Page 63 of Romance Languages

“Since you’re here, that means you’re cutting class, too. Bailing on your fellow athletes. Tsk tsk.” I shook my head, totally getting into our banter rhythm.

“It’s only basketball. They’re tall. They’ll get over it.”

“I won’t tell if you won’t.”

“What’s one more secret between us?” He zipped his lips shut. What did they taste like? What would they feel like on mine? That was something I’d probably never find out.

“Did you run after me just to bust me?” I asked.

He checked his phone. “School technically ends in eight minutes. I want to beat the traffic.” He took a step closer, checked to make sure we were alone. “Single digits, right?”

“Excuse me?”

“Nine days until your big day, right?”

I would never not find it sweet that he remembered my birthday. But alas, he was just a man who stayed atop deadlines, that was for sure.

“Correct.”

He tapped his wrist where a watch would be.Time’s a-ticking.I had to give him credit for being so eager to get me through our sessions. Even though he was merely being an organized friend, it still made me get semi-hard.

“I’m free this afternoon.”

Was that how it would happen? Officially losing my virginity on a Friday afternoon because Seamus had an opening in his calendar? When I started on this journey, I’d warned myself not to make sex a big deal. That was how I wound up in this situation. But now that it was here, the final item to check off, I started to panic.

Fortunately, I had an alibi.

“Unfortunately, I can’t. I have to check out this band that we’re looking to hire for the party.”

“Your grandparents are having a band? Swanky.”

“They love to dance.” My grandparents cut a rug at all occasions, even when a familiar song came on in the grocery store. It was adorable, if embarrassing at times. “We were going back and forth about hiring a band versus using Spotify. But Grandma finally made the call that she wanted a band.”

“Good for her! I prefer bands, too.”

“And you’re still cool with attending the party?” I’d told him about the fake relationship misunderstanding from the catering session, and he had agreed to play along so far.

“Of course! In fact, I can come with you today and help really lay the groundwork.”

I gulped back a surprised lump in my throat. Mom seeing Seamus and I together would put to rest any suspicions about me lying. And Grandma would get a kick out of spending more time with him. She raved about Seamus whenever we spoke.

“Let’s do it.”

“For some reason, this makes me feel like a spy.” Seamus rubbed his hands together. “My car or yours?”

18

SEAMUS

Because I never did anything half-assed, I was holding Julian’s hand when we met up with his mom and grandma on the sidewalk.

“Grandma Judy! It’s so good to see you again.” I leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. I wasn’t trying to lay it on thick. Grandma Judy was a blast! We all needed a sassy grandmother in our lives.

“Seamus. What a nice surprise!” She gave me a wet kiss back, her perfume seeping into my skin.

Behind her was a woman who shared Julian’s brown eyes, but instead of them being wide and warm, hers seemed to be playing defense.

“Mom, this is Seamus.”

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