Page 192 of While You Were Trending

“Going up there? Yes. What we did and said? All improv.”

I swipe my eyes, then clear my throat, and he does me the favor of not commenting on it.

“So you play hockey, recreate yourself as a social media star, get your own TV show, are comfortable letting your brother put you in drag, sing like that,andyou’re funny?” I say.

He casually lifts a shoulder and gives me a smug smile. “Yeah. Basically.”

My stomach hurts from how much I laughed tonight.

My cheeks do too.

But I’m laughing all over again at this kind, big-hearted, patient, compassionate man who used to make me so insecure because of his own insecurities, but whoseesme.

He sees me in ways that my best friends see me.

He always has.

I lean forward on my stool, cup his cheeks, and press my lips to his, giggling all over again at the scent of makeup tickling my nose.

He laughs too as he softly kisses me back. “So this is funny?” he murmurs against my mouth.

I stroke his cheeks, trace his ear, and lift my eyes to him. “I’m just—I’m happy.”

“Good.”

“I like you.”

“Thank goddess,” Zander said. “Somebody eventually had to.”

I jolt. I’d forgotten he was here. And then I’m laughing all over again. “Stop being an asshole,” I tell him. “Your brother’s very likable.”

“I don’t get straight people,” Zander says to Lou. “I wouldneverforgive a man who was as big a dick to me as Declan was to Ginny.”

“Far more fun to write songs about them getting hit by a bus,” Lou agrees.

“And then go find the simp fish who want us for our fame instead.”

“Simp fish? I hear a song coming on.”

“Stop. You know I can’t write songs when I’m not wearing Fuchsia.”

“Clearly,” Declan says. “You never wrote songs before you had her.”

I smile at him again.

He smiles back at me.

My heart glows.

And with my panic receding, my body starts that low, humming tingle that I get whenever I see him at home.

When I know I’ll have him all to myself very, very soon.

I tackle the makeup on his face, leaning closer than I need to while I tell him all of my favorite parts of the show and he draws circles on my thighs with his thumbs, watching me.

“And you’re already trending,” Zander announces as I’m finishing removing Declan’s makeup.

Fear slivers through my midsection.