Page 14 of The Kissing Challenge

Well, that's good, I thought as he left to join the others onstage. I wished I could trust myself more around him. But with that kiss still so fresh in my mind, yeah, I needed to watch myself.

And definitely stop thinking of Captain in more than friendly terms.

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I was failing.

Miserably.

It would've been much easier to think of Cap as just a friend if he wasn't up there, playing that guitar like he owned it, looking tempting as heck in front of a rowdy crowd. Hero complex had drawn a lot of people out tonight. I estimated at least half of the attendants were female.

"They are so freaking hot." A girl to my right had a soda in her hand and her eyes glued to the stage. "I'm so glad you convinced me to come tonight, Dorothy."

"Me, too!" Her friend laughed. "Though it was like pulling teeth! I know you really wanted to go to that party at Roman's. But then you would've missed all this male beauty!"

The pretty blonde nodded. "So hot."

And they sound wonderful, too, I thought. Couldn't deny it. They were absolutely correct. Every member of Hero Complex was gorgeous. But in addition to that, they were having a great night up there.

"Hey, do you know if the guitar guy is single?" she asked.

"Which one?"

"Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome over there. The one playing the solo right now."

That made me sit up straighter. She was talking about Captain.

"Eep! I don't. But he is so your type, Gwen."

"I know." Gwen, the blonde, nodded. "If he's single, I'm going for it."

"Over Roman already?" Dorothy asked.

"I think I could be with a little help from guitar guy."

The two laughed while I internally cringed. Hero Complex was nearly done with their last song. I wasn't sure why, but her words made my chest feel tight.

Captain and the others finished their set to raucous applause. When they stepped down from the stage, they came straight to my table. Which was also unfortunately right in line with the girl who'd been checking out my best friend.

He walked over to me and grinned.

"So?" he said. "Did you like it?"

I rolled my eyes. "Of course! Me and like every other person in here. Did you hear that crowd? You guys were brilliant."

"I'm glad you thought so."

Ugh, he was so cute.

It looked like I wasn't the only one who noticed that either.

A group of girls had worked up the courage to come talk to the guys, and they were already telling them how amazing they did. One even tried to put her hand on Captain's chest, but the blonde from earlier wasn't having it. She smoothly inserted herself by his side. It upset the girl who'd been trying to talk to him, but then she shrugged and walked away.

"Hey, I'm Gwen," the blonde said, looking up at Captain from beneath her lashes.

"Captain," he said with a nod.

"Oh, isn't that precious. What an interesting name."

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