Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“Trust me,” Blake says. “Once this movie comes out, there will be no questioning if I’m straight. Apparently I kiss too much like a straight dude. I didn’t realize gay guys have this secret handshake they exchange before sharing saliva.”
“Now there’s an image.” Lyric laughs.
“Ignore Ben,” I tell Blake. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Oh, and yeah, he’s a dick.”
“The director actually said you’re bad at kissing?” Harley asks.
“Yep.” Blake’s defeated tone cuts me because he thinks he’s doing a bad job when he’s not.
“Technically,” I point out, “he said we kiss like fish.”
“And implied it was all my fault,” Blake says.
“Let’s see it,” Harley says.
Both Blake and I look at him like he’s grown two heads.
“I think we”—Harley gestures to the group—“out of anyone in this world would have valid opinions on this. It’s for the good of your movie.” He smiles smugly like he’s setting Blake up.
“Plus, seeing Blake kiss a guy is icing on the cake,” Denver adds.
Blake flips him off. “I have no issues with kissing Jordan, but apparently I kiss guys wrong.”
“It was kind of stiff,” I agree. “Maybe you should kiss everyone here and get used to kissing guys.” And now everyone is staring at me like I’ve grown two heads. “I’m just trying to be resourceful. Practice makes perfect, after all.”
Everyone glares at me.
What can I say? They mess with my friend, I mess with them right back.
Blake, on the other hand, thinks I’m brilliant. “So, who’s gonna pucker up?”
Chapter Nine
Blake
“No takers?” I taunt. There’s no way any of these guys will follow through with it. They’re like my brothers.
Ryder shoves Lyric forward. “Lyric will do it.”
“I will?” Lyric croaks.
I pull back. “Yeah, he will? You’d be okay with my mouth on your boyfriend’s mouth?”
Ryder looks panicked. “Honestly, I was trying to deflect away from it possibly being me. I didn’t really think that one through.”
“Good to know if there was ever a zombie apocalypse, I’d have to watch my back,” Lyric says. “Love you too.”
“Zombies are a totally different scenario.” Ryder blows him a kiss, but Lyric’s not impressed.
“You’re the type of person who’d kick me in the shin so you could run faster.”
Ryder opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes.
Lyric stands. “Just for that, I’m going to kiss him. Maybe you’ll learn your lesson.”
“Umm, what?” I ask.
Lyric stops in front of where I’m sitting, but my gaze darts around the room, thinking he’s fucking with me. My eyes bypass the scowl on Ryder’s face and land on Jordan, who’s obviously amused by his little setup.
All right then. I lift my chin.
Even if everyone in the room is laughing at my expense, it might actually help with the movie situation.
I stand and come toe to toe with Lyric.
He stares at me, and I stare right back, trying not to wrinkle my nose at the idea of kissing one of my best friend’s boyfriends.
But as Lyric moves closer, everyone in the room holds in a collective breath. I can practically hear Ryder grinding his teeth. Lyric’s long blond hair falls in his face, and his lips part.
Like on set, I tense, but it’s for a whole other reason this time. This is weird for a multitude of reasons, not just that he’s a guy.
I almost ask, “Why are we doing this again?” but Lyric breaks first and steps back.
“Nope, no, no. It’s bad enough I already make out with a guy in a boy band on a regular basis. I can’t make it two.” Lyric moves back toward Ryder, who pulls him into his lap. And then they are kissing.
I’m pretty sure there’s an insult in there somewhere, but also, watching the possessiveness from Ryder, I’m glad Lyric didn’t kiss me. I don’t want to come between a happy couple. I’ve already done that enough for one week. Not that Jordan and Ben were happy. Or that I actually came between them, no matter what the media thinks.
“Any other takers?” I spin in a circle.
Denver jumps up. “I’ll do it.”
“You’ll what?” Mason growls.
Denver sits back down. “Or not.”
“I’m starting to feel a little rejected here,” I joke but knew it was going to go this way. “Is anyone going to kiss me?”
Jordan stands. “Okay, fine. Let’s get this done. It’s going to have to be me and you on film anyway.”
“Wow. Sound more enthusiastic, why don’t you.”
Jordan slowly approaches me, and for the first time since we were at the hospital, his smile feels genuine. “Hey, if you want, we can practice as much as you need. Hell, we can even practice blowjobs. I’m a committed actor like that. And now that I’m single—”
“That’s taking Method acting to a whole new level,” I say. “Especially when the onscreen blowjobs are implied and not actually happening.”
Jordan moves even closer now. “Did you know Leonardo DiCaprio slept in an animal carcass, withstood freezing temperatures, and ate raw bison to get into the mind of his character in The Revenant?”