“January thirty-first.” She shakes her head and turns back to the coffee pot to pour another cup for herself.
That’s a month from now, and I have a feeling she hasn’t had anyone make her feel special on her birthday in a while. With a smirk, I walk into my bathroom, already forming a plan that will bring a smile to her face. The shadows disappear when those luscious lips spread into a smile, and I really like the thought of putting it there in the first place. What is happening to me?
The chime rings as I hold the door for her, and I watch her scan the rows of booths until she spots Beast and Mary. She blows out a relieved breath and practically runs to grab the clothes her friend is holding out for her. She draws a few stares, but she couldn’t be more beautiful in my eyes. Okay that’s a lie…she could. Am I disappointed that she’s changing out of my clothes? Maybe. Okay, fuck yeah, I am. I slide across the bench from Beast and Mary. He arches a knowing brow at me, and I flip him off before he can get started.
“Are you fucking my friend?” Mary asks while giving me the stink eye, leaning across the table as if to appear threatening.
My eyes widen at Beast with a look that says ‘s this chick for real?’ but he only shrugs. The shithead isn’t going to help me out here.
I scowl back at her and cross my arms, because no fucking way am I telling her anything. When I stay silent, she starts to smile and leans back in her seat, cuddling close to my friend.
“I like that. Don’t kiss and tell, a man shouldn’t do that. I’m warning you though, buddy. That’s my friend and she’s already been through enough shit, so don’t hurt her or you’ll be dealing with an angry Latina.” She tries to glare, but then yawns, losing the dramatic effect.
I roll my eyes, but when I feel a tap on my shoulder, I scoot over, glancing at Kat. She could be a hot mess, but in my eyes, she’s still beautiful all the same. She slides in next to me with a smile and reaches across me to grab a menu. Her soft curves press into me for a split second, and she watches me out of the corner of her eye before pulling back. Without looking away from her, I answer her angry little friend.
“I won’t.” Kat looks at me strangely, but luckily, our waitress interrupts before she can ask what I’m talking about.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mary wearing a shit-eating grin, which I ignore before it can go to her head, and we all place our orders. The moment the waitress leaves, Kat leans over to whisper in my ear as our friends across from us have their heads bent together and are whispering fiercely in a heated discussion.
“Are we going to tell them the truth about what’s happening?” Her breath hotly skims along my neck hotly. Her head only reaches my shoulders, so I have to bend down a bit to answer her without being overheard.
“I say we tell the truth. I trust Beast to not say a word, and I’m guessing the same goes for Mary.” Our food arrives faster than I thought possible, and that’s why I love this place. It’s a hole in the wall place with fast service and amazing food.
"Tell us what?" Mary asks as she shoves a sandwich in her mouth. I now know she's nosy, but I'm okay with that because she's protective of my Princess. She needs someone like that in her life.
Shit. No. Not my Princess. I have to keep telling myself that until I believe it.
"I asked Princess here to move in with me and she said yes, because we started dating last night," I simply say before shoving a fork full of hashbrown and eggs into my mouth. So good.
The french fry that’s halfway past Mary's lips falls out as she looks at us like a fish, with her mouth opening and closing. She's stunned into silence, and I feel like this is a moment to be written into history. I ignore Beast choking on his food and his fork clattering on his plate as I keep eating. I'm a growing boy, I need my food.
“Man, I know you move fast on the ice, but I didn’t know you did that off the ice too,” Beast rasps out as Mary pounds on his back so he can get his words out. She’s probably going to break her hand if she keeps that up. My giant of a friend is an unstoppable, crush you with his fist beast, and Mary is an angry little Latina spitfire… Maybe these two were made for each other.
I just glower and grunt at him, then continue eating. That’s bro code right there. Beast nods his head like he can understand what’s going on in my mind, and starts eating again as well. Obviously, Mary doesn’t get it, because…well, bro code.
“Kathleen Whitmore, you have some explaining to do! Wait! Omg!” Mary gasps so loud, a few other diners turn in our direction before shrugging and looking away. “Are you pregnant?” she asks, and it pisses me off that she immediately goes to that conclusion.
I must be radiating out some angry vibes, because Kat doesn’t look at me but she places her hand on my bicep, petting me to keep me calm. She’s comforting me without even realizing she's doing it, and it fucking works. My shoulders slowly relax, and I look at Beast across from me to see him staring with pity in his brown eyes. I don’t need to see that look in anyone's gaze, but Beast was there for me at that time in life,
