notice, but I honestly really like dressing this way and rarely get the chance to do it. “I’ll keep things chill. Friends?”
I give him my hand to shake, and he takes it with a chuckle and replies, “Friends.”
We shake on it.
But neither of us lets go.
I loosen my fingers, hoping it’s not me who’s locked us in place, but Torren’s hand doesn’t let go.
The lights above illuminate the side of his face, making his brown eyes glow like gold. He sighs again, his hot breath warming my face, and the urge to slant my lips with his takes over.
I close my eyes and inch closer, until the roar of the crowd pulls me back to earth.
The band reappears on stage, finding their instruments.
I look at Torren, and there’s a sad expression on his face. He takes a sip of water, then says, “Let’s hear the rest of their set.”
He leads me to the floor where the audience gathers, and I die a little inside. But I shake it off, because tonight has been incredible, and I refuse to let a failed kiss derail my good time.
