On His Face - Tabatha Kiss Page 0,22

very… long nights.”

My gut twists as I glance at Drew. “Oh, really?” I ask, hiding it.

“Well, I did, anyway...” Seth shakes his head at Drew. “My friend here spent the night with his old pal, Couch.”

Drew smirks. “You realize you just bragged about getting laid... to your sister.”

“What? She cares.”

“I highly doubt she does.”

“Heidi, you care, right?”

I wrinkle my nose. “I really don’t.”

Drew cants his head. “See?”

“Wow.” Seth feigns offense. “Ganging up on me at Manny’s. I see how it is.” He shifts on his seat and smiles, effortlessly moving on. “How about you, little sister? You have a good time last night?”

I fight every impulse to look at Drew. “Uh-huh,” I answer.

“You make it home okay? You kinda disappeared after beer pong.” Seth squints. “Or did I just pass out?”

“I made it home. I left shortly after the game because I...” I lose the fight and my eyes shift toward Drew on their own. He discreetly taps the table twice. “Had to work in the morning!” I blurt. “I tried to find you to let you know, but...”

“Must have been when Bethany walked in,” Drew says.

Seth glances up at nothing and sighs with stars in his eyes. “Bethany...”

“Ah. That must have been it.” I nod at Drew, thankful for the assist. “So, I need to check on another table, but I’ll put your order in and be right back with your coffee.”

“Thanks, little sister!” Seth says.

Drew nods, his eyes soft and warm. “Yeah. Thanks, Heidi.”

I smile as I turn away.

One awkward post-kiss interaction with Drew down...

An infinite amount to go.

“Cutie number two is staring at you.”

I raise my head, amused by Brandy’s sing-song voice as she glides in my direction. “What?” I ask as I wipe down the counter.

She stops with a smile. “Cutie number two,” she repeats, “is staring,” and pauses for effect, “at you.”

“Which one is number two?”

“White t-shirt.”

Drew.

I smile. “Really?”

“Mm-hmm. That boy has not taken his eyes off you for twenty minutes.”

I set my rag down on the counter slowly as I shift on my toes. Being swift and discreet, I whip my head around to look, instantly making eye contact with Drew across the diner.

He flicks his eyes away.

I face forward. “Probably just wants a refill,” I whisper.

Brandy snorts. “He wants something.”

I chuckle as she glides away again. Another quick wipe of the counter and I grab their checks by the register with auto-pilot engaged. He’s just a customer. Just a normal customer. No reason to think otherwise.

I return to their table. “You guys are all set. You can pay up front.”

Drew bobs his head as he slides his check in his direction and fishes into his back pocket for his wallet.

“Come back and see us again,” I add as I turn away.

“Hey, Heidi,” Seth says. “Hold up.”

I pause. “Yeah?”

“What are you doing Friday night?” he asks. “You working?”

“Uh...” I quickly picture my schedule in my head. “Nope. Why?”

“Beach party,” he says. “You in?”

I chortle. “You guys are having another party?”

They laugh. Loudly. My smile drops.

“Man, you learned nothing at orientation, did you?” Seth quips.

I shrug. “I guess not.”

“This one’s smaller.”

“Ah...” I say with interest.

“Chill out on a private beach, light up the grill, and drink until we can’t feel our legs anymore. Off-season means no nosey neighbors. And, best of all… boat.”

“No boat this year, actually,” Drew says.

Seth’s jaw drops. “Excuse me?”

“I told my dad we were going out there this weekend and now he’s having it moved to the marina.”

“Seriously?”

“After what we did to it last year, are you really that surprised?”

Seth pauses for a moment, then shrugs. “Fair enough.”

“Wait…” I smile with suspicion. “What did you do to it last year?”

“Nothing you need to worry about,” Seth says with a pointed stare at Drew.

Drew mimes a key over his mouth and tosses it away.

“It’s a fun tradition with our core friend group,” Seth says to me. “One last hang before the weather turns to shit, and the semester starts kicking our asses. You should come.”

I pique a brow. “I qualify for the core friend group?”

“We voted,” Drew says. “It was unanimous — after some extensive debate.”

“Well, of course,” I say.

“You can bring Jenna if you want...” Seth frowns. “Though, I secretly hope you don’t.”

I grin. “You know she’d never let me hear the end of it if I went to a beach party without her.”

“Then, bring her. I’ll bear it. Whatever. I’ll just drink until she becomes a mermaid. That’ll be fun! What do you say, little sister? You in?”

I glance at