Page 76 of Nodus Tollens
Lifting my eyes from my phone, I peered all around us in search of a tall, beyond-handsome hockey player, but it was nearly impossible with the amount of people that were here. Dog Prairie wasn’t a big place. If anything, it was too small, and I had a feeling it was only going to get more packed.
“You think he’s by the bar?” Kate asked in my ear just as I felt my phone vibrate in my hand.
Hayes : Bout time ;) We’re standing towards the back by the pool table.
My heart skipped a beat. God, I missed him. So much so that I had been contemplating texting him to hang out earlier, way before he decided to message me. Even though I saw him earlier today before class, I was desperate for more of him. His tight, loving hugs. His slow, sensual kisses and every sweet word that poured out of his mouth like honey. I was a girl obsessed. I had fallen so hard and so quickly that my head completely dismissed the reality of it all. I went from believing being alone was the safest option for me to falling head over heels for the sweetest man out there.
And it was all because of him.
I then shoved my phone back into my pocket and threaded my fingers through Kate’s, tugging her along with me. Heading toward the back, my footsteps matched the increasing speed of my heart. I wondered if it was going to be like this all the time when I’d meet him somewhere? Would I always get butterflies? Would I always want to rush to get to him?
I hoped so.
As we approached the back of the bar, my eyes went wild looking for him. Back and forth, I searched in a sea of people until I heard my name being called.
“Blue!” The sound of my nickname being called sent a rush of relief through me as my hand slipped from Kate’s. Then, as I started to face the direction my name was being called from, I was unexpectedly swept up in a kiss that rendered me breathless. With a palm holding the back of my head and the other steadying me by my hip, I eagerly moved my mouth against his. If our kiss was in a movie, the lights would have went faulty around us from the intensity of it. A soul-wrenching song would have played in the background, and eventually, the words ‘and they lived happily ever after’ would have popped up on the screen. But our life wasn’t a movie, and unfortunately, just as I was starting to get into it, he pulled away with a wide dimply grin across his face.
“Hi.” He whispered as he used the pad of his thumb to wipe away some saliva that had built up in the corner of my mouth. My face had yet to register the kiss as I gaped at him with widened eyes. As I did so, the music faded around us. Even the crowd turned into one giant blur as I took in the beauty of this man standing before me. His dirty blonde locks were brushed back lazily out of his face as a simple black tee covered his muscled form. My hands took hold of his arms, and I gave them a short squeeze.
“Hi.” I said with a breathy sigh as my whole body melted at the sight of his dimples.
We were in our own little world, just staring at one another. We soaked in the potent electricity that seemed to always manifest whenever we were together, and finally, when we were pulled from our private moment, Hayes coughed into his palm.
“Kate, it’s good to see you again.” He winked at my best friend, who I had almost forgotten was standing behind me. Immediately, my cheeks flushed at the thought of her watching Hayes and me kiss.
“It’s good to see you too.” She half shouted as she made her way in front of us with a sly grin across her red-painted mouth. Then, she leaned in, but without touching Hayes, she hollered over the music again. “Is number thirty around here somewhere?”
Glancing down at me briefly, he lifted his brow in question before glancing back at Kate.
“Hendricks?”
Her eyes lit up like the fourth of July at the mention of his name, but she remained calm.
“Yeah.” She nodded shyly, causing me to chuckle at the nervousness that I rarely ever got to see from her. Her stare jumped over to mine, and within seconds she was glaring daggers before returning her eyes to my boyfriend.
Boyfriend.
Wow, I don’t think I’d ever get used to saying that.
“Uh, I think I might have seen him over by the bar.” He pointed over to a large group of people who were way too rowdy and obnoxious, but Kate, of course, looked ready for the challenge. I think she was finally at her breaking point with the whole Hendricks dilemma. Watching on the sidelines as the man she was totally in love with did not even know she existed was getting to her. And tonight, I think she summoned enough courage to finally do something about it.
“You’ll be okay if I uh… go over there, right?” She asked while leaning into me on shaky legs.
“Yeah, I’ll be back here with Hayes.” I nodded while inwardly smiling. “Just please be careful.” I begged, knowing damn well that Henricks stood no chance against my best friend.
Hook, line, and sinker.
“I’m always careful.” She pulled away from me and rubbed her lips together, making them appear plumper and shinier.
“Take care of my best friend, Hayes.” She points an acrylic nail in his direction, narrowing her eyes.
Hayes then laid his arm over my shoulder and yanked me into his side, where he placed his mouth to the top of my head. “Always.” He mumbled into my hair, and though Kate couldn’t hear his words, she understood the sweet gesture. Eyes now watching us in pure adoration, she shakes herself quickly of the emotion and sashays past us with confidence in her steps. When she finally disappears into the crowd, Hayes moves his mouth against my ear.
“I’m guessing she has a thing for James.” He spoke with a chuckle while the vibrations of it sent a shock throughout my body. I thought his touches would be my only concern, but now it seemed that the mere sound of his voice would be enough to make me go feral. And it was worsening. With each day, the need inside me grew. I wanted longer touches, more kisses in more places. I couldn’t get enough of him, and even though I was afraid, I knew, I just knew I would always be safe with him.
And I wanted to give him this. I wanted him to have me fully.
“Blue…” He interrupted with a warning as if he knew what I was thinking. I didn’t exactly know how he would have known, but when my stare dropped to my hand, currently clinging to the top of his jeans, I gulped.
