Double Date

Chapter 9

Terrence

I didn't know how to react to Dakota's poking. I'd be minding my own business when the guy would jab his finger into my back or side and whisper crush, into my ear.

Did I have a crush? Is that what it was? It somehow felt a little more than that but I really couldn't say. Keegan was my best friend, practically the only person who really knew me and that alone made me feel as though I was called out, that I was forced to face what it was that I felt.

As we talked to Trevor, Keegan and his parents. I found myself looking for Dakota. He was laughing and smiling and engaging. He looked breathtaking. The longer I looked at him, the more flustered I felt.

Was I crushing? Was it that simple? Why did it somehow feel like an incomplete version of my true feelings.

He would meet my dad the next day because the man wasn't around, he had a life apperently and for me to just drop by without prior notice meant he'd make me wait for him. The thought of them seeing one another, being introduced. It felt overwhelming and yet I was also excited about it.

"You keep drooling over him instead of grabbing him." I glared at Keegan in the kitchen as I fixed us drinks.

"You need to mind your business."

"You need to stop lying to yourself." He popes a cherry into his mouth before twirling and going back to the family. Dakota found me moments later, beaming as he leaned onto the counter.

"Need a hand?"

"Sadly, I'm already done." I grinned and handed him the drink I made. He took a sip and moaned, my grin faultered at the sound.

"These are good." He took another long sip. "Wow! You're like a bartender." I chuckled.

"I worked as one through college to save my dad the trouble of having to worry about feeding me." I shrugged. "Picked up a few things."

"A jack of all trades you are." He wiggled his nose at me and I laughed before he helped me take the drinks into the living room where everyone was.

As it became nighttime, we played charades. I groaned because I'd never once won at these games. We were in teams of two of course.

I was surprised as we played how well I was able to guess Dakota's actions and drawings. It was as though we were in synch.

We got so into it that every time we won that we developed an impromptu chant. Rubbing it in the faces of the losers until finally we came first place and Keegan's parents came in second. It was a very good night.

Eventually we were seated for dinner, having ordered pizza because we were all exhausted and Keegan's parents refused to cook for four grown men especially after games the whole day.

We sat and watched a movie then, Trevor and Keegan being extra public with heir affections which in turn lead to Keegan's parents running off to their room because hormonal adults weren't a sight they signed up for which made Trevor nervous about how they thought about him even though it was really just their excuse to sleep or do what parents do.

Dakota was sitting beside me, at some point he began to doze off. I realised I was the only one who slept in the car so I let him fall on me and sleep. He was so soundless and adorable. His lashes long and framing his cheeks. He looked so peaceful.