Page 36 of Every Hidden Truth

His blue eyes were bright, no longer shadowed by bruising, and I couldn’t stop my responding smile as he waited for me on the sidewalk, bouncing on his toes. My fingers twitched with the desire to rip off his hat so I could see his dimple—and kiss his face off, of course.

“Hey, Silas.” He tugged me close and—hunching to adjust to our height difference as he teetered on the edge of the curb—he plopped a deep, close-mouthed kiss on my lips. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, indeed. What’s got you in such a good mood?” I pecked his mouth again, his lips chilled from the wind. His cold fingers twined with my warmer ones as he led me toward the school doors.

“Can’t I be happy to see my boyfriend?” he deflected.

I narrowed my eyes as he practically dragged me into the bustling building. “I’m glad to be the reason for your happiness, but it’s Monday, and we have semester exams this week. So even my presence should not be bringing you this much joy.”

Rolling his eyes, he huffed. “You know, the glass is allowed to be half-full sometimes.”

“I substitute your reality for my own, and in my reality, there is no glass.” I stuck my tongue out at him, and he chuckled.

“Come on, Debbie Downer.” I scowled as he tugged me down the slowly filling corridor. “The semester is almost over, and there’s a lot to be happy about.”

“Not this happy,” I quipped suspiciously.

Less than a minute later, the bright colored streamers and bobbing balloons attached to my locker revealed the secret to Ben’s excitement, and heat flooded my face as we came to a stop. The words,Happy Birthday, Silas,were glued to the door in rainbow construction paper, and I could barely find my combination dial through the plethora of festive decor.

Students gawked, some laughing while others made embarrassing “aw” sounds as they passed. I fingered one of the lime green streamers as I fought a mix of pleasure and embarrassment.

No one had ever decorated my locker for my birthday before. To be honest, my birthday was usually swept up in Christmas festivities since it was only three days before the major holiday. But Ben had arrived at school early to surprise me with this. It felt significant.

Not wanting to turn into a blubbering mess, I rounded on Ben, hands on my hips. “Why does it look like a birthday party threw up on my locker? It’s not even my birthday.”

“Well, your birthday is on Saturday, so I couldn’t do it then.” He studied my expression, his happiness fading. “Is it too much? Do you hate it? I can take it down if—”

“Oh, shut up,” I threw my arms around his neck. “It’s great. Really.”

He squeezed me, kissing the side of my head. “Yeah? You like it?”

“Yes, I like it.” I released him and inspected my locker again. “Thank you.”

“It wasn’t just me,” he admitted, fingers tracing the back of my hand. “I had help.”

Ben glanced over his shoulder a moment before he was unceremoniously shoved out of the way. I was immediately assaulted by hair spray, sweet perfume, and lots of hair as Caroline and Kim attacked me. I shrieked as they squashed me between them, singing an off-key rendition ofHappy Birthday.

“Oh my God, there is so much boob right now! Get off of me.” I struggled half-heartedly, laughing when Kim and Caroline pressed kisses to my cheeks. “Ben? Ben! Help me.”

“You love it, and you know it,” Kim said, giving me another hard hug.

Thankfully, Ben saved me, tucking me into his side as the seven-minute bell rang.

“I feel like I just got to second base with them both, and I wasn’t even trying!” I sent Ben an eyebrow waggle. “Am I a chick magnet?”

“You wish,” Caroline snorted at the same time Kim said, “If that’s your idea of second base, I feel bad for Ben. Yikes.”

“Hey!” I said as they headed toward their classes. “When Ben and I get to second base, I’m going to blow his mind. Just you wait and see!” I yelled after them.

Ben cleared his throat. “Maybe that’s not something you should shout in the middle of a crowded hallway?”

Blood rushed into my cheeks, boiling under my skin. “Oops.”

Ignoring the attention we’d garnered, I opened my locker and fought through the balloons he’d somehow stuffed inside. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Ben. I can’t see a damn thing.”

He laughed as I finally retrieved my binder and shoved my backpack into my locker. Turning back to him, I popped onto my toes and kissed him. He smirked against my lips.

“We’re gonna be late to class,” he mumbled against my mouth, and I nipped his bottom lip.

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