Page 5 of Fine, Dork

“J?”

“Yeah, K?”

I swallowed and placed my hand over my racing heart like I thought that would help slow it down. “Um, was it super weird for you when I kissed you in high school?”

Jaxon was quiet for so long that I thought maybe he’d fallen back asleep. Finally, he let out a long, slow breath. “Um, it was unexpected, but I mean, you were trashed and probably didn’t know what you were doing.”

“Right. Yeah. But was it bad?”

Jaxon laughed. “Are you asking if you’re a bad drunk kisser? If you really want to know that there are plenty of other people that you could ask.”

That stung. I wasn’t ashamed of my sexuality. People that thought I was a slut could go to hell, but I didn’t want J to think I was a slut.

Almost like he could sense my hurt, Jaxon reached out and took my hand in his. “You’re a good drunk kisser, K.” I could hear the smile in his voice. Then he patted my hand and released it.

I rolled over to look at him, propping myself up on my elbow. “Did it make stuff weird with us? Did it hurt you? Confuse you? Gross you out?”

Jaxon turned his head to look at me. His eyes were gorgeous, even in the dark. “Why do you have all these questions now, almost seven years later?”

“I don’t know. We never talked about it.”

“That’s because I didn’t know you were even aware that it happened.”

I bit my lip. “Do you think I’m a hot mess, J?”

Jaxon laughed now and rolled over to stare up at the ceiling. “No, Kinley. I think you and I are very different, and your life choices don’t always make sense to me, but you’re not a mess. I’ve never thought that.”

I let out a little sigh of relief. “Thanks, J.” But he didn’t answer my questions about the kiss. Did he do that on purpose? Was that his way of putting these questions to bed without hurting me? I wanted to push, but I rolled over and closed my eyes instead, thinking about that one time in high school when I kissed my best friend.

???

Seventeen Years Old

“Get off me!” I groaned and pushed Sean away, but my arms felt like wet spaghetti. How fucking much did I drink? Shit. I had a problem.

I stumbled down the stairs and out the front door as Sean yelled after me, “Kinley! Where are you going? What about my blow job?”

I shuddered at the thought of Sean’s dick in my mouth. Anything in my mouth would make me puke, honestly. I was way past face-numb-drunk. Now, my fucking stomach was numb. I wanted to go home.

I sank onto the curb and rested my head on my knees.

“K?”

My head shot up. Ugh. Bad move. “J?” I smiled up at my favorite person. “What are you doing here? You hate parties.”

Jaxon narrowed his pretty blue eyes at me. “You texted me and asked for a ride home.” He gave me a soft smile. “Well, actually, what you said was, ‘Sean’s dick is grs. I don’t want it. You safe me J. I want so hime.’”

I laughed and rested my head on my knees again. “I’m hilarious.”

“Come on, K. Let’s get you home.” He reached down to lift me to a standing position. “Actually, your mom will kill you. You can sleep it off for a couple of hours at my place. My parents are visiting Tyson at college this weekend. He’s getting another genius award.”

I snorted and stumbled into Jaxon. “Ohmygod. Is it a Nobel Prize?” His brother was an asshat.

Jaxon grinned at me and wrapped his arm around my waist to steady me. “Not yet. Maybe next month.”

I dozed in Jaxon’s car, and when we reached his house, he helped me up to his bedroom. He tucked me into his bed and turned to leave.

“Wait. J, stay with me.” I loved his smell and his warmth and the sweet, nonjudgmental way he was looking at me.

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