Page 91 of Capture the Moment
“And who the hell is the sexy firefighter behind you, staring at you like a goddamn snack? Girl, he is hot! Pun intended,” the friend squeals and I’m instantly smug as all outdoors.
The guy and I share an equally smug and amused look with one another over the girls’ heads as they continue catching up. When we realize that they’ll spend the entire night talking to one another, we converse on our own.
I soon find out that the man’s name is Jayson and we talk about our equal love for our sports, his being basketball and mine obviously being hockey. It isn’t until Jace calls the attention of everyone in our section to play a game of drink or dare, that I realize Jayson and I have been talking for the same amount of time as Cleo and Amalia.
“Gather around kids, the king is ready to be entertained!” Jace jeers as more and more people surround the seated area. “I’ll start first.” Jace perks up, resting his elbows on his knees as he looks around the group.
“Cleo! Mybestestfriend, have you ever been skinny-dipping?” Jace’s eyes gleam with mischief, and my muscles tense as I stare daggers into the side of his skull.
Had Jace said any other thing to her I would’ve been okay with it but to basically air out our dirty laundry has me wanting to pull his intestines out through his mouth.
Cleo’s eyes brim with fire as she looks down at her blonde friend; she’s standing behind me talking to Amalia so I have to crane my head to watch her as she answers.
“Yeah.” She shrugs as if it’s nothing but I know that it’severythingand the look that she sends my way is a clear murder sentence.
I am going to die at the hands of the bride of All Hallow’s Day.
forty-one
Cleo
Blake and I spendthe entire night practically socially distanced. Well… more likemesocially distancing myself from him. Everywhere I go, he’s there and when I figure out how to escape him, he’s thereagain. It irks my nerves for the final time as I come to a halt at the bar and he slides up to me.
“Listen, baby–”
Baby?!I am not his baby.
My legs are wobbly as I turn around on him, ready to give him a piece of my mind but the six shots of vodka with Jace and Georgia are at odds with my body and I stumble a bit more than I mean to.
“How could you?” My words ring longer in my ears as Blake’s eyes widen looking down at me.
The blaring music of Breeze’s fourth floor overpowers my words so he bends slightly, putting his ear close to my lips. My body craves him as soon as I get a whiff of his enchanting scent.
Down girl! We’re supposed to be mad.
“What’s wrong?” he asks softly, rubbing the goosebumps on my arms as I throw my head back to the sky.
“You told him!” I shout but Blake doesn't seem to understand me as he tilts his head at me.
“I sold who?”
“Told!” I yell.
“Sold?Princess, I think you need a ride home.” He frowns, gently plucking my Blue Lagoon from me, setting it back on the bar.
“I don’tneednothing!” I pout.
“Yeah, you’re done. Jump?” He asks, holding out his arms like normal and I’m so tempted to say yes but my body disagrees. That, however, does nothing to stop Blake as he nods his head and scoops me up bridal style.
“You look beautiful, by the way,” He whispers in my ear, awakening the butterflies in my stomach but I want to milk this angry charade for as long as possible so instead of smiling back at him, I pout.
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.”
When I wake up the next morning, my head is an aching mess as I squint at my surroundings. The room is still dark, I’m wrapped snugly in a red blanket.
I know immediately from the sweet smell of the covers that I’m in Blake’s bed, but I don’t fully notice him until I turn completely on my side to see him snuggled adorably with the covers wrapped around his head like a cocoon.
“Mornin’, Princess,” He rasps, opening a single eye as I smile back at him, only for it to drop as I remember that I was mad at him.
