Chapter 14
Felix stood in line waiting for his turn to use Snaps’s one and only singleton bathroom.
A gaggle of women had squeezed in as he was crossing the room, making him question if a clown car was on the other side of the door.
He tapped his foot. At this point, if it wasn’t so cold outside, he would’ve seriously considered watering the bushes.
Frickin’ winter. He resisted the urge, along with the one to lean against the sticky wall behind him and resigned himself to waiting.
The gaggle finally came out, giggling past the rest of them, and the next person went in. Felix sighed as the dulcet strains of “Feliz Navidad” kicked off. He was going to have the frickin’ song stuck in his head for a week. At least the line was moving now. Only two more to—
“Felix?”
He turned at his name. A slim were beamed at him, and Felix’s pulse jumped.
Oh, shit. Able. He ran a hand through his shaggy blond hair and wet his lips, eyeing Felix like he hadn’t eaten in weeks.
Normally, he’d be happy to be on the menu, but with Liam here?
Awkward, and tonight Able just wasn’t doing it for him.
Behind them at the bar, Peggy Sherman started whispering to Rebecca Lynn and leering in their direction. God, they were hags.
Felix made himself return Able’s smile. “Hey…when did you get back?” he asked, glancing across the dining room. Oh shit, Liam had stood up and was heading this way. Felix started to sweat.
“Just this afternoon. You’re looking good.” Able’s teeth dimpled his lip. “You here by yourself?”
Shit, shit, shit. “Ah, no. I’m here with friends. Jena, Chase, and—”
“I’ve been thinking about you,” Able said, stepping closer and tucking a lock of Felix’s hair behind his ear. “Can I buy you a drink?”
“Actually, I’m—”
“He’s here with me,” Liam said, coming up behind them. Felix’s heart leaped to his throat. Had Liam actually just said that? The people around them started whispering, and Peggy Sherman pulled out her phone. Had Liam seen her? Whatever was about to happen was gonna be simulcast all over town.
Able stepped back to look at him. “Damn. Where did you come from, gorgeous?”
“Eastside, and the name’s Liam,” he growled, pushing up his sleeves. “You mind taking your hand off my date?”
Felix almost passed out. His date. He’d called him his date!
“Oh! You two are…?” Felix somehow managed a nod, and Able took his hand from Felix’s back. “Well, color me jealous. My bad. If it doesn’t work out, call me. Seriously. Either one of you,” he said, eye-fucking Liam as he left.
The big were ignored him, stalking to Felix.
His throat bobbed, eyelids fluttering at the wave of Liam’s musk enveloping him.
“You do know that Peggy Sherman is right behind us and probably recording this,” he said as Liam rested an arm above Felix’s head, pinning him against the wall.
His knees went weak. Oh, God. It wasn’t fair what this man did to him.
“Good.” Liam’s gaze searched Felix’s face, his breath coming as fast as Felix’s. “Then everyone will know you’re mine.”
There abruptly wasn’t enough air in the room. “I-I am?”
Liam’s forehead crinkled, doubt flashing across his face. His throat bobbed. “I mean, if you want?” The question tumbled out from Liam’s lips, rumbly and close enough to taste the whiskey on his exhale. Their gazes locked, and the emotion in his eyes…
Felix kissed him.
Liam froze, and then kissed him back like Felix might shatter beneath his lips, softly, sweetly.
Felix’s hands slid up Liam’s chest, and it rumbled with satisfaction, his lips becoming more insistent.
Felix fisted Liam’s flannel, inviting him to make the kiss deeper.
Liam slid his tongue into Felix’s mouth, smokey with whiskey.
The barest hint of stubble rasped against his skin, and he bit back a moan, knowing the entire restaurant was watching.
And Liam was kissing him anyway. Had his tongue in his mouth, his fingers tangling in Felix’s curls, and the other sliding up his back, holding him like he never wanted to let go.
Felix trembled against him, wanting that so badly, wanted so desperately to be with this man, but he didn’t, he couldn’t—
He choked up, and Liam broke the kiss to rest his forehead against his. “Hey, you okay?” he murmured.
Felix nodded, wiping his eyes. “Yes, I—you really mean it this time?”
“I meant it then, Felix, but now I swear to God, now I’m gonna do this right.” He kissed him again—
“Get a room!” someone yelled.
“Shut up, Callaway,” Jena yelled back at them.
Felix glanced over at the dining room, expecting—Yep. Everyone was watching them with expressions spanning from “duh” to “OMFG.” He raised his brow at Peggy’s stupid judgy face. Try fixing this, bitch. She scowled back, pocketing her phone.
“Um…it okay if we head out?” Liam asked, rubbing the back of his neck and nowhere near as comfortable with the attention. “Jena and Chase are calling it a night, and I can get our stuff to go.”
After that kiss? Um, yes. Check please—after he peed. “Sure. I’ll meet you up front.” Felix scooted through the bathroom’s opportunely open door, then closed it, leaning against the battered slab and waiting for the pounding of his heart to subside. He put his hand to his lips.
Had that just seriously happened?
His bladder didn’t care one way or another. Felix took care of business, then flicked on the water in the sink. He washed his hands and splashed his face, the slight sting from Liam’s stubble tingling around Felix’s lips.
Proof he wasn’t dreaming.
A stupid grin split his face ear to ear. Liam had kissed him, and he’d done it in front of the entire restaurant. God, he’d said wanted to get this right, but, damn, if that hadn’t been the grand gesture to just melt Felix’s heart. He dried his hands, unable to quell his grin.
Felix opened the door and worked his way back through the whispering crowd—not smug in the absolute slightest—to where Jena, Chase, and Liam were waiting in the front.
“So, who was that guy?” Liam was asking Chase.
“Able? His mom’s from the Westside pack, but when his parents got divorced, he moved to Galleon Falls with his dad until after high school. He’s got a place over at the compound, but he travels for work. I think he’s a medical rep or something.”
“Oxygen systems,” Felix clarified. “We had a casual thing.” He grinned at Jena, who returned it in spades as Liam helped him into his parka. Oh, yes, a boy could definitely get used to this kind of treatment. “It was nothing serious.”
Liam muttered something, and Felix’s grin widened, well aware that the majority of the restaurant was still ogling them. “I think I like you jealous,” he said, fiddling with Liam’s jacket.
“Then I better make sure you like me more when I’m not. Otherwise, people are going to get hurt.” By the look on Liam’s face, he wasn’t joking.
Felix had never actually swooned, but he suddenly understood the inclination.
They followed Jena and Chase outside and said their goodbyes. Liam took Felix’s hand in his as they walked to the Jeep.
“I-I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my degree,” he said, his palm sweaty against Felix’s. “I didn’t think—look, there’s more stuff you should probably know before we, I mean, before you—”
Felix stopped to look at Liam, cutting him off. “Hey, there’s no rush. We’ve got time.”
He shook his head. “I’m not sure about that. Do you think it would be okay if we went back to your place and talked for a while?”
Felix’s brow furrowed at the vibe Liam was giving him. Whatever he wanted to talk about, Felix had a bad feeling it wasn’t an excuse to get him into bed. “Sure…right after we stop at town hall. Hopefully, that will only take a second.”
“Okay, yeah. Thanks.” Liam opened the passenger side door for him, and paused, chewing his lip after Felix got in. He closed the door and rounded to the other side, sitting for a moment before he started it.
Oh God, was he having second thoughts? Felix started to sweat. Liam was obviously beating himself up about something. If he changed his mind after that— “Okay, what just happened?” Felix asked, not able to stand the silence anymore.
“I-I just need to tell you some things, and I’m sorry tonight didn’t go like I planned.” Liam finally said.
Felix laughed. “Are you serious right now?” After that kiss? He didn’t know how it could’ve gone any better.
Liam’s cheeks flushed. “You’re not mad about what happened in there?”
“Mad, no. Hard, yes.” Felix fanned himself. “I’m a slut for a grand gesture, and what you did in there was huge.”
Liam snorted. “It’s not…” He ran a hand over his jaw, then stared at his hands, fiddling with the steering wheel.
“I really like you, and I’m serious about doing this right.
That’s why I didn’t kiss you last night.
I didn’t want you to think I was taking advantage of you when you were vulnerable.
I asked you to trivia to prove that I’m not gonna hide how I feel anymore.
All that shit I pulled in high school was wrong, Felix, and I’m so fucking sorry I hurt you. ”
“Hey.” Felix leaned over and took the were’s hands in his. “Apology accepted, and what you just did inside might cancel out standing me up at the prom. It definitely makes me inclined to let you make up the rest.”
Hope lit Liam’s eyes. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, now let’s get going so this ‘beautiful machine’ warms up faster. I’m freezing.”
Liam smiled and put it in gear, rounding the block to the back of town hall. “You need me to come in?”
“Nope,” Felix said, rummaging around in his pockets for his keys. “I’m literally just going to open the door and holler. Be right back.” He jumped out of the Jeep and jogged up the back steps to unlock the door—
“That was quick,” Ophelia said. “So, did the date go really well, or did it bomb?”
Felix jumped, almost dropping his keys. “Jesus, don’t do that!”