Page 186 of Last First Kiss

But with Jamie, he was…

Just a man watching the moon in the back of a Jeep, nacho crumbs on his shirt. A guy sitting in bed talking about his childhood nightmares. Sharing a slice of late-night pie. A boy learning to kiss. A man giving his first blow job.

He was vulnerable, himself. All because of Jamie.

“I didn’t find a label that feels good to me for you,” he admits.

Jamie’s eyes are an impossible range of colors as he stares into them.

“I did it for me,” Jordan whispers.

The left side of Jamie’s mouth climbs higher. “Good.”

“I’m learning that identity is funny and strange and, sometimes, confusing,” Jordan says in that same soft voice. “Sometimes, you know when you’re young. Sometimes, it happens later. Sometimes, never. But it’s okay to take your time.”

Jamie’s grin widens. “It definitely is.”

“I wanted to tell you because—” He curls his arms around Jamie’s back. Spreads his fingers over his knobby spine. “Because I knew it’d feel good to.”

He breathes in. Amber and oak andJamie.

“Because I love you,” Jordan says.

When Jamie’s other hand finds the back of his neck, something flutters in Jordan’s chest. A warm, steady presence. It spreads and grows until there’s no room left in Jordan’s body for fear. For uncertainty. For loneliness.

There’s only room for one thing:

“I love you so much, Jamie Noah Peters.”

Jamie’s eyes are damp. His cheeks bruised pink. But his grin never falters.

“I’ve loved you ever since you lost to me atMario Kart,” Jamie says, wet and choked and happy.

“You mean when you cheated?”

“I mean when you were high off your ass.”

“Which is how you cheated.”

“It’s not my fault that you—”

Jordan shuts him up by pressing a long, hungry, deep kiss to Jamie’s mouth.

It tastes like the salty waters of the Pacific. Sharp and sweet like strawberry lemonade popsicles. Soft and memorable like a first kiss.

When Jamie kisses him back, with tongue and longing and gentleness, it’s better than winning. Better than being the best at everything.

It’s like waking up from a bad dream and knowing you’re not alone. That someone’s right next to you. Without question or reason.

It’s all Jordan needs. To feel wanted and to want with that same energy. With purpose.

All he needs is Jamie Noah Peters in his arms.

In his life.

In his heart, always.

Epilogue?Enjoy the Reception