𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 |𝟏𝟖+|

26

Etta Valentine's POV

A phone chimed before Miguel started yelling.

"Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!"

Leaping from the couch and sprinting my way, not giving me any time to register before he crouched, Miguel wrapped his arms around my legs and lifted me into the air before spinning me around.

Through my laughter and cramps, I managed to ask the obvious question. "Did she say yes?"

Miguel beamed up at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hell yeah, she said yes!"

He squeezed me before gently setting me back on the floor again.

"Awe, I'm so happy for them." I pulled Miguel into a hug, feeling like he needed it right now. The guy had tears in his eyes, clearly over the moon for his best friends.

He hugged me back immediately, covering up a sniffle with a cough. And that just won't do.

I took his face in my hands before he could pull away. "Don't hide from me Migs."

His eyes softened beyond comprehension. "But I'm crying like a pussy."

I rolled my eyes but smiled nonetheless. "No, you're being human. And you're being a good friend who's getting emotional over something amazing. Of course you're gonna tear up."

My own eyes watered and he decided to point it out. "Your eyes are leaking too."

Chuckling, I released his face and went to blot my tears before they could ruin my makeup. "I'm just happy for your friends. And I'm happy you're happy, so much so, your happiness is what made my eyes leak."

"I'll help you fix your eye plumbing if you help me fix mine?" Laughing at his ridiculous analogy, I went to grab a drink but stopped the moment Miguel whirled me back into him.

The look in his eyes told me he was real proud of whatever nonsense he was about to say.

But instead of bracing myself for impact, I surprised him and beat him to the punchline. "Let me guess, you're about to ask me if I want to see your giant of a pipe?"

Miguel's mouth dropped open. "How'd you know I was gonna say that?"

I dropped my head to his chest in feigned exhaustion. "I just...know you I guess."

Miguel wrapped his arms around my waist before nuzzling his face into the bent crook of my neck. His nose rubbed against my skin, setting goosebumps aflame with the movement.

"I know I probably shouldn't tell you this. But hearing you say that turns me on."

I was grateful for my previous action of hiding my face in his chest because my face was heated to the max.

Don't look down, I mentally chanted. But- Oops. I looked down. I repeat. I looked down-

"Did I overstep?" Was his next hoarse whisper and boy oh boy did I need him to keep with that tone of voice. "Etta?"

Oh right, I hadn't responded. Because his thing was currently taking up my line of sight.

"No." Now I tried to say it casually, but the damn word came out as a squeak.