Page 25 of Loved By The Bad Boy

The lights in the pub dim, and the spotlight falls on our friends. Calum hits the microphone twice to confirm it’s working, and some people laugh at him. Ben’s foot sways, almost touching mine.

“I’m happy for you.” I am glad they are fixing their relationship. We might not be an item, but I still wish him the best of life. He deserves to live like an average teenager, even if for a few days. My cheek heats when I notice he’s staring at me. “Congratulations on your new phone, Ben.”

“Thanks.”

A whistle echoes in the place. I set my camera rolling, hoping Ben will take that as a hint to end this chitchat. I don’t like that we are alone. I don’t like how self-aware I am. He is so close. I can see the rise and fall of his chest, the slight parting of his lips each time he tries and fails to speak.

“What are your birthday plans?” His voice is low, maybe so it doesn’t get caught on camera. I’m surprised he hasn’t mentioned our anniversary. Maybe he has accepted we are over. “Gracie?”

I shrug in response. I’ll be eighteen in a few days, but I don’t feel up for anything.

My silence spurs him to say, “You should go wild and crazy.”

“Thanks, but no thanks, Ben, I’ll pass.” Ben’s hand lowers to my leg, and he squeezes. I drag in a sharp breath, trying to convince myself he did that to avoid talking. He doesn’t want his voice recorded. But he curls a finger under my jaw, and his lips inch closer to mine. Oh, God. “Benny.”

Nestling his head on my shoulder, he wraps an arm around me. That part of my body grows hot. I breathe properly, only for a second. “I miss you, Gracie.” The hand holding my phone shakes so much I have to lower it to get a grip on myself. We are here to do a job, and I won’t let him ruin the experience for my friends. “Please don’t be mad at your Benny again, okay? Forgive me.”

Like he did when I asked for his forgiveness? Even when I wasn’t wrong. He was so stuck in his justification for protecting Olivia that he forgot there was no one to protect me when he bullied me. They both bullied me. They deserve each other. I wipe the treacherous tears off my cheeks. I’m over him. I want to be over him. I want to hate him, but I find solace in this one-sided hug.

Mira beats the drums again, snapping us out of our moment. I inch away from Ben when Calum starts singing. His voice permeates the air. I let myself wonder what it would feel like if we were a couple. Will he sing me to sleep or sing his way to forgiveness? The thought cracks me up, and I laugh out loud. Ben spares me a glance but says nothing. He’s also recording the entire event.

The first-round ends, and we stop recording. I am among the first ones on my feet, clapping and yelling at the top of my lungs. The performance was awesome. They will be famous in no time.

“What did you think?” I ask, without looking back at my partner.

Ben hugs me from behind, and my stomach drops. Didn’t he tell Calum not to touch me without my permission? He’s doing the same thing, and I kind of like it. My hands lower to push him off, but they stop functioning the moment my palms touch his skin. There’s no way this isn’t a setup.

“Benny, what are you doing?”

The butterflies in my belly flutter when he whispers, “Forgive me.”

Finally, I pry his arms off my waist. His touch is affecting me more than I thought possible.

The crowd goes silent when Calum clears his throat into the microphone. It’s a good thing they can’t see us. I sit and press my knees together. Ben is quiet beside me. What’s he thinking? Did he think showing up to mention my birthday will make everything go away? He must be insane.

“This one is for the new girl I fell in love with,” Calum says.

“No,” flies out of my lips in a whisper.

“With brown eyes that remind me of the sweetest chocolates and tiny fists that can break noses,” he continues. My heart slams against my ribcage. No. I told him not to fall in love with me. I’m not ready. Blue eyes search the crowd for me, and I slump further down the couch. Mira walks up to him with a guitar, and he strikes the first chord. “Listen, I’ll wait for as long as you want.”

His confession makes me sad. No matter how long he waits, my heart will always belong to Ben.

“Do you like him?” Ben’s voice interrupts my thoughts. I have a feeling Calum will never break my heart, and if he does, he won’t take too long to fix it. I don’t say this to Ben. But when I take too long to reply, he grabs my shoulders and forces my eyes to his face. The lights are no longer as dim, but it’s still quite difficult to decipher his facial expression. “Do you like him, Gracie?”

“Who I like is none of your business,” I blurt out.

Ben arches a brow, and my heart dares to beat faster. Ben Carter is a beautiful boy. “Really?”

“Yes. Really—”

I am still talking when he kisses me. His lips claim mine, and everything around us evaporates.

It’s like the first time we kissed all over again. I don’t know what to do with my hands. I don’t know what to do at all, so I stay there as his lips move against mine, his tongue seeking entry.

Ben pulls away to tuck my hair behind my ear. I think it’s over, but he palms my face to kiss me properly. My hands move to his chest to push him away. He’s not allowed to come here and kiss me. Instead of pushing him, my hands slide behind his neck, and I draw him closer like the little distance between us isn’t enough. He moans my name, and the little self-control I have snaps.

I kiss him back. I kiss him harder than I’ve ever done. He hoists me on his lap without breaking the kiss. My fingers run through his hair, and his hands slide inside my shirt to caress my boobs.

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