Page 113 of This I Promise You
I take the most obvious glance at his backside. “Have you seen your ass in that costume?”
He always says he doesn’t have an ass, but from my point of view, it’s the perfect twink bubble butt. All that running has done him good.
Easton smiles weakly at me. “I tried not to look. It’s honestly so small. I have a wedgie and I’m wearing a jockstrap. Figure that one out.”
“I’d be able to figure it out…with my teeth,” I whisper into his ear.
He blushes my favorite shade of peach and hits me in the chest. “Paul, I willmurderyou if I get a boner in this costume right now.”
“What are you two talking about?” Huxley comes up behind us and flings her arms over our shoulders. She’s so short that her feet practically dangle in order to reach us.
“Oh nothing.” I feign innocence. “Having fun yet?”
She scoffs and takes a rather large swig of her most recent drink. “When am I evernothaving fun?”
“Point.” I nod.
“Where’s Aidan and Cameron?” Easton asks, looking around.
She doesn’t answer as she finishes off her drink, tosses her cup, then grabs Easton’s and my hands. “Come on! Let’s daaaaance.”
“How the hell are you already tipsy?” I ask, but I’m not shocked.
“Come on, come on, come on.”
So we do. We go and we dance and dance and it actually feels really good. The semester is almost over and I have my three favorite people here with me—plus Cameron. I couldn’t ask for anything better. To be able to let loose all of my stress and fears as I hold Easton close, it finally clicks why people do this. I don’t drink, but the energy here, being surrounded by people my age trying to let loose as well…it just makes sense.
I look around and smile. Coming to Charlotte might just have been the best decision of my life.
Everything fades away as I lock eyes with Easton. Their honey-brown majesty takes me away to the farthest corners of the universe where the brightest stars mingle with Easton’s red aura with fuzzy pink edges. Nothing else matters.
“I love you, Easton,” I mouth.
“And I love you,” he responds in kind.
His hands wrap around my neck and he pulls my mouth to his. Our hips swaying to whatever Top 40 is currently playing. His lips greet me with a wet hello as his tongue works in tandemwith mine.
A minute later he breaks away to check his phone, and a drunk, wobbly Aidan comes into view.
“¿Jacob te envió un mensaje… Ha,” Aidan says, then translates himself for Easton. “Did Jacob text you?” But it sounds more like “di shacoob tess you.”
“Yeah, I just got it,” Easton chuckles. “Want to go?”
Aidan complains, “This party sucks. Muy cojo.”
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Jacob, you remember, from the beach?” Easton stops long enough for me to nod. My memory isn’t that bad. “His band is playing at the coffee shop we did trivia at. We should go!”
Huxley comes over with Cameron. “What’s happening?”
“Jacob’s band is playing at–” Easton starts to explain, but Huxley gives him no room.
“Yes!”
I laugh. “But you don’t even know—”
“I don’t care. This party is lame. Whatever it is, let’s G.T.F. outta here.”
