Page 40

Lola

Twenty minutes after Byron’s parents leave we shut down to transfer over to Jasper’s.

Halloween is always such an interesting weekend. You have people dressed in sexy costumes and those who decide to go the funny route. Then there are the few who are too cool to dress up. Never be one of those pretentious assholes, nobody likes them.

I’m waiting at the bar to get a round of birthday drinks for Byron and the boys when Indy rolls up to me with two drinks already in hand.

“Did he wish you a happy birthday, Lo?” She practically has to scream to be heard over the base of a T-Pain throwback.

The “he” she is referring to is Dalton.

“Just twice. Not bad,” I honestly thought it was going to be consistent messages all day.

We sneak away to the bathroom to hide from the boys. I definitely can’t stomach another shot.

“How was Byron today?”

Byron’s been a little distant since we got back from New York last week. Not going to trivia night with the boys. He has been coming over late at night once my roommates are asleep.

“Yeah, it was a good day. Byron really tried to bond with his dad. Honestly it was the highlight of my day.”

“So, he’s doing better with the whole dad jumping back into his life thing?”

“He’s cautiously optimistic. They have talked on the phone almost everyday since we got back from the engagement party.”

“He does seem happier, but I don’t know if that is rekindling the relationship with his dad, or all the sex he is having thanks to your rekindled relationship.”

I cup my hands under the running water and when it fills up I throw it at Indy who is dressed up as one half of Bennifer during their first stint.

“I’m just talking facts,” she says, wiping the water from bare stomach.

We leave the bathroom arms linked and giggling. The air leaves my body as someone grabs my arm and tugs me to the side. I’m about to throw my elbow into this person’s groin.

That’s until I hear a deep familiar voice. “Do you mind if I steal her for a minute, Ind?”

“She’s all yours birthday boy.”

Indy hands me off before prancing off to find the other half of her obnoxious celebrity nickname.

He links his fingers through the belt loop of my skirt and pulls me into him.

“Do you remember last Halloween?” he asks.

Last year we all went to a party at the baseball house. Ivy drank too much and we were about to leave when Jalen offered to take her home.

It’s also the night Byron became more than my friend with benefits.

He is my best friend. We realized our birthdays were only a day apart and it really just spiraled from there.

We bonded over our love of food. How we both desperately wanted a relationship with our parents that seemed so out of reach.

Our childhoods were about as different as they could be. Yet we both longed for the same thing.

“Yeah that’s the night I realized you were more than Jalen’s best friend who was good in bed.”

He rolls his eyes.

“I think you said that was the night we became best friends.”

“That might be closer to a direct quote.”

“I’ve missed this, Lo. You’ve always been able to make me laugh.”

He quickly pecks my lips.

“I can talk to you about my feelings without fearing I’ll be judged.”

Another peck.

“You follow your dreams.”

He takes a step back as he takes me in.

“You’re sexy as hell.”

“I’m in fucking orange wig and wearing more color than I would ever dream of,” I interpret him.

“You could be wearing a potato sack and I’d want to rip it off you. More importantly, you’re my best friend and I love you.”

Why does he have to be so sweet while we are dressed like this?

“That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. But I’m so mad I’ll have to think of these dumb costumes every time I think of them.”

Byron breaks into a laugh, before pulling me into a kiss.

“I hope life is always this good.”

Tomorrow we’ll wake up and remember that we don’t live in a perfect world. Life in this bar at this moment is perfect.

“Want to go home and I can make this birthday real memorable?”

Fifteen minutes later once we are in the back of Byron’s dad’s car, I strip off the stupid wig.

Yes, Byron’s parents picked us up. They offered as they were leaving the party to come pick us up. I thought it was nothing but a kind gesture at the time. Halloween is a lovely reminder of how small of a town Westvale is and how hard it is to find a ride home.

The taxi service in town had a forty-five minute wait time and none of the three cars that you would expect to see on the ride share apps were driving tonight. Can’t say I blame them. There is a good probability they would end up with puke covered interior on a night like tonight.

A shiver of rippling pleasure dances down my spine when Byron places his hand on my knee. He leans in, dragging his hand higher up my thigh.

“You know that Daphne was my first crush.”

“Sarah Michelle Geller is really hot.”

Confusion creases his forehead.

“The actress that played Daphne in the live action movie,” I inform him.

“Oh I’ve never seen it. I was talking about the cartoon.”

“Your first crush was a cartoon?” My brows pinch and I’m sure my confusion is written all over my face.

“It’s normal for a guy’s first crush to be a cartoon,” he says defensively, arms crossed over his chest.

“Whatever you say, big guy.”

The kiss I place on his cheek helps defuse the situation.

“Did you guys have a good time at the bar?” Byron’s mom asks from the passenger seat.

“The bar was crowded but we always make it fun don’t we babe?”

Byron pulls me into his side at the perfect angle for me to lay my head on his shoulder.

“It was. We spent a lot of the night reminiscing,” I add.

Isla flashes Arie a toothy grin.

“We actually did the same thing.”

The local pop station is cranking out the sultry beats tonight. As the car falls silent, Trey Songz voice is the only one filling the car.

Aerie’s eyes move from the rear view mirror back to the dimly lit road.

“It’s kind of cool that my dad actually came to pick us up,” Byron whispers.

My heart grows at the childlike giddiness in his voice. His eyes shine like someone that’s just crossed something off their bucket list.

Byron uses the silent moment to distract me and sneaks his hand higher up my skirt. I try to close my legs but of course the division I athlete has the reflexes of a cat and is able to run his fingertips over the growing wet spot of my panties.

I bury my head into his shoulders to stifle my moan. Not really needing him to draw his parents attention to the tomfoolery going on in the back seat.

I swat Byron’s hand and lace my finger through his as a safety precaution. It may be his birthday but I do not need his parents hating me. I actually want these parents to like me.

Luckily the drive from Jasper’s to the hockey house is a short one and Byron finds the strength to restrain himself. That restraint snaps the moment we get home.

Byron unlocks the front door and wastes no time pulling me through it and pinning me against the wall. The lips that land on mine are assertive, knowing exactly what they want.

When his tongue slides against mine he lets out an animalistic moan that spurs something in me. I grind against Byron’s hardening dick causing the wet spot between my legs to grow.

“This has been the best birthday I’ve ever had.”

Byron moans as he pepper’s kisses down my neck. Causing a shiver to jolt up my spine.

I think it’s the growing tension that causes the chills until a breeze comes through the open door to my left.

Byron’s hand snakes under my top and starts pinching my hardening nipples through my barely there bralette.

“Byron,” I say panting. “Maybe we should close the door and move this show upstairs before anyone else comes home.”

He lets out a huff, but must agree with me because he slams the front door and walks toward the stairs without missing a step. I pepper kisses down his neck and he squeezes my ass almost reflexively when I get to the sensitive spot on his collarbone.

He kicks his door open before placing me on the floor.

“I really wish you kept the wig on.”

The words take a moment to register because I’m lost in his darkening blue eyes. I move back as he stalks forward until the back of my knees hit the bed. I clumsily fall back on Byron’s bed.

He wastes no time falling to his knees in front of me and shimmies my panties off me.

He pushes the short purple skirt up to my waist.

“Please just touch me,” I moan.

If the build up lasts any longer I’m going to explode the moment his finger touches me.

Byron being the frustrating jokester he is, takes his time kissing up my legs.

When he realizes that my legs won’t move any wider he orders me to stand up.

He spins me around. He runs his fingers down my back until reaches the zipper of my skirt.

The skirt is barely down my thighs before he tugs my top up from behind.

When I look up I realize that we are facing the mirror above his dresser. I lock eyes with Byron through it. I make a show of reaching behind my back and unclipping my bralette.

Byron tries to reach around me but I step away before he is able to touch me.

“It’s my birthday night. And I want to see you naked too.”

I make a show by swinging my hips as I walk back to Byron’s bed. When I sit down, I cross my right leg over the left before opening them wide, making sure Byron gets a look at how wet I am. He stalks forward forgetting about my demands so I quickly cross them back over one another.

“You’re not getting any of this until you undress.”

In a matter of seconds Byron is stripped free from his clothes and on his knees in front of me. He runs his hands down my legs. He lifts them and places them on the bed.

His tongue sinks inside me. My back curves and sparks of pleasure shoot through me. He devours me, clearly not forgetting what I like.

I fall to the bed, gripping the sheets. He’s relentless, bringing me just to the edge before backing away.