Page 39 of First Kiss with a Mothman

“Oh?”

I tap my cup and continue, “It feels so right when we hook up, but he’d rather me make out with random dudes to play the field.”

“And you don’t want to.”

“Not really.” I rub my head, and my heart hurts.

“Sorry, bro.” We take a moment to sip our drinks. “So, Mort told you he doesn’t want to date you?”

“He claims he has his own issues.”

“And he wants you to try dating other guys.”

“At least kissing them.”

“Huh.” Seth sounds like he has a plan, and hope blossoms in my soul. “You know…”

“What?”

“Why don’t you actually try kissing other boys?”

I snigger. “As soon as you find one that does no-strings-attached and wants to be my friend, let me know.”

“Why not me?” Seth asks, and I almost spit out my drink.

“S-s-seriously?” I stammer.

“Sure. It’s just one kiss. I don’t do strings. And that way you can tell Mort that you tried something else.”

I purse my lips and think about it. “Can I think it over?”

“You might want to decide on kissing me now.” I can hear the grin in Seth’s voice, and his implication strikes me like lightning.

Leaning forward, I whisper, “Is Mort here?”

“Exactly,” Seth replies in a low tone. “Maybe you ought to light a fire under that mothman. Get him to stop being so emotionally constipated and admit he wants you.”

I laugh softly. “That’s really manipulative.”

“He did say he wanted you to kiss other guys, right?”

“Right.” I ponder his words and listen to the environment around me. After a moment, I lock onto Mort’s faint buzzing, several yards away. “Is he looking at us?” I ask quietly.

“That moth is glaring at us so hard, I might shrivel up into dust,” he murmurs. “The man reeks of jealousy.”

I grin. Manipulation is kind of rude. But on the other hand, Mort told me to play the field and kiss other guys. And Seth volunteered. He’s one of my only friends here at college, and he’s ready, willing, and able.

But most of all, the thought of Mort being possessive and jealous over me is so freaking hot. He can’t be mad at me for doing exactly what he told me to do, and that is trying affection with another boy.

“You sure you don’t mind?” I ask.

“Now or never. This mummy doesn’t do attachments. And that way you know you tried other guys on for size. So, what do you say?”

I shrug and take Seth’s face in my hand. He’s soft, with stubble, almost uncomfortably so. I miss the fuzz of Mort.

But Mort wants me to try this. So try I shall. I nod, and in a moment, Seth crashes his mouth onto mine.

Chapter