Page 34 of Heartbeat

He looked at me and tilted his head to the side.

“What? Depression, remember?” I said, pointing to myself and making him smile. “Anyway, you’re the star athlete.”

“So?” he said.

“It’s the responsible thing, to carry one.”

“What about your brother?” he asked, still somewhat breathless.

“Doubt it.”

“Your parents?”

“Ew. Dad had a vasectomy and—I really don’t want to get any sort of visual right now.”

“But you’re so hot,” he said, almost pleading, raising both hands and pulling my hair from either side before leaning in and kissing me so hard I almost passed out.

When we pulled away, Ethan took a minute before opening his eyes, and I couldn’t help but admire him for a beat.

“Fine,” I said with a long sigh. “Can you get me my phone?”

He quickly handed me his phone.

“Really?” I looked at it and then back at him.

“Shit.” He shook his head, taking the phone and switching it for mine.

Do you have any extra condoms in the house? I quickly typed.

Noah replied almost instantly.

Why would you need a condom?

Because I want a fucking balloon! Do. You. Have. One? I looked at Ethan for a quick second before sending another. Or three?

It’s the brunette, right? The one who was playing the piano?

I wanted to kill him. NOAH!

LOL. I’m a virgin, Thomas

It broke my heart.

“Shit,” I said. Ethan looked as though I’d just told him Santa wasn’t real.

So there’s a box in my dresser :)

I locked my phone and placed it on my chest, then looked up at Ethan.

“I didn’t show you the house.” I said, smirking.

Chapter Nine

Stay

On our way up the stairs, Ethan made sure to take a closer look at some of the dozens of photos that decorated the walls, especially those with me as the subject. “You look so happy in these.”

“Everyone looks happy in photos. Most of it isn’t real,” I said, cheerful as always.

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