Page 20 of Acting Merry
My pulse hums in my ears, my wrists, my chest. I wanthim to kiss me, but at the same time, I’m not ready. I haven’t kissed anyone since Brady. What if I’m a terrible kisser? Maybe that’s why Brady broke up with me.
Cole’s hands grip my waist as his lips draw nearer.
They’re just inches away, and I wonder if I should close the last bit of distance. I did tell him I’d play my part just as well as he’d play his, didn’t I?
What will it feel like to kiss Cole, though? I’ve never kissed someone I’ve known for such a short time—and definitely not with an audience.
Based on his two-date policy, Cole has possibly never kissed someone he knowsbetterthan he knows me. He’s probably a great kisser with all that practice. Or maybe he’s done it so much he’s gotten sloppy.
I want to move my lips closer, but I’m frozen, inhaling his cologne and waiting for his lips to slide into place over mine.
He squeezes my sides, and I jolt, retracting my arms instinctively. I smack his chest with a laugh that’s half-incredulous, half-annoyed.
His responsive grin meets my gaze with a distinctiveWhat’re you gonna do about it?glinting in his eyes.
He presses a kiss to my cheek, hovering afterward, his breath against my ear. “What? You thought I’d give you the good stuff already?” He grabs my hand, then opens the front door with the other one.
I squeeze his hand as hard as I can in retribution,heart still flapping like a bird that can’t find a place to land.
There’s no indication he even notices my passive aggressive act of violence as my friends start to appear around the entry.
“You’re here!” Hannah calls, arms out as she runs over to me, the ring on her finger glinting. Her long blonde hair is damp and smells like shampoo as she wraps me in a hug. “Ohmygoshhe’ssohot!” she whisper-yells in my ear.
I glance at Cole as she pulls back, and he winks at me as Hannah’s husband, Tyler, says “I heard that.”
“We all heard that.” Tess smiles as she comes in for her hug. “He really is,” she whispers more discreetly. Tess’s shorter brown hair is in two braids like she has no intention of letting it get in the way of the weekend she has planned. She’s the one who always makes sure we don’t just sit around and veg out, though we always do plenty of that.
I introduce Cole to Hannah and Tyler—the blond duo—then Tess and Dylan while Megan and Brady hover behind.
“And you must be Megan and Brody,” Cole says with a smile that, even on its own, could persuade Simon Cowell to press the Golden Buzzer.
“Brady,” Brady corrects as he puts out a hand, sizing up Cole in an unmistakable way. Brady’s a good-looking guy—dark brown hair just long enough to tease a little bitof curl, strong jawline, nice boy-next-door smile. Totally my type.
But Cole…those blue eyes and blond hair are giving tall, dark, and handsome a run for their money.
Megan’s eyes are on me, watchful and timid, like she’s waiting for me to set the tone for things between us. I can see what Hannah said written on her face. She thinks I hate her.
I pull her into an energetic hug. “Sogood to see you, Meg.”
I feel her melt a little, then her hold on me tightens. “I’m so happy for you,” she says in my ear.
I pull back and smile gratefully at her. I think sheishappy for me. I think she’s also happy for her conscience.
She steps back so she’s even with Brady, whose gaze is on me.
“Hey, Reese.”
“Hey,” I say, pleased to hear my voice sound pleasant and casual—and even more pleased when Cole slings his arm around my shoulders and pulls me up against him.
I look up at him and smile, and he looks at me like I’m the best thing since Costco brought samples back.
Oh, he’s good. Maybe too good.
“You guys upped the cute factor of this party by a good ten times,” Hannah says, watching us with her arms crossed and an appreciative smile as she snuggles up against Tyler.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Brady pull Meganagainst him. “To be fair, we’d already upped it by a factor of five,” he says.
“True,” Tess says with a smile, then she turns back to Cole and me. “Are yousureyou can’t stay the night? It’s so lame to drive all the way here and have to leave so soon.”
