Signed With a Kiss

by Jessica Sorensen

  “I may have been clever,” I tease. “You were just cleverly stupid.”

  Narrowing his eyes, he reaches over and lightly pinches me on the thigh in a ticklish sort of way. I nearly jump out of my seat. I hate, hate—let me stress hate—being tickled, and West knows that.

  He repeats the movement. “Take that back, Alexis with pretty blue eyes.”

  “Never.” My eyes water as he continues to tickle me, but through the laughter, my heart aches a bit.

  “Hey, no frowning.” He slants his head to the side, sending strands of blond hair into his eyes. His hand is still resting on my leg, only now, instead of tickling me, he’s tracing a light path up and down my thigh. “Come on; cheer up and smile.”

  Push his hand off, Alexis. This is West.

  But for some reason I don’t.

  “I didn’t realize I was frowning—” I’m thrown forward, my seatbelt locking up and throwing me right back against the seat.

  When I blink dazedly at the front of the car, I instantly narrow my eyes.

  Masie is standing in front of the car with her hands out in front of her, eyes huge, breathing fierce, her face bright red.

  “What the hell is that crazy girl doing?” West mumbles as he shoves the shifter into park. Then he sticks his head out the window and yells, “Do you have a death wish or something?”

  “Oh, shut the hell up, West,” she snaps, her gaze skating back to mine. She swallows hard, her eyes watering. “Alexis, please, just listen to me, okay?” She positions herself in front of the car, putting her hands on the hood and raising her voice over the grumbling engine. “I didn’t mean for it to happen … We were just swimming, and he kissed me.” She shakes her head. “But that’s no excuse. I’m your best friend, and I should’ve talked to you first before I did anything.”

  For a brief moment, I feel kind of bad for her. She looks so tormented, so upset …

  Hold up. Wait a second …

  “Are you saying you wanted to kiss Blaine?” I grit through my teeth. “That you’ve thought about it before?”

  More tears pool in her eyes, her bottom lip quivering as she fights not to cry. “I didn’t mean to fall for him. It just sort of happened.”

  I’m not sure whether I’m heartbroken or pissed off.

  “For how long?”

  A crease forms at her brows. “What do you mean?”

  “How long have you two been hooking up?” I bite out. Yes, it’s an assumption, but I know Masie very well. When she wants a guy, she doesn’t mess around; she just goes for it. So, if she’s saying she likes Blaine, then …

  I swallow the lump crammed in my throat. Her silence says it all.

  “So, it’s true, then?” My voice cracks. “That wasn’t the first time you guys kissed?”

  Tears spill from her eyes as she slowly shakes her head. “We’ve been seeing each other for a few months. I’m so sorry, Alexis. I wanted to tell you, but I—”

  I cut her off with a sharp laugh. “You wanted to tell me?” I laugh again, the sound hauntingly eerie.

  West reaches over and places a hand in mine. I don’t try to shove him away like I normally would, probably because I’m too distracted by the storm of anger grumbling inside me.

  “Sure, you did. That’s why you continued to encourage me to go for it with him. Why would you do that if you knew my heart was just going to get broken?”

  She’s crying so hard now, snot running down her face. “I’m so sorry. I thought, if I kept pretending like nothing was happening between Blaine and I, you wouldn’t find out.” She sobs. “But things got so out of hand … and Blaine, he kept saying we should tell you so this wouldn’t happen. But I was so scared.”

  I curl my hands into fists, nearly squeezing the life out of West’s hand. He doesn’t so much as flinch.

  “You told Blaine I like him?” She’s lucky I’m not kicking her ass yet, but I’m getting close.

  Her bottom lip starts to quiver. “I’m sorry. It just sort of slipped out. He was flirting with me, and I said I couldn’t date him. He kept pushing me, asking why, and I let it slip.” She rushes toward the passenger side of the car and grips the door. “Please, don’t let this ruin our friendship. I know we can get past this.” Her gaze flicks to West, and then back to me. “Just come someplace with me. Someplace where we can talk. Just you and me. I know we can fix this, Alexis. Please, please, please.” She’s babbling hysterically.

  Maybe if she’d just hooked up with him once, I could’ve gotten past this. But I can’t forgive how she told Blaine I liked him and how she continually pushed me to go for it with him when she knew I could never have him. How she’s been lying to me.

  I look at West. “Just go before I get out and kick her ass.”

  West nods and reaches for the shifter while Masie lets out a heart-wrenching sob.

  “Alexis, no, no, no,” she babbles, trying to open my door. “We can’t just let this go. We need to fix this. You’re my best friend!”

  I shake my head, lock the door, and start to roll up the window. “No, we’re not. In fact, I’m not sure we ever were.” The words cut against my lips, because they carry so much truth.

  I may have thought Masie and I were best friends, but that was a lie. Best friends don’t do what she did to me. And the friendship we once had will never be the same.

  Not ever again.

  Alexis

  After West drives away, leaving Masie in another cloud of dust and a sea of self-pitying tears, I remain quiet for a long time. So long that I’m sure I start to freak him out. But I can’t find any words to follow what just happened. I mean, what are you supposed to say after your best friend begged for your forgiveness in the middle of the street after admitting she stabbed you in the back and in the heart?

  “Oh, my God, feelings suck,” I mutter.

  West abruptly chuckles.

  When I shoot him a confused look, he holds up a hand in front of him.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh at you.” He bites on his lip to keep from smiling. “It’s just that … I think that same thing all the time.”

  “That feelings suck?”

  “Yep.”

  “Oh… Is that why you haven’t ever been in a real relationship? Or is that because of your parents?” I shake my head and look away. “You know what? Forget I said that. It’s none of my damn business.”

  “No, it’s fine,” he promises, not sounding offended. “And the answer is neither.”

  I flit a glance in his direction. “Really?”

  He nods, amusement sparkling in his eyes. “Yes, really.”

  Confusion does the disco inside my brain. “Why do you seem so smiley about that?”

  “No reason.” He winks. “Besides, you should know by now that I’m a smiley sort of guy.”

  I snort a laugh. “Sure, you are.”

  He presses his hand to his chest. “How you wound me so, Alexis.”

  I roll my eyes. “Easy, wannabe Shakespeare.”

  He chuckles. “You know, normal girls like that romantic shit.”

  “Well, I’m not a normal girl.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  The way he says it makes me feel strangely proud. And the way he looks at me causes tingles to nip at my neck where he sucked. I’m not sure I like how great he’s making me feel at the moment.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask.

  “Like what?” He keeps looking at me the same way.

  I eye him over. “I don’t know … like you’re a sugar junkie, and I’m a candy bar you’re about to devour.”

  He sinks his teeth into his lip and turns away, staring at the road, gripping the wheel so tightly his knuckles turn white. “You have no idea,” he mutters. “No damn idea.”

  “Okay, what the freakin’ troll babies is that supposed to mean?”

  Instead of answering, he gives me another look. A look that I’m pretty sure a guy has never given me before and part of me likes it. I tr
y to tell myself that I’m all amped up over what happened between Masie and me, but I don’t think that’s the real reason. Is it because I’m hurting and seeking a distraction from the pain?

  Yeah, that’s got to be it. My walls have come down, and I’m feeling too much. I need to put them back up so I don’t have to deal with reality. And the reality is that I thought I was in love with a guy who will never love me back. And for weeks he’s known I’ve been in love with him and has been hiding the fact that he’s been hooking up with Masie. My two best friends have been lying to me.

  At least I have West right now. He’s always honest. Too honest most of the time. Still, I’ve never had to guess anything with him. He’s always been pretty straightforward, and he really saved my ass when all this shit hit the fan. In fact, he’s been kind of sweet.

  “Okay, now why are you looking at me like that?” he asks, releasing his lip from his teeth.

  “I’m not,” I lie, tearing my attention off him. Then I hastily change the subject, not ready to confess exactly where my thoughts were. “So, where are we going?”

  It takes him a moment to say anything, his gaze practically boring a hole into the side of my head.

  “I’ll let you off the hook for now. Next time you look at me like that, though, I’m going to get the truth out of you.” His tone turns devious. “No matter what it takes.”

  “Oh no, not the ‘no matter what it takes’ threat,” I mock in an attempt to sidetrack us away from whatever the hell this hungry, belly full of jelly beans thing going on between us is.

  It grows quiet between us again, a small smile remaining on West’s face as he drives down the road.

  “And we’re going to Masie’s?” West asks suddenly as he glances at his phone.

  “No. Don’t take me back there. I’m worried if I see her again, I’ll kick her ass. And I can’t get arrested again.”

  “Again, huh?” he teases, glancing at me. “What’s your number up to now?”

  “I don’t know … like, five?”

  “You’re lucky your sister has a cop for a friend.”

  “Yeah, probably.”

  He grins, and the corners of my lips quirk up into an almost smile, yet I don’t quite make it there.

  He sighs. “I think we need to go to Masie’s so we can look at your car and see if we need to pick up any parts.”

  I guess he’s right, but still…

  “Do we have to do that tonight?” I ask. “I’d kind of like a break from her, at least for the rest of the day.”

  “Okay… But eventually you’re going to have to get it over with.”

  “I know but… I’d rather not tonight. Can we like do it tomorrow?”

  He hesitates. “Sure.”

  He seems so squirrely suddenly…

  “What aren’t you telling me?” I ask.

  “Nothing,” he says with a shrug.

  “West, just tell me,” I gripe. “You’ve always been honest with me, even when the truth hurts.”

  “That’s not completely true,” he reminds me. “Remember that one time when I saw your cat get ran over and I didn’t tell you for a week because I knew you’d get upset?”

  “Oh yeah, I forgot about that.” I drum my fingers on top of my knee. “I actually thought that was kind of sweet.”

  He crooks a brow. “Really? Because, at the time, you seemed pissed off.”

  I sigh. “Yeah, I know. And I’m sorry I was. I just get that way sometimes. Besides, I think part of why I reacted that way is because there’s always sort of been this challenge thing going on between us.”

  “What do you mean?” he asks too innocently.

  “I think you know what I mean.”

  “Okay, maybe I do.”

  “Then, why pretend you didn’t?”

  He shrugs then sighs. “Because I don’t want it to exist anymore.” He shrugs again, seeming lost and confused and kind of vulnerable. “When I first met you, it was pretty clear you weren’t a fan of me, so I played it off by teasing you.”

  “It’s not that I didn’t not like you. You just know how to push my buttons.”

  His brow curves upward in skepticism. “Really? Because sometimes it seems like you hate me.”

  I cross my arms, feeling vulnerable, and I don’t like it at all. “I know we tease each other and everything, but I’ve never thought: hey, I hate West. In fact, I’ve always thought you were kind of funny, even when I’m the butt of your jokes.”

  “You’ve never been the butt of my jokes. And I’m sorry if I made you feel that way.” He nibbles on his lip, appearing undecided about something. I can tell the moment he arrives at the decision, because he smirks. “I’ve always thought of our little bantering as flirting.”

  I snort a laugh. “Ha, yeah right.”

  He just gives me a look. “Deep down, I know you think the same thing.”

  I roll my eyes. “I so do not.”

  He smirks. “Sure, you don’t.”

  “West, I do not and stop saying that.”

  “What? Stop saying the truth? That just seems silly.” A wicked glint flickers in his eyes. “Besides, back at the park, I could tell you liked me biting your neck.”

  “No, I didn’t.” The way my neck tingles in the most wonderful way ever suggests otherwise. “Dude, you’re so about to get your ass kicked.”

  He grins. “Aw, please don’t tease me.”

  I glare at him, but my lips threaten to turn upward. “I’m not joking.”

  “Whatever you say.” His smug smile makes my lip twitch.

  “The neck biting thing was the most unpleasant experience I’ve ever had,” I argue. “And I’m going to show you.” I lean over, put my mouth beside his neck, part my lips, and sink my teeth into him. I don’t bite hard enough to draw blood, but he’s definitely going to have some teeth marks on his skin.

  After a little bit of sucking, I move back and smirk at him. “See? Told you it doesn’t turn me on.”

  He doesn’t respond, just pulls the car over and turns off the engine.

  “What’re you…” I trail off as he leans over and puts his mouth is on my neck, his teeth gently grazing my skin as he sucks and nips and bites.

  A groan escapes me, my insides feeling shaky and I just about lean into him, But then reality douses over me. This is West. West my frenemy. The guy I argue with all the time.

  Taking a deep breath, I lean away from him.

  West whispers something incoherent before he pulls away with his lips pressed together.

  “Sorry,” he mumbles, seeming very unsure of himself and very unlike the West I know.

  I let out a shaky exhale. “It’s fine. I just… I’m so confused… I just don’t understand why you did that. I mean, it’s not like you’re attracted to me.”

  A strange look crosses his face. “Lex, you do realize me and almost every guy that goes to our school thinks you’re hot.

  I have no damn clue what to say to any of this. Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be in this situation. Then again, up until today, I never would’ve thought Masie and Blaine would hook up and stab me in the back.

  “What are you thinking about?” West asks, his voice soft and slightly unsure—completely unlike West. “You’re not upset, are you?” When I don’t answer right away, he curses. “I knew I shouldn’t have done that. Not when you’re hurting.”

  I part my lips to tell him that’s not what’s wrong—spill lies into the air—when his phone starts ringing, cutting me off.

  He frowns when he catches sight of the screen, then answers with a grumbled, “Hello?” He doesn’t say much, his eyes fixed on me. “Yeah … No, she’s here with me.” He gives a short pause. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want to talk to you, man.” Another pause. “Yeah, I can’t tell you where we are either.” He grows quiet and then shaking his head, snaps, “Look, if she wants to talk to you, she’ll call you, okay? I got to go.” Then he hangs up.

  The reality of
the day sweeps over me again and pain starts to slip through my wall again. “Let me guess, that was Blaine?”

  He nods, uneasiness flooding his expression. “He wanted to talk to you.”

  “Oh.” I press my lips together, unsure what to say or how I feel.

  The idea of talking to Blaise ever again makes me want to break something, but deep down, I know eventually I’m going to have to talk to him, even if I don’t want it to. Honeyton is a really small town. Plus, we go to school together.

  “I figured you wouldn’t want to talk to him, but…” West searches my eyes and a crinkle forms between his brows. “Maybe I’m wrong?” His lips sink into a tense frown. “If you do, you can call him. I’m sure he’d love that.” A drop of bitterness creeps into his tone and he quickly clears his throat.

  “Are you okay?” I ask, eyeing him over.

  He dismisses me. “I’m always okay.”

  “West,” I start, but he drives forward. “Where are we going?”

  “I’m taking you home,” he says. “Then tomorrow, if you still want to, I’ll pick you up and help you fix your car.”

  “Okay, that sounds good.” I try to think of something else to say, but fail.

  West remains strangely quiet too, and I internally sigh, wishing the whole neck, kissing thing had never happened. Although, he still never did explain to me why he did it to begin with.

  But I refuse to overthink this, and do what I do best to remain chill the rest of the drive home. Let that wall rebuild around me. I vowed a long time ago that I’d never let that wall come down, and I refuse to break that vow again. Because I let it down with Blaise and clearly that was a mistake.

  I refuse to let my heart be vulnerable ever again.

  Ten minutes later, West is pulling into the driveway of my house. I unbuckle my seatbelt and climb out without uttering a word.

  “Lex,” West calls out as I’m about to shut the door.

  I pause then lower my head and glance into the cab of the car. “Yeah?”

  Rubbing his lips together, he rests his arm on the console. “Can we… Can we just forget that neck kissing thing happened?”