Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

Mitch

I clicked away on my camera while Cade and Weston handed some kittens over to a group of girls.

“You’re stalling,” Dawson said, nudging me in the shoulder.

“Don’t you have to go wash a fire truck or something?” I nipped, watching the look on Cade’s face as he placed the kitten in the arms of a woman with vibrant blue hair.

“Today is your lucky day. I’m off duty.”

“You’re about to need a medic if you don’t get off my ass,” I quipped.

“All I’m saying is, this is your last event together, right? You got here early. And you haven’t left Cade’s side since you arrived. I know he’s your emotional support animal and shit, but come on, Mitch.”

I lowered my camera, turning to glare at Dawson, who had the audacity to look perturbed.

At me!

Didn’t he know he was the resident pain in the ass?

“I’m just?—”

“You say it’s complicated, I will punch you,” Dawson grumbled.

“I’m working!”

Dawson hummed annoyingly. “Mhm. Well, here he comes, so buck up buttercup.”

“What?” I asked, turning to see Penn walking across the street, right toward us, his hands stuffed in his jean pockets.

His bright blue polo shirt stood out against his pale skin, blond hair blowing in the wind. I half expected to hear some Bananarama playing behind me, or for someone to offer him a bottle of shampoo.

Fuck, he was so pretty.

My gaze caught his, and the smile that spread across his face was enough to melt an iceberg.

Instinctively, I snapped a photo.

“Hey,” he said as he approached my lens.

I slowly lowered it, my heart catching in my throat. Behind me, I could hear Dawson humming away annoyingly.

“Hey,” I replied, at a loss for words.

Up close, he smelled like sugar and cinnamon, like whipped vanilla frosting.

Like a fucking cream puff, making my mouth water.

I noticed the tiny rainbow flag pinned on his shirt, and couldn’t help but smile.

“I, uh, can we talk? Somewhere?” he asked, running a hand through his golden locks.

Cade nodded at me from my side, clearly telling me I should leave.

But a part of me was certain this was it.

The inevitable crash and burn where Penn was going to tell me he didn’t feel the same way.

That he just wanted to be friends , or worse.

Friends who sucked each other’s cocks.

Which wouldn’t have been a bad arrangement, if I didn’t want more.

And with Penn, I’d always want more.

I’d want to wake up in bed with him curled around me. I’d want to have impromptu dinners in his kitchen, and cupcake frosting fights, and drunken karaoke make outs.

I’d always want him in a way I could never have him, if we were just friends who fucked around.

“Yeah, sure,” I said, gripping my camera strap. I followed him across the street to one of the park benches in the small park, which was crawling with overflow traffic from the show.

Couples and groups of friends were littered all across the lawn, and it sort of reminded me of our date.

Where we’d watched a bunch of cover bands and made out under the fireworks on the lawn.

“What, uh, what’s up?” I said, trying to sound nonchalant. Stoic.

I knew what was coming, and there was no avoiding it .

“I, uh, I’ve been thinking about... stuff,” Penn stammered, biting his bottom lip.

I sighed.

“About... us, I mean,” he said the words softly, and it was like a knife to my heart.

Here it comes.

“What are we?” he asked the words curiously. “Because I saw you at that wedding, and we were strangers. Then, we talked online, and you were someone I hired, and then we hung out, and you were my friend, and then we went on a date and you were....” His voice trailed off, and he closed his eyes. “You weren’t a friend, anymore, but I wasn’t sure what you were. What you are, to me.”

“I get it, Penn. You don’t have to... Fuck, we don’t have to do this. I just...”

“No, I need to do this. I need you to hear this,” he said firmly, and I sighed deeply, my palms sweaty against my strap.

“I know I don’t always know what I’m doing. Hell, I’ll be the first to tell you I have no realm of experience here. I’ve never felt for anyone what I feel for you.”

I looked into his glassy blue eyes and saw the fear there.

The unknown.

Instantly, my panic melted, my nerves fraying at the edges.

I reached out to wipe a tear from his face, shoving my own fear aside as curiosity got the best of me.

“What do you feel, Penn?” I dared to hope he felt the same.

That somehow, some way, I hadn’t lost him.

“I—” he stammered, biting his lip. “I think I’m totally in love with you, Mitch.”

My heart leaped at his words. I blinked, wondering if I’d imagined them. If I’d lost my marbles completely and gone full on insane.

“Penn...”

Penn slid his hand over mine, chewing his lip once more.

“I know I’m not the best boyfriend, period. I don’t always know the right thing to say, or the right thing to do. But I know when I’m with you... I want to be the best boyfriend.”

He licked his lips, his glassy eyes sparkling with truth as my heart swelled with pride, with joy.

“I want to be your boyfriend,” he said the words, and they pierced my heart, lighting me up with the brightest, fullest feeling in the word.

Love.

“Yes,” I murmured, pulling him toward me, claiming his lips with my own. “Fuck, yes,” I whispered, and he kissed me. I could feel his lips turning up in the corner with a smile as his hand settled on my hip, his tongue sliding into my mouth.

I kissed him back deeply, with all the love I could. When we broke apart, we both breathed heavy sighs, his palms hot against my thigh.

“So... that’s a yes?” he asked sweetly, flashing his bright eyes up at me.

“Yes, Penn. I want to be your boyfriend too.” My heart soared.