Kiss King - Mickey Miller Page 0,33
“Y’all ready to play?”
My eyes jump to the green beer bottle on the coffee table. I hold up the beer my mom gave me.
“Compliments of Mama Taylor.”
There is a collective “Awww, she’s so sweet,” from the group.
“We can only drink if we drink responsibly.”
“We’re all nineteen and twenty years here,” Finn says. “Is there any other way?”
I hand the beers around to everyone.
“Wow. I haven’t played this since eighth grade,” Chris remarks.
I note that Jude has his hand on the flesh of Maya’s thigh as he sits next to her.
She’s wearing a flowy blue dress and, from the looks of it, her style has definitely evolved since she went to Italy.
Charlotte gets off one of the couches where she was sitting next to Maya.
“Grant, why don’t you sit here?” She pats the spot.
“Uh, sure.”
I sit, and the way the couch sinks down, and with Faith on the other side of me, my left thigh sinks toward Maya’s.
I’ve got athletic shorts on, so our knees touch, and Maya doesn’t even flinch.
It’s just flesh, and knees, I remind myself. No big deal.
Charlotte explains the rules. “So, whoever the bottle lands on, you have the option to kiss them, or if you don’t want to kiss them because you have a boyfriend or whatever, you can pass.”
The first round is pretty tame, aside from the fact that Chris kisses Charlotte. Everyone else opts to hand out drinks.
“My turn,” Maya says. She spins the bottle and it lands on Jude.
My heart sinks a little.
“Well, that’s convenient,” Jude says. He smiles, then turns to Maya. He goes in and gives her a peck on the lips.
Maya’s eyes wander, catching mine for a split second before she looks away.
I’m not jealous.
Maya is free to kiss whom she wants. Though it hardly goes unnoticed to me ol’ Jude honey-do pecked her, and she didn’t seem all that into it if you ask me. But what do I know?
Now it’s my turn, and when I spin the bottle it lands on Charlotte.
I shrug. “I’m opting for a kiss.”
We both stand up, and I intend for it to be quick, but it ends up being just a few seconds longer than I intended. No tongue, totally PG.
Maya’s jaw is open when I turn back and sit next to her.
“Oh, holy night,” Faith swallows. “You two could give lessons.”
“Grant, you’re the best kisser I’ve ever had the pleasure of touching lips with,” Charlotte says. “All I can say is wow. Thank you.”
Faith goes and it lands on Finn.
“I can’t, y’all,” Faith says, still smiling. She twirls a lock of her red hair. “Maybe I should just be watching you play, since I don’t drink either.”
“Awww,” we prod her, but she’s a little more conservative than the rest of us, and we’re not going to judge.
“So, Grant,” Charlotte interjects. “Are you seeing anyone right now?”
“Someone is looking for some more action after that kiss!” Faith jokes.
Charlotte shrugs. “Grant’s hot, y’all.”
I grin. “I’m not seeing anyone right now, no.”
Maya adjusts her weight in her seat, and darts me a quick look.
“Why not?” Charlotte asks.
“Dating isn’t one of my priorities right now.”
“I feel so sad for single women everywhere,” Charlotte says.
“I need to stay focused on getting the starting spot this season for baseball.”
“True!” April says. “If you’re not dating for marriage, you’re dating for heartbreak.”
Maya smirks. “Um, yeah. I love you, April, and to each their own. I’m dating because sex is awesome and it’s good for you. That’s a proven fact.”
We all laugh, including April.
Jude’s eyes widen. He looks pretty damn happy. I think back to the kiss she just had with Jude, and how she was closed-lipped.
Our kiss was a lot different from what I remember.
But then again, that moment seven months ago seems almost like a dream now.
“Oh-oh.” Donnie wiggles his eyebrows. “How do you feel about that, Jude? Do you think sex is good for you?”
“Oh, do I ever.”
Donnie squints. “Of course you do.”
Donnie and I exchange a look that silently questions if the sex is all that Jude’s into Maya for. Their vibe seems strangely unmatched.
We go around in the game again. Both April and Faith decline to kiss when their bottles land on Finn and Chris. What a shame.
When it’s Jude’s turn again, his bottle lands on Charlotte.
“What do you think?” he asks Maya. “That okay?”
“Do what you want to do, honey.”
Jude shrugs. “Oh, what the hell.”
He stands up, walks over, and gives Charlotte a peck.
“Oh wow!” Finn says. “That’s some heat!”
Maya seems unaffected that her