Page 34 of Not My Finest Hour

“Things with Wesley are done.”

Justin closes the gap between us and brings his mouth to mine. His kiss is soft and tender, but it’s like the contact of our lips opens up something in him, and he kisses me harder, with more intensity. His beard is rough against my face, but I will wear that redness like a badge of honor if it means I get to have him again. I graze my tongue against his bottom lip, and his tongue darts out seeking mine. I latch onto his waist and work my hands up under his shirt, wanting to feel his skin against mine.

“If only we didn’t have company,” I whisper against his lips, my hands still touching the hard planes of his stomach, not wanting to let go.

“I know,” he says, reluctantly pulling away from me. He plants one last small kiss against my lips before righting himself. “We should probably eat anyway. The food is getting cold.”

He pulls my chair out for me, then takes the seat across from me. I unwrap my burger and take a bite. A groan escapes my lips because it’s the best thing I’ve had all night. It tastes so good, I eat half of it before starting in on the fries.

“Do you realize this would be our first date?”

“No, that can’t be,” he says, shaking his head.

“Yeah, it is. We met at that bar, I went back to your place, and not long after, I saw you at the seminar.” I don’t mention what happened at the seminar because I’d like to forget it ever happened. And from the way Justin puts his head down, it seems he’d like to forget it too.

“I can’t let this be our first date. The next time we’re together, I’m taking you on a real date. No fast food, and no cheap motel with a passed-out drunk,” he says.

“Can we just cook together at your house for our next date? I’m kinda done with fancy restaurants for a while.”

He chuckles. “Deal.”

I finish up my burger, then polish off the fries. Justin and I each have dessert, and by the time we finish it’s late. I’m not tired yet, but we’re limited as to what we can do because we can’t make a lot of noise. That rules out turning on the TV, and we can’t leave the room to find something to do because what if Wesley wakes up while we’re gone? Besides, we’re on a tiny island that doesn’t have any nightlife options.

I stand up from my seat, collect our trash and put it in the trash can. “Thanks again for everything. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t taken my call.”

Justin gets up from his place at the table and stands next to me. “I’m really glad you called. After I went to your workplace and you turned me down, I was worried that I’d never see you again.” He places a finger under my chin and tilts my face up so our eyes meet. “I don’t know if you feel the same, but it feels like we’re getting a second chance here.”

My heart warms hearing his words, and a grin spreads across my face. “I feel the same way.”

Behind us, a loud moan comes from Wesley as he turns himself over in bed, wrapping himself further into his bedsheet burrito. Justin and I turn our heads toward the noise, then break out into a fit of giggles.

“It’s not too late to start recording him,” I suggest. “You might get some pretty useful blackmail material.”

Justin shakes his head. “I wouldn’t feel right. But if he does anything to piss me off later, I can lie and say that I have a video of him.”

“Okay, well I’m at least taking a picture. I want to have something to show my sister tomorrow when she asks me what I did all night.” I get out my phone and snap a picture of Wesley all wrapped up in the sheets.

“Should we get ready for bed? If he’s already making this much noise, it might be a long night,” Justin says.

“I think that’s a good idea. What color toothbrush do you want?” I ask, fanning out the options in front of him.

“You choose first,” he says.

Out of green, blue, and a pastel pink color, I choose the green one. I note Justin’s raised brow at my choice and elaborate. “Green is my favorite color.”

“Any specific shade of green?”

“All the different shades. I love them all. You’ve got the dark, moody forest green, the bright mint green, and even the almost blue, seafoam green. Maybe growing up in this environment has influenced my decision.” Washington isn’t called the Evergreen State for no reason. I’m surrounded by green. “What’s your favorite color?”

“Blue. Just blue,” he says with a laugh. “No specific shade attached.”

“Then I’m glad I left you that color.”

Justin and I take turns brushing our teeth, and then we both stand at the foot of the only unoccupied bed.

“I guess we’re sharing this one.”

“Unless you’d rather sleep with that,” he says, nodding toward Wesley.

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