Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Okay,” Alex said, “but what if I’m doing it wrong?”

He was lying on the red couch in the Molina’s studio, head over the edge and legs against the back. His blond hair was hanging down and his face was a little red from his inverted position. He was looking at Reggie, his blue eyes bright with concern.

“I don’t think you’re doing it wrong,” Reggie said. He was sitting on the coffee table he’d kicked back from the couch to give Alex enough room to do… whatever he was doing. “It’s not like kissing’s hard.”

“But Willie’s the only boy I’ve ever kissed! What if… “ and here Alex’s voice dropped. “What if Willie doesn’t like it?”

“He likes it!” Reggie said, insistent. “He kisses you way too much to not enjoy it.”

Alex smiled at that, before he frowned again. The effect was a little bizarre considering his face was still upside down. “But what if he’s just being nice?”

“No one’s that nice,” Reggie scoffed. “Besides. Don’t you think he’d tell you if he didn’t like it?”

“Would Bobby tell you?” Alex shot back.

Reggie opened his mouth to say "yes", but then paused. Bobby cared about him. A lot. And he was always saying he wasn’t good with talking. Would Bobby tell him? “Oh shit,” Reggie breathed. “Maybe Bobby hates the way I kiss.”

Alex sat up. “See? See?” he flopped back down, this time sideways. His head narrowly missed the wooden armrest.

Reggie frowned. “I’ve kissed other people.”

Alex scowled at him. “They were girls. That doesn’t count.”

“How doesn’t it count?” Reggie asked, affronted. “Girls have mouths!”

“Yes, but they don’t kiss like boys.”

“How would you know? You’ve never kissed a girl in your life!” Reggie challenged him. “Besides, gender’s a social construct.”

“Yes, gender’s a social construct, but its still a thing,” Alex said, “and therefore boys and girls kiss differently. They’d have to. So, maybe the way you’ve kissed your girlfriends isn’t something Bobby likes.”

Reggie couldn’t think of the way kissing a girl versus kissing Bobby was really different, except that Bobby tended to be a bit more forceful and like a lot of tongue action. He also gripped Reggie’s shoulders like he was holding him in place, which wasn’t something the girls he’d kissed had done. Did Bobby want him to do that back? Was Alex right? “You don’t think Bobby likes the way I kiss?”

“I’m sure Bobby loves the way you kiss. It’s Willie who probably hates how I do it.” Alex covered his eyes with his hands. “He’s going to break up with me.”

“No, he’s not!” Reggie tried to comfort his friend. “Just talk to him about it! Ask him if he likes it, or what you could do better. Willie will tell you.”

“Or he’ll break up with me,” Alex moaned. “Willie’s so cool and I’m so… not. What am I even doing?”

“Willie loves you!” Reggie said, but inside his stomach was churning. Everything Alex was saying about Willie, Reggie could say about Bobby. Bobby was experienced and cool in a way Reggie was not. Maybe Bobby also hated the way Reggie kissed. Maybe Bobby was going to break up with him any second. He felt sick.

“Willie loves me now, but what if he gets bored? What if he thinks I kiss like a goldfish? Oh my God! He thinks I kiss like a goldfish! I’m going to die.”

“I don’t think Willie thinks that.” Reggie said, hoping his voice sounded surer than he felt.

Alex took his hands off his eyes, his gaze meeting Reggie’s. “But what if he does?”

What if Bobby does? The thought ricocheted in Reggie’s skull. He swallowed. “Maybe… maybe we should kiss each other? For practise?”

Alex sat up, his blue eyes were very wide. “You want to kiss me?”

“Not really?” Reggie said honestly. “I just don’t want Bobby to break up with me because of how I kiss.”

“Same. On both counts,” Alex said. “And besides. You’re just as inexperienced as I am. It’s not going to help.”

“I’ve kissed way more people than you!” Reggie said hotly.

Alex looked at him flatly. “Your girlfriend of three weeks in grade nine doesn’t count.”

“I also had a girlfriend in grade ten,” Reggie said, miffed. “We kissed lots of times.”

“I’m talking kissing boys.” Alex reminded him. “So, no, you are not more experienced.”

Reggie couldn’t argue with that logic. “Luke’s kissed a lot of boys.”

“Luke’s a raving slut,” Alex agreed. “He’s perfect!”

“Julie’s not going to like us kissing her boyfriend,” Reggie pointed out.

“But it’s for a good cause!” Alex protested. “It’s to save our relationships!”

“True that. Maybe if you asked—”

Alex snapped his fingers. “Spin the bottle!”

“Spin the… “ Reggie’s eyes widened as he picked up what Alex was laying down. “You mean the game!”

“Yeah!” Alex sat up, eyes brimming with excitement. “We could play spin the bottle with everyone! Lots of practise, and no one gets jealous!”

“That’s brilliant!” Reggie beamed at him. “When? After our next rehearsal?” He pulled out his phone.

“Yeah! Yeah! And get Julie to invite Carrie and Flynn as well.”

Reggie paused in his frantic texting. “But they’re girls?”

“I’m sure they’re really good kissers,” Alex said.

“So who’s idea was this?” Willie asked as he sat beside Alex on the floor of the studio.

Reggie, Bobby, Luke, Julie, Flynn and Carrie were also there, stuffed full of pizza and pop and ready to kiss the living shit out of each other, thanks to Reggie’s invitation.

Alex leaned back on his hands. “Reggie’s,” he said immediately. He and Reggie had both thought of it, but he didn’t want people to think he wanted to kiss all his friends. “He thought it’d be fun.”

“It was your idea!” Reggie glared at him. He was sitting cross-legged in-between Willie and Flynn. “And we both thought it’d be fun.”

“Spin the bottle is totally fun!” Luke crowed before Alex had to answer. “I haven’t played this since middle school!” He shoved the empty pizza boxes away with his foot and plonked himself down beside Alex and across from Willie. “Who’s got a bottle?”

“You’re eager.” Julie smirked as she picked up the boxes and put them on the coffee table and out of the way.

Luke grinned at her. “Kissing’s fun.”

“And Luke’s a slut,” Alex said with a wide smile. He was teasing but Luke smacked him anyway. “Ow!” Alex rubbed his shoulder then scowled at his friend. “Truth hurts.”

“Truth hurts you,” Luke shot back.

“In this house, slut isn’t a slur,” Julie said as she took a seat beside Luke. “Besides, my boyfriend’s slutty past means he’s really good at his job, which is a definite win/win.” She winked.

Alex’s face coloured, thinking Julie knew how he was the exact opposite of a slut. Had Willie told her how inexperienced he was? The thought was humiliating. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Does someone have a bottle?” he asked, hoping to change the topic.

“I do.” Carrie put an empty beer bottle in the middle of the floor, then scooted back to sit in the circle beside her girlfriend Flynn.

Bobby was sitting with his arms around his knees in between Carrie and Julie. His shoulders were relaxed, but there was a tightness around his eyes that made Alex think he wasn’t too happy with being there. “You get that from Dad?” He asked.

“Natch,” Carrie said. She flipped her hair back, then sat up straight. Her gaze when it landed on Flynn was predatory. “So, what are the rules?”

“You have to consent to being kissed,” Flynn said. “And anyone can say no to anyone. No hard feelings.”

“Oh, yeah. Agreed.” Willie nodded. “We don’t need to sexually assault anyone tonight!” He looked at Alex as he said it, like he was concerned Alex was going to accept a kiss he didn't want. Which was kind of true. Except for a vague sense of curiosity, Alex didn’t really want to kiss anyone but Willie. Only he didn’t want to let Willie down.

Alex sat up. “Who’s going to start?”

“Wait.” Carrie held up her hand. “What about the partner rule?”

Julie tilted her head. “Partner rule? What’s that?”

“If you get your partner on the first round, you have to spin again until you get someone else,” Carrie said. “You know, for variety.”

“That makes sense.” Luke leaned forward to grab the bottle. “Clockwise or counter clockwise?”

“Why do you get to start?” Reggie asked. “You’ve kissed the most out of anyone!”

“That’s why.” Luke grinned and spun the bottle. It landed on Carrie.

“Oh!” Flynn exclaimed. “Starting with a bang!”

Luke raised one eyebrow. “Do you consent?”

“You’d better be as good as Julie brags,” Carrie said.

Luke grinned wolfishly and made his way across the circle. He gently gripped Carrie’s face and kissed her on the mouth. Carrie’s eyes fluttered shut and when Luke finally broke the kiss, she leaned forward as if reluctant to lose the contact. When she opened her eyes, he was still in front of her, smiling smugly. “Holy shit,” she breathed. “I think I’m straight now.”

“I know, right?” Julie said as Luke laughed and went back to his spot. He hugged Julie to him and kissed her temple.

Luke clapped his hands together. “Who’s turn is it?”

“Mine.” Carrie had clearly recovered from kissing Luke. She spun the bottle and it landed on Bobby. “Ew! No siblings!”

“That’s definitely one of the rules,” Willie said. “Because I’m not kissing Julie.”

“Ew! No!” Julie echoed. “Make it a rule!”

“It’s a rule. Spin again,” Bobby directed Carrie.

Carrie spun the bottle a second time. It landed on Luke.

“Cool!” Luke said happily. He made to go to Carrie again.

“Oh, no. No way,” Flynn said. “I do not consent to you kissing my girlfriend a second time.”

“New rule,” Willie said. “You can’t kiss the same person twice.”

“Fine.” Luke sighed dramatically. “But just so you know, I’m kissing all you mofos at least twice before tonight’s done.” Julie laughed and Alex did too, but inside he was cringing. He hadn’t thought about how many people he was going to have to kiss during the game. Wasn’t that really unsanitary? He turned his head to look at Willie.

Willie was grinning at him, and Alex relaxed. If Willie was happy, he was, too.

“Spin again,” Bobby said to Carrie.

Carrie spun, and this time it landed on Reggie. They looked at each other. “Well, come over here,” Carrie said to him.

“Oh, yeah, sure.” Reggie got up and knelt in from of her. He visibly swallowed. “What should I do?”

Carrie frowned at him. “Pretend I’m Bobby and kiss me.”

“You’re too pretty to be Bobby,” Luke cackled. Bobby flashed him his middle finger.

Reggie closed his eyes and leaned in. This time it was Carrie who held his face, tilting it so their lips slotted together. Reggie made a soft noise in the back of his throat like he was enjoying it. Bobby dropped his gaze.

Carrie let him go. “Not bad,” she said.

A corner of Reggie’s mouth tilted up. “Thanks.”

“Now shoo.” She waved him away. “It’s your turn to spin.”

Reggie got up and returned to his seat. He spun the bottle hard, and they all had to wait at least a minute until it came to rest on Luke. “Whoo hoo!” Luke cheered. He lunged across the circle and grabbed Reggie by his collar, yanking him in for a kiss that was way more forceful than what Carrie had received.

Alex smirked. Boys really did kiss differently than girls. But then he saw Bobby’s face. Bobby’s mouth was a hard line, his dark eyes flinty, his hands made into fists as if he really didn’t like Luke kissing his boyfriend. Alex’s eyes flashed to Reggie, wondering if he’d seen Bobby’s reaction, but Reggie was still kissing Luke and hadn’t seen a thing.

Reggie was gasping by the time Luke let him go. Luke made a show of wiping his mouth with the back of his wrist before returning to his spot. “Holy shit,” Reggie said. His green eyes were wide. He looked at Julie. “Does he always kiss like that?”

“Luke’s really good at it,” Julie confirmed. She patted Luke’s knee and he beamed at her before reaching over to spin. This time it landed on Willie.

Alex’s heart lurched painfully. Luke was a really good kisser. Willie was totally going to know what he was missing and realize Alex didn’t know how to kiss his way out of a wet paper bag. Maybe Willie would even break up with him because of it. Alex’s anxiety instantly went up to eleven. “Wait…”

Willie’s eyes met his with a look of pure understanding. He put a gentle hand on Luke’s shoulder. “Not feeling it dude. Sorry.” Alex was totally relieved and also horribly guilty. What if Willie had wanted to kiss Luke? He shouldn’t have let his fear stop Willie from having fun. He looked at his boyfriend again, his bottom lip between his teeth.

Willie smiled at him, warm and gentle, and Alex felt a little better.

Luke sat back on his heels. He looked at Carrie. “Willie just brutally rejected me. Can I spin again?”

Carrie rolled her eyes. “Why am I in charge? But yes.”

Luke spun the bottle and it ended up pointing at Flynn. Flynn squealed in delight. “Make me straight!” Luke kissed her, and Flynn threw her arms around his neck, clearly enjoying the experience. “Seven out of ten,” she said when he finally pulled away. “Would recommend except for the whole guy part.” Everyone laughed and she spun. “Bobby?”

Bobby shrugged. His eyes slid to Reggie, who was grinning in a way Alex knew was fake. “Sure. Why not?” Bobby said. Flynn crossed the circle to kiss him. It was way shorter and less dramatic than her kiss with Luke, but Alex saw how Reggie looked away the whole time. “Thanks,” Bobby muttered when she was done.

“How was your first kiss with a girl?” Carrie said with a laugh.

“Still gay,” Bobby said. “No offense.”

“None taken and me, too.” Flynn grinned at him, and Bobby grinned back, looking marginally happier than he had.

It was Bobby’s turn to spin. It stopped at Willie. Willie and Bobby looked at each other. “We doing this?" Bobby asked.

Alex glanced at Reggie, who looked back at him, wide eyed. Reggie loved the way Bobby kissed, and Alex knew how great Willie was at it. If they kissed each other, they’d have to know how bad he and Reggie were. Alex licked his lips.

“You okay, babe?” Willie asked softly.

“Sure!” Alex said, voice pitched too high. He’d already stopped Willie from kissing Luke, he couldn’t do it again.

Bobby’s gaze met Reggie’s, and Reggie smiled. Bobby’s eyes narrowed, but he went to Willie anyway. “You good?” Willie nodded and they kissed.

Fuck, it was hot. It was a weird combination of intense jealousy and total lust. Alex had no idea how much of a turn-on it could be watching his boyfriend kiss someone else. Did Julie like watching Luke kiss their friends, too? Alex’s face flamed.

Willie and Bobby broke apart. “I can see why Reggie’s into you,” Willie said. Bobby grunted and sat back down, his eyes still pinned on Reggie. Reggie was looking back at him, still with the same smile on his face, like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Willie spun. It landed on Alex.

“No partners!” Luke shouted.

“Fuck off, Patterson,” Willie said and pulled Alex into his arms. Alex kissed him, channeling all the jealousy and desire he’d been feeling. He slid his hands into Willie’s hair, holding him as close as he could. Willie pulled back, breathing heavily. He rested their foreheads together. “I love you.”

“Love you, too,” Alex whispered back. The kiss had been intense. Like they’d both taken it to the next level. But Alex couldn’t shake the uncertainty that he didn’t kiss as well as Bobby had. He wished he could ask if Willie liked it.

“Rule breakers.” Luke frowned at them. Everyone ignored him.

“Julie’s the only one who hasn’t been kissed,” Carrie said. “So Alex, you have to kiss her.”

“Cool,” Julie grinned at Alex.

Alex went to her, feeling even more nervous than usual. “You’re the first girl I’ve ever kissed.”

Her grin widened. “Hope I make it worth your while." She pulled him forward by his shoulders and their lips connected. Physically, kissing Julie wasn’t too different than kissing Willie, really, as long as his eyes were closed. She had on flavoured lip gloss, which made her lips softer than Willie’s and maybe her teeth were a little smaller when Alex licked into her mouth, but otherwise it was weirdly similar. But what was missing was the surging rush of passion; the sense of connection he had every time he and Willie kissed. Like it wasn’t just their lips slotting together, but their souls.

Gently, Julie pulled back, still grinning. “Thoughts?”

Alex cleared his throat. “You’re a really good kisser. But I like boys.”

Julie laughed. “My turn to spin.”

Bobby was going to fucking kill Luke.

Sure, they were friends, but that was before Luke tried to fucking swallow Reggie face-first. And Reggie had liked it.

It’d been hard enough to see Reggie kissing Carrie, except Carrie was a lesbian and therefore wouldn’t steal Reggie away no matter how great a kisser he was. But seeing his boyfriend kiss his sister really wasn’t great regardless. A total mental image he could do without forever.

Especially because Reggie was bisexual, and the last thing Bobby needed was for Reggie to remember how great kissing a girl could be.

Bobby had no illusions that he was a great kisser. Except for swimming, he wasn’t really great at anything. He was pretty good at guitar, and pretty good at school, and sure, everyone thought he was hot, but that was genetics and physical fitness. It wasn’t anything he did.

And Luke and Reggie had been friends since they were little kids. It’d make sense if Reggie kissing Luke were to awaken some sort of latent friends-to-lovers thing in both of them.

If that happened, Bobby was going to throw Luke through a fucking wall.

He sat there, fists clenched as the game continued. Willie’s spin landed on him, and he checked with Reggie to see if Reggie was upset about it. Reggie looked like it was a fucking lark, so Bobby kissed Willie for all he was worth.

At least he tried. But he couldn’t actually bring himself to do it. Reggie meant too much to him. He didn’t want to hurt him. Even if Reggie didn’t feel the same.

Fuck, this game sucked.

He seethed all the way through Alex and Julie kissing. And then Julie’s spin landed on Reggie.

“Wait,” Luke said, a pained expression on his too-handsome face. “You’re not going to kiss him, are you?”

Julie looked back at Luke. “Those are kind of the rules?”

“Why can’t she kiss me?” Reggie’s mouth was half curled up, like he thought Luke was joking, and the fact he wanted to kiss Julie twisted something in Bobby’s chest. He grimaced.

“Because you’re bisexual!” Luke said.

“So am I,” Julie said, forehead creased. “What’s the problem?”

“Yeah, Patterson, what’s the problem?” Carrie challenged. “You had no issues kissing Reggie.”

“Because I’m with Julie!” Luke said, like that explained anything.

“And I’m with Bobby.” Reggie’s eyes went to Bobby as he said it, like he wanted to confirm. Bobby nodded, wanting nothing more than to grab Reggie by the arm and hustle him out of there. But he stayed sitting, trying to be social. Carrie always said he wasn’t good with people.

“But you’ll be kissing Julie!” Luke’s voice was nearly a whine.

Julie moved so she could see Luke and sat back on her heels. “Yes. Because the bottle landed there. What’s the problem?”

“I don’t have to kiss her,” Reggie said, and Bobby couldn’t tell if he was disappointed or not.

“Okay, cool,” Luke said. “Julie, spin again.”

Julie crossed her arms. “I’m not spinning again.”

“Luke, you literally kissed Carrie and I didn’t freak out,” Flynn said. “Julie can kiss Reggie.”

This was nuts. Julie and Luke were actually fighting over Julie kissing Reggie. Bobby didn’t want anyone kissing Reggie at all. “They don’t have to kiss,” he said.

“Why not?” Julie challenged. “What’s so wrong with me kissing Reggie? Luke practically kissed everyone in the room!”

“I didn’t kiss everyone in the room!” Luke shouted. “Willie didn’t want me to kiss him!”

Willie put up his hands. “Don’t bring me into this.”

“Why can’t I kiss Reggie, Luke?” Julie glared at her boyfriend. “Give me one good reason.”

“I just don’t think you should, is all.” Luke glared back.

“You don’t think… Why are there different rules for you than me?” Julie looked pissed as hell.

“Because… “ Luke spluttered. “Because!”

Julie’s eyes narrowed dangerously. She turned back to Reggie. “Pucker up.”

Reggie’s eyes snapped to Bobby’s “Wait. Are we doing this?”

No! Bobby wanted to shout. He may not have wanted Julie and Reggie to kiss, but he didn’t like what Luke was doing, either. He felt torn in two with wanting to stop everything and not wanting to be a controlling boyfriend. “It’s just a game,” he said, not feeling it even a little bit.

“Yeah. A game.” Julie grabbed Reggie’s collar and yanked him forward. Their teeth collided with an audible clack. They both froze for a moment, and then recovered. Reggie’s hands went to Julie’s cheeks and she loosened her grip as they relaxed into the kiss. Reggie’s eyes closed.

“Julie’s a really good kisser,” Alex murmured.

Bobby frowned. He didn’t need the reminder that his bisexual boyfriend was kissing a woman who was good at it. Reggie made a small noise reminiscent of a moan, and Bobby had suddenly had enough. He got up.

“Where are you going?” Carrie asked.

“Out.” Bobby stormed through the doors and went back to his car, tempted to get in and just leave. But he’d driven Carrie there and she’d be annoyed if he left. He unlocked it and got inside, slamming the door shut despite the warmth of the November sun.

He tilted his head against the headrest and closed his eyes. Reggie was probably going to break up with him for Luke, or maybe for Julie. Or hell, maybe he’d fall in love with them both and the three of them would live happily ever after. He’d been so stupid to fall for a boy as perfect as Reggie when he was barely even adequate. Reggie was sweet and chatty and knew what to do in social situations, where Bobby was either angry, confused or lost.

But Luke was incredibly smooth with people. He was the lead singer of their band for a reason. His natural charm coupled with his natural good looks made him totally irresistible. And Julie was exactly like him, only a calmer, female version. It only made sense that Reggie would fall for either one of them, or both.

And Bobby had watched Reggie kiss each of them, pretending it was only a game.

Luke’s heart was breaking.

He could feel it crumbling in his chest, coming apart like a cookie underfoot. Like his relationship. Something perfect and whole and sweet that was now ground to dust.

Why the fuck had he agreed to play this stupid game?

Out of the five boys, he and Reggie were the only ones attracted to girls, but between him and Reggie, Luke knew he couldn’t compete.

Reggie was cute, and funny and really talented and so smart he got good grades just from showing up. He was also really sweet and kind. Luke hadn’t been kidding when he’d called Reggie an angel. Julie would have to be stupid to choose him over Reggie if she had the choice.

And Luke knew Julie was anything but stupid.

He rubbed his face, trying not to watch as Reggie and his girlfriend made out like they’d invented it. That was the reason why he hadn’t wanted them to kiss in the first place. Reggie was really good at it. Luke knew he was a good kisser. He’d had lots of practice, just like Alex had said, but he didn’t think he was as good as Reggie was. For sure Julie would notice.

And now she was angry at him for trying to stop her from kissing Reggie in the first place.

God, he was fucked.

Bobby stood up, told his sister he was going out, and left, probably feeling the same thing Luke was: that he was watching his relationship end right in front of him.

Because there was no way Reggie wouldn’t choose Julie Molina if he had the chance.

Luke’s throat thickened. He was in love with Julie. Probably had been from the moment they’d gotten stuck in the elevator. He couldn’t imagine his life without her, and yet everything was crashing down in front of him. She was going to leave him for Reggie. He knew it.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Julie and Reggie pulled apart. “Wow,” Julie said, “you’re really good at that.”

“I am?” Reggie said, like he was actually surprised.

Luke rolled his eyes. “There. You kissed Reggie. Happy?” he snapped, so upset and hurt Julie was going to leave him.

“What the fuck is your problem?” she snapped back.

Luke stood, even though it felt like he was leaving his heart on the ground. “This! Reggie! You!” he shouted. “Why don’t you date him? Since you wanted to kiss him so bad?”

“What?” Reggie looked around. “Where’s Bobby?”

“He left,” Carrie said.

“He left?” Reggie looked stricken. Good, Luke thought meanly. Reggie was ruining his relationship. He had no sympathy.

“Check his car,” Carrie said and Reggie got up and bolted out the door.

That made Julie get to her feet. Her eyes were like dark, burning chips of coal. “I’m the problem? When it’s you who’s been acting like a baby because I kissed another guy in a game?”

“Why’d you want to kiss another guy so badly, huh?” Luke yelled at Julie. “Maybe that’s the problem right there!” God, he sounded like a total jealous asshole, but it was like his mouth had bypassed his brain and connected straight to the broken pieces of his heart.

If looks could kill, Luke would be dead on the floor. “Come with me. Now,” Julie hissed at Luke, then stormed out of the studio.

“You should probably go after her,” Willie said.

“And maybe get that jealousy under control?” Flynn added. “Just saying.”

“I’m not jealous!” Luke said hotly, even though he knew he was lying. He stormed out after Julie.

“I think the game’s over,” Alex said.

The game had been a total disaster.

“Sorry for leaving you with this mess, both figurative and literal.” Flynn put her hands on her hips as she surveyed the pile of pizza boxes and empty pop cans.

“It’s fine.” Willie waved his hands. He was still sitting on the studio floor beside Alex, like the polished concrete was actually comfortable. “We can clean up.”

Alex wasn’t sure if Willie just meant the garbage, or the emotional fall-out, or both, but he was feeling totally inadequate to deal with almost any of it. If he’d known how upset the boys and Julie were going to get, he’d never have suggested they play. He wrapped his arms around his knees and nodded anyway.

“Okay,” Carrie said, like she believed them. “I’m going to be at Flynn’s. Have Bobby text me when he’s ready to go home.”

“Will do.” Willie grinned, and the two girls left.

The second the door closed, Willie turned to him. “So, wanna tell me what that whole game thing was about?”

Alex gulped, mind whirling. Telling Willie he wanted to practise kissing so Willie wouldn’t know he was bad at it seemed kind of counterproductive. “It was just for fun!” he said way too brightly.

Willie’s expression was pure skepticism. “Fun, huh?”

“Yeah!” Alex’s voice still had that same bright tone. “You like doing fun stuff!”

“Totally,” Willie agreed easily. “But I don’t think you thought it was fun.”

“What? No! It was great!” Alex said. “Kissing Julie was super fun!”

Willie still looked completely skeptical. “When Luke went to kiss me, you looked like you were going to throw up.”

“I wasn’t,” Alex protested feebly. “I just… “ he had no idea how to finish the sentence.

Willie took his hands. “Alex. I don’t get it. Wanting to kiss other people like that. It’s not like you. Why’d you want to do it?”

A hundred excuses ran through Alex’s head, but Willie wouldn’t buy any of them. He let his bangs fall forward, shielding his eyes. “You’ll think it’s stupid.”

“Alex… “ Willie said on a sigh. “Just talk to me.”

Alex took a breath. Maybe it’s better this way, he thought. Putting it out in the open. That way he wouldn’t have to wait if Willie wanted to break up with him. Like ripping off a Band-Aid. A painful, painful Band-Aid wrapped around his heart. “I’m a really bad kisser.”

Willie blinked. “You’re a what now?”

“A bad kisser,” Alex repeated, face flaming. “You’re the only guy—only person—I’ve ever kissed, and I know I must suck at it, and you probably hate it and want to break up with me—”

Willie lunged forward and kissed him. Their lips met, moving together like a well-rehearsed dance. Willie sucked on his bottom lip, then slipped his tongue inside Alex’s mouth. Alex couldn’t help his moan or the way his hands went around Wille’s back, gripping like he was drowning and Willie was dry land.

Gently, Willie pulled away, resting their foreheads together like he’d done in the game. “Alex,” he said, voice choppy from breathing hard. “Alex, your kisses are amazing.”

“What?” Alex said, too dizzy from Willie’s mouth to understand what he’d said.

“You’re a really good kisser,” Willie said, stroking Alex’s cheekbone with his thumb. “Top tier. Just awesome. I could honestly kiss you forever.”

“Really?” Alex said softly. “Because you were kissing Bobby and—”

“You’re a really good kisser,” Willie repeated. He moved so Alex could see his face. “Alex, why would you think you’re not?”

“Because I’ve never kissed anyone else?” Alex said.

Willie flashed one of his brilliant smiles. “Inexperience doesn’t equal bad, duh. Besides. Practise makes perfect.”

“But you’ve had so much more practise than I have,” Alex said. “Doesn’t it bother you?”

“Doesn’t it bother you I’ve had lots of practice?” Willie asked.

Alex frowned. “Why would it bother me that you’ve kissed other people? You’re not doing it now.”

“Nope.” Willie laughed. “But some people would be bothered that they’re not the first.”

“I really don’t care,” Alex said. “I just care you’re with me now.”

“And I really don’t care that I’m your first,” Willie said. Then his grin turned wicked. “In fact, I kind of like it.”

That was surprising. “You do?”

“Yeah. I get to teach you exactly what I like,” Willie said with that same devastating smile.

Alex swallowed. That smile was doing strange things to his insides. “That’s a very compelling argument.”

“I know, right?” Willie laughed, then kissed him again.

Julie led Luke into the house and up the stairs to her bedroom. She shoved him inside and then shut the door behind him, standing in front of it and crossing her arms. The glare she turned on him was practically incandescent. “What the fuck was that?”

“What the fuck was what?” Luke glared back. He was in the wrong and he knew it, but what was the point of apologizing if Julie was just going to break up with him anyway? He crossed his arms, too.

“You know what.” Her eyes were flinty.

“Oh yeah, I know!” Luke flared. “You couldn’t wait to kiss Reggie! Well, you did. Happy?”

“It was part of the game!” Julie spat. “And you kissed Reggie, too! Why is it only a problem when I do it?”

“Because I’m not going to break up with you for Reggie!” Luke yelled. There. He said it. His heart pounded in triple-time, waiting for Julie to deliver the final blow to his happiness forever.

Her jaw dropped, her face screwed up and then she shook her head like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Are you seriously suggesting I’m going to break up with you… for Reggie?”

“Yes! You’re going to break up with me for him!” Luke threw up his hands. “Because you kissed him!”

Julie was still staring at him. “It was a game. I don’t want to date Reggie!”

“Of course you do! Everyone does! He’s cute and funny and smart—”

“Sounds like you want to date him,” Julie interrupted him. “And you kissed him first.”

That brought Luke up short. “I don’t want to date him! I want to date you.”

“But he’s cute and funny and smart,” Julie repeated. “And he’s a good kisser.”

“Well, yeah, but that doesn’t mean I want to date him. I want you.” I love you. It was right on the tip of his tongue.

“Okay,” Julie said, “but you literally accused me of wanting to date Reggie for exactly the same reasons.”

He licked his lips. “But… don’t you want to break up with me?”

She frowned in confusion. “Break up with you? Why?”

“For Reggie. Obviously,” Luke said.

Julie's frown deepened, then her expression cleared. “Luke, are you jealous of Reggie?”

“What? No!” Luke scoffed. “He’s just a really good kisser is all.” He crossed his arms again.

“And cute and funny and smart… You are jealous!” Julie’s eyes sparkled. She went towards him.

“Am not!” Luke backed up. His legs hit the end of her bed.

“You are!” Julie said again. “You think I’m going to fall madly in love with Reggie and break up with you.”

That was exactly what he’d been thinking. “No, I don’t!” She moved forward again and he tried to move back. He fell backwards onto her bed.

Julie climbed on top of him, straddling his hips with her thighs and pinning his wrists to her bed. She leaned over until their lips were barely touching. He was suddenly so turned on he couldn’t think. “You’re jealous of Reggie.”

“Maybe a little,” he admitted, voice barely a whisper.

“I’m not going to break up with you for Reggie,” Julie said. “No matter how good a kisser he is.”

“But he’s also cute and sweet and funny,” Luke said, because he was a total idiot.

“So are you,” Julie said, then kissed him.

Luke surged upwards, capturing Julie’s mouth with his own. She let go of his wrists and he held her against him, his hands stroking up and down her back. His heart beat in a combination of exaltation and relief. She wasn’t going to break up with him! It was almost too good to be true.

Julie broke the kiss, her laughter bubbling. “Thinking I’d break up with you for Reggie. You’re such an idiot.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry I was such an asshole, before. I was really jealous and I’m sorry.”

Julie sat back on his thighs. “You can’t do that, Luke. You can’t get jealous like that. You have to trust me.”

“I know. And I do trust you! It’s just… I don’t think I’m good enough for you.” He dropped his gaze.

“Hey.” She gently lifted his chin until he was looking at her again. “Luke, I picked you out of the crowd at the Gant Museum for a reason. I took one look at you and I knew.”

Luke’s smile was tentative. “What did you know?”

“That you’re the only boy I’d want to get stuck in an elevator with.” She grinned. “Because you’re perfect for me, and I never want to lose you.”

His pulse leapt in his throat as relief and happiness coursed through him. “I love you,” he said. “I’ve loved you since we got stuck in that elevator. I love you so much, Julie, and I couldn’t stand it if I lost you.”

“I love you, too,” she said. “I love you. Only you.”

They kissed again, fierce and passionate. She loves me! echoing in Luke’s head. Julie loved him. He was the luckiest guy in the world.

Reggie slapped his palm against the car window. “Open the door, Bobby! Please?”

Bobby leaned over and unlocked the passenger side door before collapsing back against his seat. “Hey, Reggie.”

Reggie slid in and shut the door. He could feel the temperature difference right away. “Jeez, it’s hot in here.”

“Welcome to California.” Bobby smirked. He closed his eyes.

Reggie and Bobby had only been dating for about a month, and Bobby wasn’t really great at talking, but Bobby had a lot of tells that Reggie had quickly learned to read. Right now it was more than obvious Bobby was upset, and it was most likely because of something Reggie had done. “I’m sorry.”

Bobby opened his eyes. “What’re you sorry for?”

Bobby’s tone was gruff, but Reggie knew he was genuinely curious and not being sarcastic. He stroked a lock of Bobby’s thick black hair away from his face. “Because I upset you. And probably when I kissed Luke.”

Bobby’s smile was sad. “Got that, did you?”

Reggie shrugged. “It was either him or Carrie, and Carrie’s your sister, so… “

“I didn’t like you kissing my sister,” Bobby said. “But yeah. Luke was worse.”

“You could’ve said ‘no’,” Reggie said. “If you’d said no, I wouldn’t’ve done it.”

“But that would’ve made me a jealous asshole, and Luke had that part locked down.”

Reggie laughed. “Yeah, he was being a real jerk. But… you still could’ve said.”

“But you didn’t care when I kissed Willie. So, I didn’t want to care when you kissed Luke.” Bobby shrugged.

Reggie bit his lip. Bobby’s expression hadn’t really changed, but Reggie could see the tightness around his eyes and the hard lines around his mouth. He really hadn’t liked it when Reggie had been kissing other people. Reggie cringed. He hated the idea of hurting his boyfriend. “But I did care when you kissed Willie,” he admitted. “I cared when you kissed Flynn. I don’t want you kissing anyone but me. I guess I should’ve said something, too.”

Bobby took Reggie’s hand, tangling their fingers together. “Then why were we playing that stupid game?”

“Because I wanted to get better at kissing?” Reggie said. “Luke’s had so much more practise and—”

“Who told you, you were a bad kisser?” Bobby demanded.

“No one?” Reggie said. “But I’ve only kissed girls before, and you’re a guy so maybe you don’t like it?”

“Kissing girls and boys isn’t different,” Bobby said.

“That’s what I said!” Reggie exclaimed. “But Alex said it was different, and that I had to kiss more guys to make you happy, so we thought ‘hey! spin the bottle’—”

“Make me happy?” Bobby cut him off. “I am happy.”

“But I don’t know how to kiss guys,” Reggie explained. “I’ve only dated girls before you.”

“And I’m telling you I’m happy,” Bobby said. “You’re a great kisser, Reggie. Don’t let anyone tell you different.”

“No one said I was bad, I just didn’t want to disappoint you. Because you’re really important to me?” Reggie bit his lip.

Bobby hit him with a flat look. “Are you trying to tell me you love me, and you wanted to show it by practicing your kissing?”

Reggie blinked. He hadn’t really thought of it like that, but everything Bobby said was true. “Yes.”

“Why didn’t you just say that?” Bobby shook his head, but he was smiling. “I love you too, Reg. Don’t worry about your kissing. Don’t worry about anything in our relationship. I’ll let you know if it’s not working. Okay?”

“Okay.” Reggie beamed at him, his heart soaring. Bobby loved him! He was so incredibly happy. “I love you, Bobby. I really do.”

“I know,” Bobby said. “You kissed Luke.”

“Julie and Luke are good,” Flynn reported.

She was lying on her bed checking her phone, Carrie beside her, their shoulders touching.

“Lucky for him,” Carrie muttered. “How are Willie and Alex?”

“I don’t really think they were fighting? But Willie sent a thumbs up emoji so they’re good, too.”

“Awesome,” Carrie said. “Alex is my favourite Willie boyfriend.”

“Oh same,” Flynn said. “He’s definitely the smartest.”

“And the best dancer,” Carrie agreed. “And they look really good together.”

“So important.” Flynn fist-bumped her. “How’s your brother?”

Carrie checked her phone. “Bobby sent a heart emoji. I have no clue what that means.”

“Well, it’s not an angry face, so they’re good?” Flynn offered. “Besides, Reggie’s really good with Bobby. They’ll sort it out.”

“True that,” Carrie said. “Reggie just gets Bobby. You know?”

Flynn nodded. “Yeah, which is why the game was so weird to me.”

“I know, right?” Carrie propped herself up on one elbow to look at her girlfriend. “I mean, who plays spin the bottle in junior year? it was such a throwback to middle school.”

“I bet Luke put them up to it,” Flynn said. “He’ll kiss anyone.”

“He is a really good kisser,” Carrie sighed. “Almost as good as you.”

Flynn smirked. “I thought he kissed well enough to make you straight.”

Carrie made a face. “Dating boys for real? Ew. No.”

Flynn nodded. “Boys are gross.”

“Although they do kiss well,” Carrie mused. “Who’d you like better? Luke or Bobby?”

“Luke,” Flynn said. “He just goes all-in.”

“Bobby was holding back because of Reggie,” Carrie said loyally. “I’m sure he’s a better kisser.”

“Who’d you like better? Reggie or Luke?” Flynn nudged her.

“Luke for enthusiasm, Reggie for technique,” Carrie decided. She marched her fingers up Flynn’s arm. “But you’re the only one I really want to kiss.”

“Then what are you waiting for?” Flynn asked, and kissed her.

END