Page 18 of My Scorned Best Friend

Xavier sighed. While a female friend would’ve been exactly where I was emotionally with my first boy/girl party tomorrow night, Xavier was a boy, and our differences were becoming clearer the older we got.

He finally faced me, propping one leg on the couch. “You’ll be fine.”

I buried my head in my hands and shook it. “You say that because no girl is going to judge your kissing. They’ll just be like ‘I kissed Xavier and it was just the best.’” I put on my best girly-girl voice.

He chuckled. “There are plenty of experienced girls who would probably be showing me how to kiss.”

“Never mind, you just don’t get it.” My shoulders slumped.

“I do, but… I dunno. Can’t you just practice on your hand? Isn’t that what girls do?”

I shrug. “I don’t know, because you’re my best friend and you’re a guy.” He laughed and I rolled my eyes and sat forward. “Forget it.”

He slid closer to me on the couch and took both my hands. “Okay, sorry. What do you want me to do? Ask Fisher and Cam to come down here and show you?”

“No!” I screeched.

“Then what?”

I drew in a big breath and reminded myself that this was Xavier, my best friend. He hadn’t judged me or seemed grossed out when I got my period and leaked all over the beanbag chair, while I’d been mortified and ignored him for three days. And I hadn’t taken it personally when he got his first hard-on while we were watching a movie with a sex scene in it. It was just… us.

“Maybe we can practice together?” I said in a small voice.

His eyes widened. “You want to kiss me?”

I shrug. “Just for experimental reasons. Not kiss you because I like you or anything.”

“Well yeah, of course not. I’m just surprised.”

He contemplated for a moment because that’s what Xavier did, but we were on a time crunch. My mom would be there any moment, and if we didn’t kiss soon, then both of our first kisses would be tomorrow night at the party. I should have brought this up three days ago.

“It’s really okay if you don’t want to.”

“I didn’t say that.” He ran his hand down the back of his head and stared at his legs for a moment. “I just don’t want anything to change between us. Promise it won’t.” He locked his gaze with mine and I saw real fear there.

I pushed his shoulder. “Oh yeah, okay, Prince Charming. You think I’m gonna fall madly in love with you from one kiss?”

One side of his lips tipped up. “That’s me, your knight in shining armor.”

“Forget it.” I crossed my arms.

“God, you’re so stubborn.” He inched forward. “Turn toward me.”

“Don’t be bossy.”

“I’m not being bossy, but…” He glanced at the clock, and I knew as well as he did that we were close to our time being up.

I turned toward him, and we stared at one another for a beat. My heart raced when he leaned in closer, his eyes closed, and when he was about to place his lips on mine, I laughed.

“Clara,” he pleaded with annoyance laced through his tone.

I straightened my back and wiggled a bit. “Sorry. Sorry. Okay, let’s go again.”

Xavier rolled his eyes. “Boy, does that sound appealing.”

The room grew quiet, and he leaned forward again, but this time his soft lips pressed to mine, and my stomach erupted with flutters I thought would never stop. He pulled back and we stared into each other’s eyes for only a second before he broke the distance again. This time he stuck his tongue in my mouth. I tried to feel sexy and comfortable as our tongues brushed against one another’s, but it felt weird. Other than the butterflies in my stomach and my racing heart, I didn’t see the appeal.

He drew back a second time and we both kind of shrugged. Then his hand came up to my cheek and his lips found mine a third time. And that time, heat traveled the length of my body. Our mouths seemed to get to know the other’s and our tongues glided together in rhythm while a kaleidoscope of color filled my vision.

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