Page 24 of Fake Dates and Home Plates
I roll my very non-heart-shaped eyes. “It’s fine. Besides, if this is the only way I get to be with her, why not?”
I mean it. If the only way I get to be with Henley Harkin is under false pretenses, I’ll just thank whatever lucky star gave me the chance. Being in her orbit, in her light, is an adventure worth risking myself for.
I just hope I remember that when this is all over.
Bash slaps me on the shoulder before using his grip to steer me closer to the kitchen. “Alright, lover boy. Let’s get this game night started.
After introducing Henley to a few more of my teammates, we settle in for the game of the night.
Maybe warning Henley wasn’t necessary. Maybe I should have warned everyone else about her. I underestimated her competitiveness by…a fuck ton.
Sunny stole my partner, so not only do I not get to have Henley sitting in my lap for this game, I also have to deal with my broody, sore-loser teammate.
Her team is leading with two points, and she’s called Bash and me at least four different insults. The worst part is, she isn’t wrong; he missed an obvious answer and cost our team a point. Then, he drew something he didn’t understand, so I didn’t have a chance in hell at guessing.
Ezra, our team's shortstop, finds her insults hilarious, so much so that he and his partner, some random guy he brought along to the party as a date, haven’t even tried to take the game seriously in favor of cheering the girls on.
“Okay, it’s a movie,” Sunny says as she watches Henley make a gesture. “No? Not? Never?” She continues guessing until Henley nods, confirming the last word was correct.
Henley’s lips start making a kissy face.
“Duck?” Sunny says, clearly confused.
Henley shakes her head no and looks at me.
“Boyfriend?” she guesses again.
“Oh, fuck it,” Henley says before she rolls her eyes and marches over to me, mouthing the word, “Sorry.”
“Hey, no talking!” Bash shouts, but I’m not listening.
Because Henley kisses me. Not a full on make-out session—our lips don’t even really move against each other—but it’s definitely a kiss.
“Oh!” Sunny shouts. “Never Been Kissed.”
Henley turns away from me to face her partner, and they celebrate another point.
Standing, I look to Bash with an apology before saying, “Girls win. We gotta go!”
I grab Henley’s hand and lead her behind me as we leave the party. My teammates all shout different remarks, fromdemanding we return to encouraging our sudden departure. I’m sure they all think I’m taking her home so we can fuck.
But they are wrong.
Henley follows without question, but the second we’re away from the noise, she tugs gently on my hand. “Theo, I’m sorry.”
I don’t let her finish.
Spinning around, I press her back against the hallway wall, my hands rising to beside each side of her head. Her eyes widen, breath catching.
“Tell me I can kiss you. Please.” My voice is shaky and desperate, but I don’t care.
She doesn’t give me an answer. Instead, her lips meet mine again.
This time, though, it’s real.
It’s a real kiss. My lips move against hers hungrily as one of my hands moves behind her head so my fingers can tangle in her hair. When I gently tug on the dark waves, she gasps. I use that opportunity to brush my tongue against hers.
Using my foot, I kick softly at her ankle until she spreads her legs a little bit for me. My leg squeezes between hers, applying a gentle pressure to her core.
