Jack and I exited the car, making our way to Maxine's door. I could tell the small party already started from the amount of cars present on the little parking lot in front of her house, and I felt kinda bad that I haven't been here first, like I probably should have. I mean, she's my best best friend.

Unfortunately I had a meeting that suddenly came up earlier in the day, and I just couldn't say no. It's a secret I'm keeping, but I want to write a book and let it go out in the world, and the person I was meeting with was the publisher. We talked for over an hour about the details, and I am soon to be signing a contract. I am so happy and excited and not able to brush off that shit-eating grin from my face.

Nothing changed since teenage me decided she wants to be a writer, except the fact that things had gone a little sideways, though it's good to be chasing again the first dream I ever had.

I still had to tell Johnny and everyone else, but I'm not sure if I wanna do it on the party. I mean, it's Maxine's birthday and I don't want to steal it away.

I noticed Johnny's car was here, too, and you know that weird feeling when you see or think about something and it just switches on the endorphins in your brain? It feels like your soul

or even heart is happy and relieved because of the fact.

I had it when I realized I'm about to see Johnny.

He makes me so happy it's insane, and knowing that I'll see him after two busy days where we both had something to do and couldn't hang out with each other was just- indescribable.

I opened the door without ringing - it's basically my second home so I always just go in like it's my own - and was immediately met with the sounds of chatting coming from the living room.

I just took off my shoes when suddenly my heart jumped, seeing how aware-of-nothing Johnny left the saloon with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. He probably was on his way to the little porch outside, near the front door, to smoke it.

"Without me?"

I asked and watched him raise his head as he looked earlier at his hands trying to find any lighter in his pocket, and his face told me nothing other than surprise. Then he looked glad. Relieved maybe.

He approached me and did the hottest thing there is to do. He cupped both of my cheeks and tilted up my head so he could kiss me, but the kiss was just- Ugh, I had to ignore that fire in my lower belly which suddenly blew up.

He kissed me somewhat deeply, making my eyes flutter close and a horrible blush spread across my face.

God, he knows how to kiss a girl.

Jack politely removed himself from the situation somewhere in the middle, leaving us alone. I knew there were people here that I've never met, and I was a little bit scared someone could walk on on us, but as much as I was anxious, Johnny could let it disappear with yet another kiss placed on my lips.

We eventually went to where everyone was and I greeted them, including the gals I didn't know, but I guessed they were Maxine's friends that she told me so much about.

Maxine herself smirked smugly, noticing how Johnny's hand rested on my lower back as we entered the room.

Nobody else seemed to pay much attention to that fact. Good.

It was quite a pleasant atmosphere as we all talked and laughed, and I found myself in a group full of really cool and funny people. I wasn't surprised, though, I knew Maxine wasn't hanging out, let alone inviting to her birthday party, just random personages.

We sang her happy birthday even though she told me multiple times she hates it because it's always awkward, then she blew the candles and everyone wished her a happy birthday once again. I hope she likes the wine I gave her as a present, since it's also partly from Johnny, and it's quite impressive because the wine we gave her and just his wines in general reach even 1961. Maxine loves wine as much as Johnny does, unlike me.

As we sat next to each other on the couch, Johnny would sometimes place a hand on my knee or my thigh, but then take it away as quickly, leaving me drowning in disappointment. I knew why he did it, though, and he was right. No one can know. But I can't deny the fact that it was getting a little tiring.

After solid few hours and few drinks, we decided to bring the party somewhere else, and Johnny said he knows just the place where a pretty nice band plays tonight. Everyone had nothing against it, as far as they've got vodka there.

I didn't really plan on getting drunk, partly because I still had bad memories from when I drank not to have fun but to numb myself, and partly because I knew Johnny will come over later and I wanted to fall asleep in his arms sober, and definitely not blacked out from tremendous amounts of alcohol.

Ookay, there might be another reason. So, you remember when I told you how he kissed me? The fire in my lower belly that then blew up still didn't stop, and he only made me want more ever since. It's kinda like the other day backstage, when Alice interrupted us and then we told our friends that we're dating. I recall that I had a feeling something will go down, that we'll allow ourselves to go far more than normally, and today I had the same one.

Or maybe it was just that I wanted it to go down?

I had to mentally slap myself few times to stop purely staring at him and imagining scenarios that I wouldn't dare to admit to, and when he'd touch my knee or something, my whole trait of thinking was just gone. It was sometimes ridiculous how sensitive I was to his touch.

He, on the other hand, didn't do any better. When we walked to the cars to go to the club, he'd sneak his arm around my waist, but when he was sure nobody could see, his hand slid down, resting right on my ass. It was so strangely hot and tension-creating that I could barely think straight.

Hardly after half an hour we made it to the club. Everyone was already laughing at all the bad jokes Johnny had to offer, so I knew this evening will be nothing except great. I mostly liked spending time alone, but when I had any opportunity to spend an evening with some actually cool people, then I'd rather go out. It's like I'm an introvert but occasionally my extrovert side is peeking out.

The band my boyfriend (oh my god, it's so weird to say it) said is pretty nice, indeed was pretty nice. They played some total bangers, and you couldn't help but have fun. I even ended up drinking two shots tonight - but nothing more. Johnny and I danced to one song, surprisingly, but I guess it was just the heat of the moment.

Maxine, who actually got drunk, told me later how much fun she had and that was probably the best birthday she had. I wondered how I'll spend my 28th one, which was in something like 3 months already. Damn, the time is like sand slipping through my fingers.

Around 1 in the morning, we decided we can call it a night, and everyone started heading home. We preferred exiting through the back door, just in case paparazzi wanted to take pictures of cheek-flushed, drunk and hysterically laughing group of people.

Johnny suddenly stated he has to go to the bathroom before we go, and asked me and Maxine to wait for him. So we did. We sat on some stairs nearby as the club music sounded muffled.

"Ohh, god. I love your relationship. It's like you are made for each otherr," she said and lightly punched my arm. I chuckled. "The way he looked at you tonight. I mean- of course he looks at you like that ever since I can remember, but.."

I smiled, "How did he look at me today?"

She glanced up dreamily. "Like you were his goddess. And his eyes were hooked on your thighs. It's like he was in heaven just from looking."

I giggled. Today was super hot, so I decided on wearing a short tennis skirt, a little shorter than it should be, so when I sat down it showed a lot of my bare thighs. But you can't blame me - it was boiling hot and I didn't wanna be a sweating mess. But I'm not saying it's the only reason.

As we were already outside, I pulled Johnny aside, thinking this might be the right moment to tell him about my book. Excitement vibrated in my stomach when we waited for everyone to get past us, to the cars, so we could have some privacy. Finally, when I looked around and there wasn't really anyone near us, I decided to start.

"Johnny, I have to tell you something."

He brought me closer by my waist, snuggling his head in the crook of my neck. I put my arms around his neck, grinning.

"What is it?" he asked.

I took a breath and was about to say the news, when suddenly the breath got stuck in my throat. Johnny started trailing kisses from my neck up to my jaw, leaving me speechless.

I doubted it was because of the alcohol, because even though he drank a little more than I did, he still had a way higher tolerance than I could ever. I think he also was is in this weird mood, seeing how his eyes glistened with lust.

It's not like I'm complaining. Not at all.

"What is it, baby?" he asked again, now stopping the kissing for a moment.

I smiled, "I can't tell you if you keep doing this."

"Doing what?"

He kissed my cheek, then his lips wandered to behind my ear, and then lower, until butterflies in my stomach took over and for a while I forgot what I even wanted to say. I couldn't just stop him to share the news, he was irresistible. My knees were always becoming weak from the way he kissed me.

I cupped his face and brought him up, just so his lips were on the same height as mine. My eyes were already half-closed from how tingly I felt, and I grinned, kissing him. It started off slow as my fingers tangled in his hair, but before I knew, our tongues fought for dominance and it started getting messy.

I had the urge to squeak embarrassingly as his beard tickled my skin every time we kissed, seriously.

And I had the urge to scream when I felt his fingers playing on my thigh, but nothing compares to when I noticed his hand was going up. Up, up.. until it disappeared under my skirt. I know, like- oh my god.

I grinned into the kiss and tugged at his hair as I felt him squeeze my butt. It was something he never did but it felt so good, along with his other hand that went under my shirt to play with the bra fastener.

"Slow down," I giggled, pulling away for a second. "We have to get going. They're probably waiting for us."

He groaned, panting softly from the past make out session. I bit my lip to stop the wide smile spreading across my lips, just because of the fact that Johnny is the hottest man I've ever laid my eyes on.

"To who's place are we going?" I asked.

"Who's is closer?"

I thought for a second, "Mine."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

mhmhmhm🫢🫢

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