Page 37 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

He stares at his phone in frustration.“Yeah, okay.I don’t know how you survive out here.”

I leave him at his car with a quick kiss and head over to the office.

Seth is there, playing on his phone, his feet propped on his desk.He’s wearing a purple and gold tie today and the socks with Abi’s and my faces on them.He drops the phone onto the desk, a smile lighting up his face.

“How was horseback riding?Isaac told me about the bridesmaids.”

“It was awful but also hysterically funny.”I tell him all about the girls getting drunker and drunker as the morning went on.Seth listens and laughs without a glance at his phone, and my heart constricts a little.I need to give Rick a chance, but I want this instead.

Too bad I can’t have it.

* * *

When I wake up the next morning, there’s already a text from Seth waiting for me.

Seth: How did dinner with Dick…I mean Rick go?

Mae: It was fine.And you shouldn’t call him names.

I chuckle at his comment though.

Seth: Why not?He’s getting the girl I want.Even if he was the nicest guy in the whole world, I’d still call him names.

Butterflies erupt in my stomach as I imagine how relaxing my night would’ve been with Seth, a night that would’ve ended in the hottest kiss ever instead of the lukewarm, sloppy kiss I actually got.

This probably isn’t fair to Rick at all.I’m trying—I really am—but I was so bored at dinner last night.

Mae: I don’t know how to respond to that.

Seth: I probably shouldn’t have said it.I’m sorry.Oh no, they didn’t.

Mae: Did what?

Seth: I’m gonna kill Mark and Levi.

Mae: What did they do now?

Seth: I’ll send a picture.

It takes a second for the picture to arrive, and I giggle.Every single one of his white pressed shirts in his closet is covered in lipstick kisses.It must’ve taken them forever.

“What’s so funny?”Abi asks, and I show her the picture.

“Oh yeah, I wondered what they needed my lipstick for.The tubes came back nearly empty.”

And here I thought Levi had managed to get some.

“And you didn’t think to ask?”

“Honestly, I didn’t want to know.What are you and Seth up to today?”

“More of the same.Answering comments on the socials and hopefully securing a couple more bookings.I’ve got two people on the fence who are close to making a decision.”

She nods absentmindedly.I realize we’ve spent hardly any time together recently.The bachelorette party doesn’t count.

“Hey, you want to hang out tonight, just you and me?Maybe we can have a movie night up at the house.Make cookie dough and eat it instead of baking them?”

Abi’s face lights up.“You’re on, but I’m picking the movie.”

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