Page 18 of Until We Kiss

“You don’t walk like a wiener dog, dude.”

“I know. It’s just… they’re kind of silly.” He ruffles his hair. “I think maybe a lot of people kinda look at me like that. Just… most people don’t take me seriously.” He pauses. “But you do.”

I stare at him. “Of course I do.” My skin is tight from all the sun and salt water yesterday, and I’m suddenly very aware of the space between us, the way his hand splays out, palm down, on the sheet.

“You’re exactly who you should be,” I say.

So easy with himself.

So sure and confident. Open and friendly. Happy. Brave. Energetic. Honest.

Carter is who he is. All the time.

And he’s staring across at me, his hand still flat between us, his chest moving with an inhale.

“Theo,” he puffs out my name softly.

My pulse echoes in my throat. Thisneedflutters. To sneak a hand out and… touch him. Brush my fingertips up his chest. Along his jaw. Over the rise of his lips that are usually hitched in a smile but are softened right now.

I shake my head. I can’t think about this. I twist around until I’m free of the sheet, then set my feet on the floor, my back to him, cool air grazing my clammy skin.

I’m screwing with something I never wanted to screw with again. Jesus,whatam I doing? I scrub my hands through my hair, staring at where the carpet dead-ends into the wall.

The sheets rustle behind me. “You always make me feel good about myself.” His voice is rough, quiet.

“Youshouldfeel good about yourself.”

The bed creaks as he moves, the silence heavy. “I’ve got a surprise for all of you today.”

“Yeah?” I swallow hard.

“It’ll be fun.”

I push off the bed. “I can’t wait.” My knee aches, but I hide my reaction, knowing that he’ll worry about it. “You’re a good friend.”

I cross to the bathroom before he can respond, shutting the door behind me. I take a piss and then wash my hands. I deal with my contacts before setting my palms on the counter, fingers splayed out like his were on the sheets, and I drag my eyes to my reflection.

Blue eyes.

He’s right, my eyes look so blue in Clua.

“It’s a surprise, dude.” Carter tells Rory as we climb out of the Uber van. “Do you not understand the meaning of ‘surprise’?”

“An unexpected event.” Rory tugs up his sunglasses, settling them on top of his head, his hair bright copper in the sun, freckles running across his nose. “One that typically creates arush of noradrenaline in the brain, heightening the experience of whatever causes the startling moment.”

“Yes,exactly. We’re gonna noradrenaline the shit out of ourselves!” Carter practically throbs as he flings his arms out toward the building behind us. “Look!”

I laugh.

Fuckyes.

“Waverrunners?” Dorian slaps Carter on the shoulder so loud it echoes. “My man.”

“I know, right?” Carter’s grin takes up his entire face, that dimple so deep that something could get lost in there. “Good for your knee?”

“For sure.” Is that why he chose this? Something he knew I could do?

I mean, he paid for this by pooling all of our extra money from the one bed situation. Which reminds me that Rory and Dorian are sharing a bed too. I side-eye Dorian. I wonder how that’s going.

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