I snorted and began howling with laughter. I clutched the sides of my stomach, trying to regain composure, but failing.

Weston chuckled, amusement lining his voice. “What? What’s so funny?”

I snorted again. “Your favorite animal is a dolphin?”

“What’s so wrong with that?” He asked curiously and obviously, he was offended.

I stuck out my chest and lowered the pitch in my voice in a failed attempt to sound manly. “Oh, look, I’m Weston! Macho, manly, and not to mention, I love dolphins!”

I started laughing again, snorting even. I hated my laugh, but I couldn’t help it. Playing twenty questions was actually a blast. I found out Weston liked bacon, his favorite fruits were tangerines, his favorite color was green, and he hated Chuck E. Cheese, claiming that it was an ugly rat and a stupid idea for a mascot in a kid’s place.

He found out that teal was my favorite color, I hated snakes and metal music, bees are annoying and that I had an obsession with lemonade. He also found out I loved charm bracelets.

I all honesty, being with Weston wasn’t so bad. He was actually good company when he wasn’t being conceited.

“So, you’re finally admitting the truth. That I’m macho and manly,” he stated proudly, flexing his biceps. Well, the moment was good until it lasted.

I rolled my eyes and laughed again, hugging my jacket closer to me.  

“You want to know something?” Weston said. He gave me a sideways glance. I looked at him curiously with a small smile on my face.

“What?”

“You look a whole lot better when you’re not scowling.”

I smirked, not being afraid to hide my blush. “So, you’re finally admitting I look good?”

“Never said you weren’t.” Weston glanced at me again, throwing me a wink. “Can I ask you something?”

“You already did,” I smirked and poked my tongue out at him.

“No, seriously,” He scrunched up his eyebrows. “I – how would you put this – met up with your dad weeks ago and he told me some things.”

Anger surged through me when I heard about my dad. He wasn’t even my dad anymore. He was just a father. He was just someone who brought me to the world, who didn’t even deserve the title Dad. “What did he tell you?” I said, evidently annoyed. I looked at the fire, trying to find something to distract me.

“Look,” Weston sighed. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. I’m sorry.”

I groaned. “No, it isn’t your fault. It’s just that my dad is a total douche bag. I’m serious, though. What did he tell you?”

“Well,” he said slowly, looking at me to make sure it was okay with me. “I bumped into him and he was drunk. He asked if I knew you. Told me he had to let you go because his bitchy wife was worth it. Also, he told me that a boy friend of yours left you for your best friend.” My face fell when all the memories came crashing down on me. “You want to know what I think?”

“What?” My voice came out in a whisper as I stared at a rock on the ground.

“They don’t realize what they’re missing.” I looked at him and saw that he was watching me intently. Everything about that statement came across clear and filled with sincerity. I gave him a small smile.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

“I punched him, your dad, by the way.”

I laughed a little and looked up at him. “Seriously?”

 His eyes twinkled again. “Yeah.” He looked off into the stars sprinkling the sky, turning the stick slowly so the marshmallow will roast evenly. “I could relate.”

Shocked coursed through me and I looked at him. “What?” I gasped.

Weston shoulders sagged. This was the first time I’ve seen him so vulnerable. His eyes shone with unshed tears. His voice quivered when he talked, his voice also bitter. “My dad, he cheated on my mom.”

Weston shook and I could tell he had a hard time admitting it. I put a hand on his shoulder comfortingly, while he continued. “Once upon a time, my father was on a honeymoon with my mom where he found a woman half his age that was supposedly hot and sexy,” Weston spat. “Since then and for four years, he had an affair with that woman and my mom didn’t even know. It was shortly after me and Jade’s sixth birthday and that’s when my father told my mom he will be having another baby with another woman. My mom broke down but cried even harder because she had news too.”

He started to cry, while I held his hand in comfort, scooting closer to him. I couldn’t believe I was hearing this. Let alone, from Weston. “Turns out, she was diagnosed with cancer. She died six years ago on my eleventh birthday,” his voice cracked. I started feeling hot tears roll down my own cheek. “I believe that was probably the worst birthday anyone could ever have. After her death, all my father wanted was for us to be what he wanted us to be. I don’t even know who I am anymore.” I was shocked to hear that our father’s had so much in common.

“Weston, you’re you. Don’t let anyone change that,” I whispered to him since he was close to me. Then, I allowed a small smile to play on my lips. “To be honest, I find that your arrogant smirk and annoying ways are some things I wouldn’t want you to change.”

He turned his head and looked at me while a small smile crept its way onto his lip. His hand came up to my face and his calloused thumb rubbed away my tears. He also rubbed away the crease forming in between my eyebrows as I scrunched it up in anger. “You shouldn’t do that. It makes you get wrinkles faster,” he said.

I giggled, but stop short noticing the close proximity. I could smell him – his amazing woodsy, subtle sweet smell that always made my mouth water. The warmth from his body radiated onto mine and his fingers were still entwined with my own. The other was still caressing my cheek. I watched as his blue eyes darted from my eyes to my lips and back to my eyes again. I couldn’t help but look at his lips either. It was so full and inviting, with a scar slightly marked on his bottom lip. He gulped as I quickly licked my lips. He looked into my eyes again. “I know this might sound cheesy. But you want to know why my favorite color is green?” I waited for him to answer. “Your eyes gave me a reason to.”

I felt the heat rushing to my cheeks and I felt myself leaning in closer to him. He too, was leaning in. My heart started echoing in my ears and it felt like it was going to explode soon. Every problem I had seemed to fade and here sat the golden boy who helped me forget about it.  His lips were just a hairs breath away from mine now and I couldn’t help but gulp in nervousness. Just mere seconds, I would have those lips for my own.

That’s when I heard the piercing, high pitched shriek coming from inside the house, causing me to jump apart from Weston. I scrambled to my feet.

He blinked a couple of times and I giggled nervously. “Jade is a really loud screamer.”

Weston avoided eye contact and rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling nervously too. “That was Jet.”

I would’ve died of laughter by now, but it was kind of an awkward moment. I was so close to kissing those lips! So darn close! Those full and amazing -

No! Don’t think like that, I scolded myself.

 I backed away slowly, pretending to look at a nonexistent watch on my wrist. “Oh, look at the time! It’s getting late! Tell Jade I said congrats! Bye!”

“Yeah, shoot,” Weston muttered, trying to find distraction with the stick in his hands. He still avoided eye contact while I again, laughed nervously. 

I quickly got in my car and made my way home, trying to ignore the rapid rhythm of my heart.

****

Rushing into my room after getting back, I locked the door, hoping Darren would shut up about my meeting with my ‘boy friend’. That thought just made me even redder, if possible. I leaned against the white door and clutched my heart – which was still on overdrive, replaying the night I spent with Weston.

I felt like my heart was going to explode soon. What is this feeling? I wasn’t supposed to feel this way. I promised myself that!

“Wow, Darren wasn’t lying when he said you had a boy friend,” a velvet voice sang out. I popped my eyes open and saw my mom walking out of my closet, holding my dress, and laying it on my bed. I shook my head and even pinched myself, but sure enough, my mom was really there.

I ran up to her and bear hugged her, feeling the huge grin spreading on my face. “Mom!” I gasped. “When did you get back? What the hell are you doing here?”

I felt comfort and I closed my eyes as I felt her small hands pat my back. “Oh-“ She said between choking and laughter. “H-honey, if you don’t choke me to death, I’ll be alive to tell you!”

I laughed and backed away. Her eyes shone with happiness as her lips stretched into a smile. “I came back when you were with your man,” she winked. I almost groaned, but held it in. “I’m here to help with Darren and Kelly’s wedding, duh.” She gave me that ‘are-you-stupid look’, which I laughed at.

“We’re going out tomorrow to purchase some fabric for the wedding dresses, lunch so I could formally get to know Kelly, and going out to shop for wedding stuff. Invite your boy friend. I want to meet him too,” she continued.

I looked at her in horror. “But mom, I have no boy friend.”

“No buts missy! It’s either invite him or I go undercover and stalk your every move just to get to know him. Stop lying about having no boy friend. It’s evident that you do. I know you. You’re my daughter. I won’t get mad. You’re inviting him and that’s final.”

Fudge balls. This is so not good.