Page 47 of Staying Selfless

“You know the answer to that already,” Marc assumes.

“Okay, but why didn’t you kiss her?”

“Because it was the first date! I never kiss on the first date.”

“You guys are so backward.” I roll over to lie on my back, looking up towards the ceiling. “You’ve been fucking all school year.”

“I know, but I’m just figuring out how to navigate going from friends with benefits to whatever it is I’m trying to do now. It’s just tricky, I guess.”

“What are you trying to do now?”

“Honestly?” Marc asks. “I don’t know. Obviously, I care about Ali. We’re friends. And there’s some potential there, but I think putting a title on anything is going to freak her out.”

“Maybe. Or maybe you’re exactly what she needs to stop being such a commitment-phobe. When did this all change for you? Because on Halloween, you were adamant about it just being a hookup thing.”

“Yeah, I was kind of full of shit then.”

“You think?”

“I guess I noticed that it wasn’t as casual as I thought when Ali went on that date with the guy from our class. I wouldn’t say I wanted to date her then, but I didn’t want her to date anyone else, as fucked up as that sounds.”

“Well, I don’t think she wanted to date anyone else, even though she went,” I reassure. “How do you feel about your mom’s opinion?”

“Typically, I would care, but I know she’s being overprotective right now. And we both know that Ali is shit at first impressions. I think if my mom got to know Ali that she might actually like her.”

“As long as she doesn’t like her more than she likes me,” I tell my best friend, only partially joking.

“Logan, I don’t think it’s possible for my mom to like another girl more than you. You really fucked over whoever my future wife is, so thanks for that.”

We share a laugh.

“What are you two laughing at?” Eli asks as he walks through my door.

His eyes immediately lock with mine, the laziest little grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Just talking about how obsessed my mom is with Logan,” Marc explains from his spot on the bed, which is typically reserved for my boyfriend.

I don’t even look at Marc as he responds to his brother. I can only keep my stare on Eli. I’ve always felt security and a sense of peace when he’s around, but more so lately, I feel like this place is my home when he’s here.

“Not as obsessed as I am.” Eli walks to the foot of the bed, climbing on to join us in the only free spot left—on top of me.

He snakes his arms under my back and places his head on my chest as I hold onto him. I love when my oversized boyfriend lays on me like this, and I know just how much he likes to be held like the baby he is.

“Hi.” He lifts his head and places his smiling mouth on mine.

“Hi.” My lips linger just below his before kissing him once again.

Eli’s hand finds the side of my face as his mouth parts, deepening the kiss. I know it’s only been six days since I’ve seen him, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss him every second. His lips are full and soft as they explore mine, and I really wish my best friend wasn’t next to us right now, so this could go a little further than just a ‘hello’ kiss.

“And that’s my cue.” Marc lifts himself off the bed partway.

“No, wait,” Eli says, reluctantly pulling his mouth from mine, giving me one more quick peck. “We’ll stop. I want to hang out with both of you. I’m only home for a day and a half.”

Marc looks back and forth between us with skepticism. Eli makes himself comfortable again by laying his head on my chest and the rest of his body between my bent legs. His long limbs are partially hanging off the edge of my bed, but there’s not much we can do about it. He’s just so damn tall.

Now that Marc realizes he’s in the clear, he lies back in his previous spot, next to us, with his head on the pillow.

“I guess I should just get used to it,” Marc sighs. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to be dealing with this for the rest of my life with you two.”

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