“Nope.” I shrug. “People make out all the time.”
“Mhmm.”
“It could be weird if it was bad, you know. The kiss.” I lean back, creating a pillow with my hands behind my head, and I try not to replay the other day.Her arms wrapped around my neck. Her mouth on mine. Her hips rolling against my cock.“I don’t think it was, though.”
“Same. Just unexpected.” Another pause, and she swallows. “Well, good. You’re right. Friends kiss sometimes. It’s unbelievable we made it through high school without letting any horny teenage urges get the best of us.”
We almost did, I want to say.But the hangover and food coma combined with Daisy saying the wordhornyall make me think I need some rest.
“And crushes are…they’re no big deal,” she goes on. “What matters is that we’re friends.”
“Friends,” I say, doing my best not to wince.
She stands, taking both of our empty plates into the kitchen. We’ve put it all out in the open, and things don’t have to be weird between us. We could even joke about it.Remember the time we dry-humped on a dying air mattress? Good times.
Ignoring the growing erection in my pants, I readjust and sink into the couch. “Hey, can we do a rain check for our meeting?” I ask with heavy eyelids. “I’m spent.”
“Sure. There’s a pull-out sofa in your room.”
“Okay. I’ll stay.”
She slips the key into my hand, patting it before heading to the lobby for work.
Everything will be fine.
Chapter Fifteen
Max, 15 Years Old
I sensed Daisy’s scowl over my shoulder. “I’m paying attention,” I assured her, a small smile playing on my lips. She and Gwen flanked me on either side of the couch, both of them reclining on the arms, with their feet pointing inward. Daisy’s toes rested inches from my knee, and I sat crisscross in the middle, a pillow and papers in my lap.
“Are you one of those people who thinks better when you’re doodling?” Gwen asked. She and Daisy had lockers next to each other, and we’d started hanging out as a trio recently.
“Sometimes,” I admitted.
“You might miss something good,” Daisy said.
“I could recite this show.” I’d watchedGilmore Girls, one of Daisy’s favorites, countless times with her. She wanted adistraction and also thought Gwen would like it, so we planned an all-day marathon at Daisy’s place.
No significant others, Daisy had clarified, although that wasn’t necessary. Gwen barely knew anyone, and Daisy broke things off with that last guy a couple of weeks ago. I’d gone on a few dates with this girl from my homeroom, Lily, but we weren’t serious. I liked not worrying about dividing my attention with someone else today. It meant that when I was with Daisy, I really got to be with her.
The front door opened, and Daisy’s mom beamed with an over-the-top smile. “Pizza!”
“You just missed Lorelai finding out about the kiss,” Daisy said.
“Oooh,” her mom swooned, setting the pizza boxes on the coffee table.
I followed her into the kitchen to stick some more popcorn in the microwave while Daisy and Gwen sang along to the intro of the next episode. Daisy’s mom had both palms on the counter, her eyelids shut, as she took in a deep inhale.
“You okay, Mrs. J?”
Her eyes flew open, and although her mouth turned up in a smile, her eyes were red-rimmed and glassy. Mr. Johnson had moved out again earlier in the week, and my heart sank to see Daisy’s mom this way.
“I’m fine, my sweet boy,” she said, forcing her smile further.
“Here.” I enveloped her in a tight hug, and she melted into it. I liked Daisy’s mom so much. My parents cast dark clouds over every decision I ever made, but Daisy’s mom gave me sunshine.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
