Page 161 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
I lean against the wall and push my hands into my pockets. “I don’t even know what to say. Thank you doesn’t seem like enough.”
She shrugs and starts moving toward the elevator. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m more worried about you. That was a lot back there. A lot of unexpected—and then the way you just got up there and sang. Lila, you’ve been amazing tonight.”
She pushes the down button for the elevator and chuckles. “For a bigger girl.”
I sigh. “I’m so sorry she said that to you. It’s not true. You aren’t—”
She stops me with a hand to my arm. “Perry, it’s okay. I don’t need you to apologize on her behalf. I know who I am. I’mhappywith who I am. Am I annoyed she felt like she had the right to say something? Sure.” She shoots me a sly grin. “But Ididget to make out with her ex-husband tonight, so maybe I can allow her onetinydig.”
The elevator doors ding and slide open, and Lila strolls on with easy confidence, looking at me over her shoulder, her expression inviting.
I practically scramble onto the elevator after her. “I don’t know what kids are calling it these days, but I’m going to have to kiss you a dozen more times if you want to count that kiss as a makeout.”
Lila shifts, her gaze turning to the opposite corner of the elevator. The corner I didn’t even glance at for how focused I was on Lila. Two teenage girls stand side-by-side in the corner, their expressions open and curious.
“A dozen, huh?” Lila says under her breath. “Is that a promise?”
The elevator goes down a floor, and Lila and I wait while the teens exit. Just before stepping off, the older one turns back to look at Lila. “Kids these days”—she says this part with a dramatic eye roll—“only call it making out if there’s tongue.”
“Got it,” Lila says, her tone genuine. “Good to know.”
“I don’t even know what is happening tonight,” I say with a chuckle as the elevator doors slide closed.
“I don’t either, but we’re alone, and I think you said something about a dozen more kisses?”
I step closer, my hands moving to her hips as I tug her against me. “Can I tell you again how amazing you were back there? How much I admire you for being so chill in the face of Jocelyn’s rudeness?”
“You know what? Let’s not talk about her anymore tonight. I only have eighteen more hours until I have to go back to being a mom. I’d like to enjoy them while I can.”
I lean down to kiss her, startled to realize that until this moment, I’d completely forgotten about Jack. It’s a weird sensation. There is an entire human that she has to think about all the time, cataloging his every need, prepared to dropeverything and care for him literally every moment of every day. I suddenly feel selfish that it was so easy for me to forget the poor kid even exists.
A few seconds in, the sweetness of Lila’s kiss banishes all thoughts of anything but the taste of her, the feel of her hands pressing against my chest, the way her body so perfectly melds to mine.
We’re still kissing when the elevator doors open into the lobby.
I growl the tiniest bit when Lila pulls away, and she laughs even as she tugs me off the elevator.
I can already hear the music thumping from the ballroom, and my steps slow. Why did we come back down here again?
I look at Lila. “Do you want to go back to the party?” I try for an even, neutral tone, but I don’t think I have her fooled.
Luckily, she immediately sighs with what can only be relief. “Not even a little bit. I haven’t worn heels this long since Trevor’s funeral. I’m ready to call it a night if you are.”
I hesitate, a wave of insecurity washing over me at the mention of her late husband. I don’t feel threatened, exactly. Just inadequate.
A loud cheer erupts from the ballroom, followed by raucous laughter.
I’m definitely ready to leave the party. I’mnotnecessarily ready to leave Lila.
But we’re in a hotel. I can’t exactly invite her up to my room, not without giving her the wrong impression, and it would be thewrongimpression. First and foremost, Lila will be the one to set the pace in this relationship—if we can even call it that yet. She has more reason to take things slow than I do, and I will not pressure her. But honestly, even if Lilawereready for more, I’m not sure I am. The last woman I evenkissedbefore Lila was Jocelyn.
So. Now we know how sad and lonely my life has been the past few years.
Lila leans against the same wooden pillar we hid behind when we first arrived, her posture speaking of just how tired she is. I reach for her hand and press a kiss against her fingertips. “Let me go get you your room keys.”
“Didn’t you already check us in?”
