Chapter 67
I stroked his hair and gave him a reassuring smile.“I’ll be honest.I did need you.I needed a friend.I needed your mom,too.You two were there for me when my life went to shit.I don’t know what I’d have done without your strength.But this thing that happened between us has nothing to do with that.”I paused and thought about my words.“Actually,I take that back.It does.The way you took care of me and supported me opened my eyes.I already knew you as a best friend.I knew we could have fun together.And it was hard to fight my growing attraction to you.But your strength showed me the kind of man you are.It’s like I already knew you,but I didn’t.Does that make any sense?”I laughed.“Probably not.I’m really bad at this.”
“No,you’re doing fine,”he said as he brushed my cheek with his fingers.
“I’m not with you because I need to be with someone,Jeff.I’m with you because I need to be with you.I don’t want anyone else calling me baby.”
“You really like when I call you baby?”He’d asked me that numerous times,likely feeling self-conscious about using that term.Like he worried I’d only pretended to like his pet name for me.
I swallowed nervously and nodded.He had no idea how much.I didn’t even understand why it drove me crazy,but it did.
He pulled something out of his pocket,curling his fingers around it.“Are you my baby?”
My pulse raced and I bit my lower lip.“Yes.”
He opened his hand and held out his class ring.My eyes widened in surprise.He lovedthat ring.
“I want you to wear it,Aaron.”
Hesitantly,I picked it up.“Are you sure?I mean,you know I don’t have one of my own to give back to you.”
“I really want you to wear it.”
My hands shook as I slid it on the ring finger of my right hand.It was too big,so I tried my middle finger.Much better.My heart did somersaults as I looked back at him.
He kissed me.“Mine,”he whispered.
“Yes.”Pleasure rippled through me as he kissed me again.Just a light brush of lips,but it felt so full of promise.
When my stomach growled again,we both laughed.
Jeff let go of my chin.“Let’s go eat.”
Sure,let’s go eat.My cock is throbbing and all I can think about is getting naked with him and hearing him call me baby over and over,but okay,let’s eat.
Inside the busy restaurant,we saw several other couples from school.
Lily was with a boy named Luke,and they looked like they were having fun.When she saw us,she waved and made her way to our table.
“Hey guys,you both look great!”she gushed.Her lipstick choice for prom night was a glittery pink.“Why are you staring at my lips,Aaron?Is there something wrong?”Her hand covered her mouth.“Shit!Don’t tell me there’s something in my teeth!”
“There’s nothing wrong.I was just wondering if you can feel the sparkles?”
“What sparkles?”Jeff asked.
“Aaron’s talking about my lipstick,”she said with a laugh.“And no,I don’t feel anything.”
Jeff looked closer.“Oh,I guess I didn’t notice,”he said with a shrug.
Lily cocked her head.“Seriously?Aaron,I was so barking up the wrong tree with him.”
Jeff blushed furiously.
I laughed with her.“Yeah.You really were.”
“I’m going back to my date.I’d kind of hoped Kevin Mason would’ve asked me,but he never made a move.Oh,well.Luke’s only a junior,but he’s so cute.”
After Lily went back to her table,and during our delicious shrimp and lobster dinner that followed,Jeff and I talked about college and we agreed we wanted to be roommates.We were practically living together anyway.We knew his mom didn’t want that for us,but we needed to be together.I wasn’t sure if I could even sleep without him anymore.
When the bill finally came,I tried to reach for it,but Jeff grabbed it.
“I really want to pay for our first date,”he told me.“We can take turns as we go along,but let me do this tonight,okay?”
If he really wanted to,I certainly wouldn’t fight with him about it.He obviously had a clear idea about how the night should go and I was more than happy to let him lead.
“Thank you,Jeff.”
A few minutes later,we headed out,both of us eager to get to the dance.