The Bad Boy's Secret

~Chapter thirty two~

"And you look fucking stunning," he replies, leaning forward as to subtly position his mouth next to my ear. "I wish I could kiss you." he whispers, pulling away before I'm offered the chance to reply.

Heated chills run along my spine in juxtaposition, causing havoc on my already rapidly beating heart, made worse only by the smell of his aftershave lingering in the air around me. Not long after, the opening credits to the film grace the giant screen, noticeably distracting everyone and seeing this as my grand opportunity, I reach up to shove my inappropriate suggestion straight down his ear.

"It's you're special day, birthday boy and I do believe you get one wish."

~~~~

By the time the end credits roll around, everyone has pigged out on as much party food as they can stomach and the non-alcoholic beverages have gone down a treat, though not for April who has been escorted to the restroom on more than one occasion. It would seem her four-year-old bladder just doesn't have the capacity to hold out on a two hour long film and although we should've taken that into consideration when planning, we didn't.

"Oh girls! See that woman over by the fountain wearing purple. That's the colour of my dress!" shrieks Chloe, scaring me half to death.

"Oh, I like it." counters Jess, leaning on Drew, who is seemingly doubling as her own personal pillow right now.

Normally, I'm not so dense when it comes to shared conversations but I've no idea what the pair are talking about and feeling like I'm missing something important, I voice my concerns.

"Dress, for what?" I ask, completely lost with regards to this chat.

Aidan's family have all started up their own conversation about football league, leaving us 'young ones' to our own devices. Chloe sits lovingly in between Dylan's legs, getting her hair thoroughly caressed by his long fingers while Jess practically lies across a seemingly happy Drew, smitten as ever. That leaves Aidan and I as the only non-couple here, though you wouldn't know it by our current position. Draping a protective arm around my shoulders, he willingly remains close by and doesn't budge when I rest my head on his warm chest. His fingers encircle my hipbone, drawing lazy shapes on me whilst mindlessly sipping lemonade from his other, free, hand. Fortunately, no one passes comment on our rather odd behaviour and simply accepts our closeness to mean we're taking a silent leap with regards to our non-exclusive relationship. The truth is, we already consider ourselves as being a couple but this is the first time we're being so open about it and in such a public place.

"The winter formal. It's next Friday. Don't tell me you forgot about it?" laughs Chloe, amused by all accounts at my poor excuse of a memory.

I had forgotten.

"So what's the deal? Do we all go together?" I ask, unsure on what is considered the correct protocol.

"No silly, you take a date." explains Jess, tapping Drew on the nose, indeed confirming that she is his.

"Who are you taking, Aidan?" interrupts Dylan, landing a soft kiss to Chloe's hairline, while simultaneously setting his best friend up to either fly or fail.

Who knows.

"Dunno?" he shrugs, though not without offering my waist a sure squeeze, conveying his true thoughts on the matter.