Page 47 of Party Favors
“God, what a bunch of heathens we are!” Benji laughed. He stomped over to Amanda. “Disco princess?” He tapped one of the disco balls on her headband, sending it springing around.
She laughed. “Uh-huh?”
“May I?”
“Why not?” She shrugged. Benji gently caught her cheeks in his large, callused hands and gave her a simple but sweet kiss on the lips.
She felt bubbly with laughter.
“Thanks.” He grinned at her, then turned to William. “Ha! Bet you didn’t expect me to kiss a girl. Women have the softest lips.”
“I did not expect that. You’re right.” William snatched Benji to his side and rumbled something in his ear that made Benji turn red.
Wren turned to Rosie. “Lay one on me, Prim Reaper, so Amanda and I can go dance.”
Rosie hid her smile by kissing Wren. It lingered a bit more than Benji’s kiss had but mostly looked like a greeting among friends.
It sent a zip of jealousy through Amanda. The type of jealousy that revved her up. She enjoyed watching the kiss, which was a shocking twist.
Once Rosie had pulled back, Wren grabbed Amanda’s hand and tugged her toward the dancefloor. “Let’s go. I don’t want to stick around to see the Holiday siblings’ boyfriends make out. That’s too weird, even for me,” Wren teased.
Their friends booed Wren for ruining their fun, and as Wren hauled Amanda off, she glanced over her shoulder to see William, Benji, Leo, and Rosie cracking up and playfully needling each other.
“Your friends are weird,” Amanda said. Wren was shaking her hips to the beat as they snaked through the crowd. Amanda longed to palm those hips. To pin them down.
“Sorry about the kissing stuff. I hope you didn’t feel pressured or weird about it,” Wren said warily over her shoulder.
“No, it was fun. I like them. They’re wild like you, but I like you the most.”
Wren spun around and threw her arms over Amanda’s shoulders. They’d reached the center of the dancefloor. “Do you now?”
“Yes. By a wide margin. I like you a lot.”
“Good.” Wren’s voice went low and possessive. Then her mouth was on Amanda’s mouth, and they were more kissing than dancing, but Amanda didn’t care. She sucked at dancing, but she did not suck at devouring Wren Rebello.
* * *
There was glitter everywhere. Glitter and bubbles and flashing lights. It was everything Wren loved in a party, made even better by the glow in Amanda’s eyes and her wide smile. Amanda hadn’t stopped grinning from the moment Leo had handed her a shot. Or maybe it was from the moment Wren had stuck that silly headband on her head and said, “I love party favors.”
Wren snuck her hand over Amanda’s hip, squeezing and kneading the flesh there. Amanda pressed into the touch.
“Only a few hours left,” Wren whispered in her ear. Or close to her ear. Amanda was so tall in those sparkly fuck-me heels that Wren couldn’t quite reach it. “Do you want to get in a few old year’s resolutions?”
They were posted up on the wall of the event hall, the crowd flowing around them. Amanda pulled Wren in front of her body, Wren’s back to her cushy, curvy front, and kissed Wren’s neck lightly.
“I think it’s your turn,” Amanda said.
Wren sighed and closed her eyes, trying to think of something else she wanted to accomplish.
She couldn’t. She was too content. Too happy.
“I’m drawing a blank. I’d be happy to stand here with you for the rest of the night.”
Amanda drew her arm around Wren’s waist. It made Wren feel cherished, which was unusual. She normally didn’t let others take care of her, preferring to be in control, to protect herself before her partner realized she wasn’t worth the long-term trouble. But she didn’t know how to protect herself against Amanda anymore. She needed to. Their time was running out, a literal countdown, but it was so hard to pull away.
She couldn’t do it.
“All I wanted was a crazy New Year’s Eve like the ones on TV. With champagne flowing, sweaty dancefloors, and ill-advised kissing.” Amanda nipped at Wren’s neck. “I think I’ve already achieved that, and it’s not even midnight.”
