“Sure,” Stella said with a nod. “That’s a good idea.”
“You guys don’t need to get an Uber. Nolan and I will drive you home.” Jules squeezed Nolan’s hand when he looked like he was going to make a comment. “And then you can come back to my place.”
“You guys just need to move in together already,” Jeff said.
“Maybe you should find a woman and move in with someone already,” Nolan retorted. “Or maybe just get a relationship first.”
“Ouch.” Jeff grinned at him. “That burned.”
“Don’t you have a girlfriend, though, Jeff?” Stella’s voice was casual, yet determined.
“Who me?” He recoiled. “Never. I don’t have time for drama.”
“What about Veronica Ryans?” Stella asked, and he looked at her in surprise.
“What do you know about Veronica?”
“What are you going to tell us?”
“There’s nothing to tell.” His voice was gruff, and I knew that there was more to the story that he wasn’t telling us. I looked at Nolan, and I could tell that he knew something, but I knew he wouldn’t tell me. I wondered if he would tell Jules. I’d have to ask her.
“So, you’re all leaving me for the night?” I waved at all the dirty dishes and glasses. “I guess Cinderella here will tidy it all up.”
“Cinder who?” Jeff looked me up and down and smirked. “I seem to remember that you never spent much time tidying up.”
“Things have changed, Jeff. I’m not a kid anymore.”
“Yes, I do realize that.” He continued his perusal of my body and I could feel myself blushing under his intense gaze. His eyes seemed to linger on my breasts, but surely I was imagining it. I glanced over to see Nolan staring at us with narrowed eyes.
“Do you need a ride as well, Jeff?” He walked over to his friend and put his arm around his shoulder. “I suppose you’d love to do a ride-along with someone else.”
“Nah, I drove here, so I’ll drive home. I figured I’d help Betsy clean up before I left.”
“Oh, I’m sure she can handle it. Don’t you need to shower? You look a little sweaty.”
“What’s a little sweat between friends?” Jeff shrugged as he looked at me. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“No,” I said with a little shake of my head. No way did I mind. The only part of this that I would change would be the clothes I was wearing. I wish I had on my sexy underwear right now or at least a cute top and shorts or something; instead of my baggy T-shirt and sweatpants. I didn’t look sexy at all. Though as I thought about it, how would he even know I had my sexy underwear on? Somehow, my shorts would have had to have fallen off so he could see my underwear. I laughed at my thoughts. Totally ridiculous.
“What’s so funny, Bets?” Jeff used my childhood nickname, and I gave him a look. I did not like being called Bets.
“Nothing, I, uh, was just surprised that you were going to help me tidy up. I seem to remember that you hated tidying up as much as I did.”
“Well, you know.” He shrugged.
“He started tidying up when he realized that girls would be going back to his room.” Nolan laughed. “A dirty room equals no sex.”
“Nolan.” Jeff frowned at him.
“Hey, you know it’s true.” Nolan laughed, oblivious to the dirty looks Jeff was giving him. “Obviously Betsy doesn’t have that problem. This place is a pigsty.”
“Rude.” I glared at him. “And no, I don’t have the problem where I want women to stay over for sex.”
“You know what I mean.” He chuckled. “I’m guessing you don’t have many men over, or any.” He laughed. “That will make Mom and Dad happy.”
“Whatever.” I gave him my meanest look. “How Jules sleeps with you I don’t know.”
“Sometimes I don’t know, either.” Jules smiled as she grabbed Nolan’s arm. “Come on, hon, let’s get out of here. Stella, Abby, you guys ready?”
“Yeah.” They both nodded.
“Thanks for having us, Betsy.” Stella gave me a quick hug. “Let’s talk more tomorrow, okay?”
“Sounds good.” I gave Abby and Jules quick hugs as well. “This is going to be a lot of fun.”
“You’re going to be the kissing queen.” Abby giggled.
“I bet Nick will donate half his fortune to get his lips on yours,” Jules said with a small wink, and I just rolled my eyes at her comment.
“Let’s just take it one step at a time and see how it goes.” I grinned and licked my lips. “Maybe I’ll give him a kiss for free.”
“Nick who?” Nolan blinked in confusion. “Are you dating someone?”
“I’ll explain it to you. Let’s go,” Jules said, and we all walked toward my front door in goodbyes. I could feel Jeff behind me. Body heat seemed to be radiating off of him and bouncing into my back. “Bye, love,” Jules said with a small smile and wink.
“Bye,” I said and watched as they all poured out and closed the front door. I turned around slowly and looked at Jeff who was just standing there staring at me, with a twisted smile.
“So, you’re going to be the kissing queen, are you?”
“Well, you know.” I shrugged.
“No, I don’t,” he said as he took a step toward me. “Maybe we should make this interesting, hmm?” And then he grabbed my hands and pulled me into him.
“Oh,” I said softly and then the world seemed to go black as his mouth moved toward mine.
Chapter 4
Betsy
“Are you going to kiss me?” I said, taking a deep breath and wondering if my lips and mouth were too spicy for him.
“Do you want me to kiss you?” he asked. His breath was warm against my lips, making them tingle in anticipation.
“Why would I want you to kiss me?”
“So that you can learn some moves for the kissing booth?” he said, his lips now lightly brushing mine as he talked. I felt like I was
