Page 96 of Can't Kiss the Chef

He quickly pecks my lips.

“I can talk to you about my feelings without fearing I’ll be judged.”

Another peck.

“You follow your dreams.”

He takes a step back as he takes me in.

“You’re sexy as hell.”

“I’m in fucking orange wig and wearing more color than I would ever dream of,” I interpret him.

“You could be wearing a potato sack and I’d want to rip it off you. More importantly, you’re my best friend and I love you.”

Why does he have to be so sweet while we are dressed like this?

“That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. But I’m so mad I’ll have to think of these dumb costumes every time I think of them.”

Byron breaks into a laugh, before pulling me into a kiss.

“I hope life is always this good.”

Tomorrow we’ll wake up and remember that we don’t live in a perfect world. Life in this bar at this moment is perfect.

“Want to go home and I can make this birthday real memorable?”

Fifteen minutes later once we are in the back of Byron’s dad’s car, I strip off the stupid wig.

Yes, Byron’s parents picked us up. They offered as they were leaving the party to come pick us up. I thought it was nothing but a kind gesture at the time. Halloween is a lovely reminder of how small of a town Westvale is and how hard it is to find a ride home.

The taxi service in town had a forty-five minute wait time and none of the three cars that you would expect to see on the ride share apps were driving tonight. Can’t say I blame them. There is a good probability they would end up with puke covered interior on a night like tonight.

A shiver of rippling pleasure dances down my spine when Byron places his hand on my knee. He leans in, dragging his hand higher up my thigh.

“You know that Daphne was my first crush.”

“Sarah Michelle Geller is really hot.”

Confusion creases his forehead.

“The actress that played Daphne in the live action movie,” I inform him.

“Oh I’ve never seen it. I was talking about the cartoon.”

“Your first crush was a cartoon?” My brows pinch and I’m sure my confusion is written all over my face.

“It’s normal for a guy’s first crush to be a cartoon,” he says defensively, arms crossed over his chest.

“Whatever you say, big guy.”

The kiss I place on his cheek helps defuse the situation.

“Did you guys have a good time at the bar?” Byron’s mom asks from the passenger seat.

“The bar was crowded but we always make it fun don’t we babe?”

Byron pulls me into his side at the perfect angle for me to lay my head on his shoulder.

---