Page 75 of Capture the Moment
Princess
Whatever you say LB
Don’t forget to bring a bag of powdered donuts too
I chuckle at the mention of the first snack we’ve ever had with one another and make myself comfortable for the last forty minutes of our drive back from New York. We should be getting back around 11:00 p.m. which isn’t late, but damn sure isn’t early so I make sure I’m the first off the bus to make it to one of the corner stores near campus.
If I’d never been to Cleo’s apartment before now, I’d know that I was in the right place based solely from the loud girl group songs and shouting on the other side of the door.
“Ew, CJ! It’s him!”I hear Denver from behind the door and chuckle lightly at her remark. My cousin may act like she doesn’t like me, but we all know I’m secretly her favorite family member.
“Girl, he looks good as hell. He didn’t come over here to just do face masks! Have you gotten a wax recently?” I can hear the soft spoken pink-haired girl loud and clear followed by loudShh’sand whispered arguing. I spend about five minutes standing at the front door before Cleo opens it, I pause in my tracks at her. With no makeup, her hair up in a lazy bun, and wearing pajamas with little cow plants on them, Cleo looks beautiful.
She’s so beautiful that I’m taken aback for a moment and I don’t fully hear what she’s saying until the bag of treats and alcohol is pried away from my hands by Georgia.
“How was the game? We watched you play untilsomeonegot bored of it.” She beams before giving a sharp look to her blonde best friend.
Georgia shrugs with a small laugh. “I couldn’t sit through it, babe. I’m sure you did amazing though, Blake.” She giggles.
I smile at the girls, advancing into the apartment and taking off my shoes at the door before heading into the living room where “the party” is.
“It was amazing if you think about it from a winner’s perspective but shitty as hell from a captain’s point of view.” I sigh, silently thanking Cleo as she hands me a small glass of auburn liquid. Presumably, whiskey.
I drink up the smooth familiar liquor and smile; she had my favorite brand of whiskey stashed away in her kitchen.
“That sucks, little cousin… Anyway, did you bring the Fruit Roll-Ups?”
I roll my eyes at Denver and toss four packages to her before focusing my attention back on Cleo. She gives me a devious smile before turning on her heels toward the hallways bathroom.
The girls and I make small talk, discussing this season ofLove in Cancunwhen Cleo returns holding seven colorful packets and a load of other things in her arms.
“Since you’ve never been here during our self-care night, I’ll let you choose from any of these three,” she says with a small smile before placing three different animal face masks on the coffee table.
“Huh?” I furrow my brows at her as her smile brightens.
“Today’s Self-care Sunday, silly and you’re just in time.”
And that was how I found myself sitting in a small circle on the floor with four girls wearing a tiger face mask.The girls spend about fifteen minutes arguing about whether to watchLove in Cancunor a new romance movie before deciding on the reality show.
I spend that time observing their friend group dynamic and Cleo. She’s sat directly beside me wearing her own pink pig face mask, stuffing white powdered donuts into her mouth as she watches that prick that everyone hates flirt with America’s current sweetheart.
I don’t want to be anywhere else as I sit here in my own face mask watching the woman that I have a major crush on do something she loves with the people she feels the safest with.
Cleo gives me a large powdery grin and to my surprise, she lays her tipsy little head on my shoulder. I stiffen momentarily before relaxing under her touch,bringing her close. I never want this moment to end and so I pull out my phone and do what I do best.
I capture it.
Cleo makes a goofy face at the camera before promptly telling me to delete it with fake annoyance. I’m so into talking and joking with her that when Sienna lets out a long yawn, pulling my attention to the time in the corner of the television, I’m startled.
2:15 a.m.
Fuck.
“Hey, I’ll start to head out now since it’s super late,” I say, hastily removing myself from Cleo to stand, only to be stopped by Denver and Georgia.
“Wait, no! You can’t leave this late at night,” Georgia protests.
“It’s too late to leave, Blake,” Denver tuts, folding her arms over her chest like her word is final.
