“And Elena and Diego knewinstantlywhen they met that they were meant to be,” my mom adds. “I’m sure Kayla and Andrew did too.”
“Come on. You should know by now it takes me longer than them to decide what I want.”
“Please, don’t remind me.” My mom’s features pinch. “I don’t need a headache before your brother gets here. All I’m trying to sayis I’m glad you’re getting serious this year. You’re finally working full-time and putting the video games down. If you try hard enough, things with Nathaniel will work out.”
I don’t have time to argue or even respond before Julian’s announcing our guest of honor’s imminent arrival.
My sister shuts off the lights, and the room goes silent as we’re plunged into darkness. I’m not sure if Nathaniel’s still in the bathroom, so I end up crunched down near the window by myself. I teeter forward in my heels, covering my mouth with a hand to hide my yelp. Before I hit the ground, an arm wraps around my middle, saving me from a fall. I’m pulled back up to a crouching position, my back nestled against a chest.
“Thank you.” I breathe a sigh of relief that Nathaniel made it back out here.
“No problem.”
Every muscle in my body tenses.Not Nathaniel.
I’m torn between pulling away from him and burrowing closer. The last time I checked, Julian was on the other side of the living room. When the hell did he get behind me? My legs are bunched underneath me in such an uncomfortable position that even if I wanted to pull away, I can’t without falling flat on my ass.
Even when he kissed me, I wasn’t crowded by him like I am now. Caged to his body by a single arm, his fingers brushing the bare skin of my waist in the most intoxicating way. It’s a slow kind of torture, the way the tips of his fingers skate against my skin through the cutouts in my dress. Unconscious, I’m sure. It has to be.
I blow out a frustrated breath before leaning my head back against his shoulder, trying to move my legs into a more comfortable position. My face is so close to his neck this way, close enough for my lips to brush his skin. The underside of his jaw is prickly from stubble, but it’s not an altogether bad feeling. I almost want to pressmy cheek against him, drag my lips across the scratchy surface of his five-o’clock shadow.
Good lord, where are these thoughts coming from?
Julian hitches a breath at the accidental contact, and a wave of satisfaction courses through me. I’m not the only one affected here.
That kiss addled my brain chemistry, turned me into someone I barely recognize. I’ve reached for and put down my vibrator about a hundred times this week, terrified of what’ll happen after orgasming to thoughts of Julian. In hindsight, it’s ridiculous that that’s the one line I’m unwilling to cross when we’ve already crossed so many.
“He’s taking forever,” someone mutters from my left. The voice is shushed by several others. The voice comes again, defensive, “What’s he doing out there anyway?”
“Are you okay?” Julian’s whisper is barely audible, but that doesn’t stop his low rumble from settling low in my belly. His stubbled chin scrapes against my skin the way I was just fantasizing about, and I must be losing my goddamned mind to be this turned on in a room full of strangers and family members while my date is somewhere nearby, completely oblivious.
“Yeah.” The word is nothing but a breathless puff of air. Then, when I remember my numb legs barely holding me up, I change tact. “No.”
“You can’t hold yourself up on your own, can you?”
I shake my head before remembering he can’t see me. But he must be able to guess the answer anyway, because he tells me to hold on. His hands shift to either side of my waist, and any air left in my lungs dissipates at the contact. Both hands are touching bare skin now. His touch is light at first, trying to make me feel more comfortable about him having to touch me without a barrier of fabric between us, until he realizes he’s the only thing holding me upward when the upper half of my body starts slipping. I release a sharpintake of breath when his grip tightens, gently tugging me back into the cradle of his arms. I could kick myself for choosing this dress for tonight.
The tip of his lips touch my ear, and a shudder goes through me. Low enough for only me to hear, he says, “Get on your knees.”
Every cell in my brain makes like the oxygen in my lungs and flees house.
He clears his throat and clarifies, “You’ll be more comfortable that way until you can stand.”
Right.My mind’s so far down the gutter, it needs an emergency ladder to escape. Julian gives me enough space once I’m able to rest on my knees without his assistance. It’s only once he’s no longer crowding my space that I’m finally able to breathe normally again.
The lights come on, temporarily blinding me until my brother’s stunned form comes into view. He rears back, covering his wide smile with both hands. The crowd of people erupts all around me.
“SURPRISE!”
25
Leti
What is happening?!” my brother exclaims over the chatter of people. He wraps his arms around his girlfriend before moving to greet his closest guests. The surprise on his face is genuine, so it looks like my parents and Elena pulled it off.
Now that I’m standing, I allow myself to properly shake out my legs in order to gain feeling back in them. It’s like standing on pins and needles. I place a hand on my lower back, stretching the sore muscles there. If I had to crouch in that uncomfortable position for any longer, I would’ve needed a trip to the ER. Then again, when the lights came on, it felt all too soon.
I turn to see Julian and my brother engaged in some sort of bro-handshake I’ve never understood. At the very least, I can count myself lucky that it makes him look less attractive to me.
