Page 22 of First Kiss with a Mothman

“I should have told you I found it the next day.” I hear the unfolding of a letter, and he presumably smooths it out on the table. “By the time I translated it using Boo-gle, I realized how much of a privacy breach this was.”

I shrug. “It fell on the ground. It’s not like you stole it from me.”

“But I should have given it back or crumpled it up or something.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because you’re my friend.” My pulse picks up as he takes a long pause. “And I like learning about you. And I want all the good things for you. I was gonna help you with whatever this note was, and now that I know…”

I can’t help the smile that breaks out on my face. The thought of Mort translating my note should be disturbing, but it’s more flattering than anything. “Going to the movies. Seeing the gorges. Playing violin at sunrise. A frat party…”

He rattles off the list, and my shoulders hunch as my face burns hot. Mort has read my college first-time list, and I’ve never felt this exposed. “I didn’t tell anyone,” he murmurs. “I would never.”

“Well, that’s a silver lining to my humiliation, I guess.” I chuckle facetiously then sip my drink.

After another beat, he softly says, “I’d like to help you complete the list.”

No way. Is he asking what I think he’s asking? “Um…”

“I already promised to take you to a frat party.”

“With the super exclusive invite?” I shoot him a playful smile.

“Um, sure,” he lies. “But I still feel awful about the way I treated you at the bonfire.”

I huff in irritation. “Mort,” I whine. After I place Reginald back on my shoulder, I continue, “I’m not interested in penance or a pity friendship.”

“It’s not a pity friendship!” he all but hisses. His wings stop buzzing, and he leans in. “Didn’t I tell you I need friends, too?”

“You walked in with four friends just now,” I hiss back, leaning in.

“How did you know it was four?”

“Um, uh…” I sputter. “Lucky guess?”

“Sure.”

I sit back. “Anyway, you have plenty of frat-bro friends, Mort. I don’t want people to be friends with me out of pity. Ooh, poor blind gay boy, let me take him under my wing and read his personal note!”

“I didn’t read it out of pity. I did it because…because I want to know everything about you.”

This shuts me up. Irritation gives way to confusion and hope in my heart. My pulse rises as I wait for him to continue.

“You’re…the first person I’ve wanted to be friends with in a long time. You’re cool, social, and talented. I only tolerate my frat because it’s convenient to live there. And I don’t even go to my own parties most of the time.”

My throat goes dry, and I lick my lips. “Seriously?”

“Yes.” Mort takes a deep breath, and the low buzzing of his wings returns. “My one friend, Caleb, told me I need to be more social, hence going to the bonfire. But you give me a reason to go to my own parties.” I can almost hear him shrug and glance around. “Caleb thinks I need more fun in my life. I think it would be fun to help you with your list. Not out of pity, but because I want you to be able to call me your friend.”

He slowly moves the paper across the table, and I reach for it.

“So, what do you say, Arie Baker?”

My Braille note has new creases in it, and I’m glad to have it back. I’m also content that Mort is being so emotionally vulnerable right now. Sure, he keeps tossing the F-word around like he’s afraid I’ll jump his bones, but I’ll accept that for now. I might be friend-zoned, but a boy’s gotta start somewhere. And he might even be able to hook me up with a gay guy who’ll want to date me.

“I haven’t made any more friends this week.” I smile at him, and I know he’s smiling at me. “So yes, Mort Rain. Let’s do this list.” I put out my hand, and he shakes it. I could have fist-bumped him, but I didn’t want to pass up on the chance to feel his warm, fuzzy palm. I also don’t want to pass up on this opportunity; it’s part of my budding friendship with a grumpy mothman frat boy.

Chapter