Page 118 of Heartbeat

I took a step forward to kiss him hello, completely forgetting there were other people in the house. I stopped before I did so, though, leaning back as I looked around.

“I’m sorry,” I said awkwardly.

“Why?” he asked, puzzled.

“I forgot—I mean, we haven’t discussed—”

“—telling our friends we’re together? Are we together?” He tilted his head, curious.

“I, uh—” I mumbled, suddenly having quite forgotten how to speak. “I dunno?”

“You don’t know?”

“I just…we never talked about who can know and who can’t—”

“‘Who can know’?”

“I’m just saying,” I told him, starting to get frustrated. “I don’t know if you want people to know.”

“You think I don’t want people to know?” He gave me a half-smile that wasn’t exactly new, just different. “You think I mind?”

“As I said, we haven’t really discussed—”

“Do you mind?” he asked, looking at my lips as I spoke.

“What? No! I couldn’t give a fu—”

The next thing I knew, he had his hands on my hips and was kissing me, pulling me close.

“I take it you’re Ethan?” Noah asked.

Ethan immediately opened his eyes. He pulled away and turned around. “Y-yes. Hello.” He extended his hand, which Noah readily shook. “It’s great meeting you, Noah.”

“You too, man. I’m glad you’re here,” Noah said, then turned to me. “Listen, can I talk to you?”

“Sure.” I met Ethan’s gaze. “I’ll get us some beer.”

“Thanks, babe. I’ll just go check on the guys.”

I led the way to the kitchen and opened the fridge, then took out two bottles instead of pouring two cups from the keg.

“‘Babe,’ huh?” Noah said, smiling.

“What’s up, Noah?” I ignored him, opened my beer, and took a sip.

“Kim and I were planning on going out tomorrow. There’s this Russian cinema festival she was talking about, and it sounds kind of fun.”

“That’s great, bro,” I said, grinning.

“Only, I don’t know what time I’d come back.”

“Late. Those movies take forever, which I’m guessing is the point.”

“Also, it’s…tomorrow,” Noah said.

“Yeah, you said that already. That was fast, though—”

“No, Thomas,” he said, turning quite serious. “I mean, tomorrow.”

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