Page 63 of The Publicity Stunt

“You have to show it to me now, Parker. Things have changed—”

I prop myself up and smash my lips against hers. A muffled moan escapes her mouth and I slowly trail mine along her jawline, moving to a spot beneath her ear. Her whole body quivers. “You’re right,” I whisper against her skin. “Things have changed, Chere. I get to do that now.” April’s cheeks are flushed, her chest heaving, and I run my thumb over her lower lip.

Her palms meet my chest. I pull on her hands and the next thing I know, I’m on my back and she’s on top of me, her legs straddling my waist. It’s so quiet I think I hear our heartbeats sync up. I run my finger along her spine, feeling the heat sear between her legs. Her palms fall flat over my chest, a shy, mischievous smile flitting across her mouth. With her hips still straddling my waist, she bends forward, gripping the side of my neck. My lips meet hers, and I guide her onto her back. I cup her cheek and edge her lips open.

“Mmm.” She breathes out her nose. Her breath hitches as I suck on her bottom lip and then move to her neck.

“Still want to go to the Getty?” I suck on her neck, and her hips shift into me with need.

“Yo, lovebirds!” Logan shouts from across the lawn. My head falls against her forehead, a regretful groan leaving my throat. I’m gonna fucking kill him. April is red in the cheeks and I brush back her hair so I can see her face, and plant a quick kiss on her nose.

Logan reaches us with a beaming Shara by his side. She’s holding a picnic basket.

“Awww, did we interrupt something?” she teases and April’s face turns into a tomato. My lips lift at the sight.

“Yeah, babe,” Logan says, slinging an arm over Shara’s shoulders. “Public indecency.”

When April flips him the bird, I have a tough time fighting a grin. She sits up against me and leans back against my chest. I wrap my arms around her stomach and kiss the side of her head.

Shara laughs. “God, you two are so sweet, it’s giving me a toothache.”

Shara and Logan started dating shortly after the two of us. In the span of five months, they’ve broken up and gotten back together more times than I can count. Mostly, it’s always been Shara breaking it off with him. Their longest “break-up” lasted a whopping sixteen hours. But all said and done, I think they’re good for each other. Logan has never felt this way about any other girl, and even though Shara swore April to secrecy, I know Shara feels the same way about him too. Of course, April told me. The phrase “don’t tell anyone” doesn’t apply to best friends. Everyone knows that.

“So, listen, we’re going to the movies at six.” Logan plonks his ass down on a grassy patch next to us and pulls Shara onto his lap. “Wanna come with?”

“Ooh! Which one?” April perks up.

“Green Lantern.”

Immediately, Shara smacks him in the chest.

“What the hell was that for?” he cries.

Shara goes on glaring at him. “Logan, you weren’t supposed to tell them that!”

“She asked.” He points a finger at April.

April shakes her head and sinks back into my chest, tucking herself to my body. “Yeah … we’re not coming,” she says.

There are some things you don’t say to April Moore. Asking her to pay fifteen bucks to watch a DC movie is definitely in the top three.

“That’s why,” Shara tells her boyfriend. “You know how weird these two are with the whole superhero crap.”

April gasps softly. “It’s not crap.”

“And we’re not weird,” I add.

Logan looks between the two of us, frowning, and waves dismissively “So, are you guys coming or not?”

In all honesty, I wouldn’t mind going out with them. It’s been a while since the four of us hung out someplace that wasn’t the college library. Between midterms, catching up on sleep, and finishing my comic, I spend whatever free time I’ve got with April, holed up in her dorm. And we’re definitely not catching up on any sleep in there.

“Fine, but afterwards you’re gonna buy me Pinkberry to compensate for the emotional damage,” April tells him.

“You’re an addict,” I say into her hair and she smacks my arm.

“Great.” Shara gets off Logan’s lap and opens the picnic basket, handing us each a can of non-alcoholic seltzers. “Can we take your truck, April?”

“Sure.”