Page 176 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
He leans forward and kisses me softly, right there in front of an entire room full of people. “You’re looking pretty beautiful yourself,” he says, his hand on my waist, heat smoldering in his eyes like a banked fire. “Red is your color.”
I’m still not used to the ease and frequency of Perry’s compliments, and I immediately flush at his praise. “Thanks,” I say, my voice catching. It feels silly to suddenly be so overwhelmed with emotion, especially emotion I’m not ready to say out loud. If I can’t get my act together, Perry’s going to figure me out, I’ll start babbling, and then I’ll wind up blurting my emotions in front of everyone.
I try to swallow the lump in my throat, but Perry is too perceptive.
“You okay?” he asks, pulling me a little closer, his arm wrapping around me protectively. Maybe even a bit possessively? The realization does not help calm the flurry of emotions swirling in my chest or dampen the fire he’s igniting with every touch.
I lean closer, breathing in the sandalwood scent I love so much, and press a hand to my stomach.
“I’m okay. Just nervous, I think?”
“Lila, my family already loves you. You don’t have anything to be nervous about.”
Funny. He thinks I’m nervous about his family. What I’m nervous about ishim.About the growing certainty that probably, I have to tell him how I feel.
I nod, and we start weaving our way through the tables. “How’s Lennox holding up?”
Perry looks over his shoulder. “I haven’t seen him in a few hours, but I’m assuming no news is good news, and he must have everything under control.”
As we approach the table, I spot Flint, sitting to the right of his mother, and my steps falter. I tug on Perry’s hand, and he turns around, a question in his eyes.
I pull him closer. “Okay, I’m just reminding you that if I freak out the tiniest bit when I meet your brother, it has everything to do with the fact that he isanymovie star and nothing to do with the fact that he isFlint Hawthorne.”
Perry grins. “Noted. But I can’t promise I won’t always make fun of you for freaking out.”
I swat at his arm, and he chuckles.
Hannah gets up when we close the short distance between us, immediately pulling me into a warm hug. Brody and his wife, Kate, get up next, offering me hugs as they say hello. Olivia and Tyler are on the opposite side of the table, but they both smile and nod in my direction right before Mr. Hawthorne pulls me in for a hug. After he lets me go, he claps Perry on the back, squeezing his shoulder for a long moment while they exchange some meaningful glance I can’t interpret.
Flint is the last one to stand and greet me. “Hey, Lila,” he says easily. “I know we’re strangers, but do you mind if I give you a hug?”
“I don’t mind at all,” I say easily. I almost want to run a victory lap around the table. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM HUGGING FLINT HAWTHORNE, AND I AM NOT FREAKING OUT. It is not lost on me that shouting imaginary all caps exclamations to no one might be considered its own form of freaking out, but at least it’s a form Perry can’t see.
Flint’s arms fall away, and he claps Perry on the back just like his father did. “You’re right, man,” he says, looking back at me. “She is beautiful.” He unleashes the smile he’s famous for and winks at me before returning to his seat.
I turn to Perry, eyes wide. “Oh, he is shameless,” I whisper, only loud enough for Perry to hear.
Perry chuckles. “You get used to him. Under all that sparkly Hollywood exterior, he really is a great guy.”
“Who farts and burps and has smelly armpits just like the rest of us,” Brody adds.
“Brody!” Kate says, her eyes cutting to me. “You’ll eventually get used to the Hawthorne brother dynamic. For now, just focus on the great guy part.”
I believe Perry, because Flint is a Hawthorne. And these people areallgreat. It occurs to me, as my eyes drift across the faces surrounding the table, that I am welcome here tonight because of how much this family loves Perry. They want him to be happy. Theycareabout his life. They are all invested.
From down the table, Flint mumbles something about his armpits smelling like flowers, and everyone starts to laugh.
A bolt of longing, sharp and deep, pierces my heart, and I nearly gasp from the strength of it.
I want this.
I wantPerry.
We settle into our seats, and I reach my hand under the table, sliding it over to grab Perry’s knee. I give it a squeeze, holding on as if to brace myself against the emotion swelling through me.
Perry’s hand finds mine, prying it off his leg and lacing my fingers through his. His other arm drops across my back. “Hey. You sure you’re okay?” he whispers.
I nod, even as I choke back a tiny sob and laugh at the tears gathering in my eyes. “I just . . .” I shake my head and drop Perry’s hand long enough to grab my napkin and soak up my tears before they can ruin my makeup. “It’s just your family. It doesn’t even seem real.”
