[12:13 AM] “How about we make a deal?” you asked Hendery.
“Are you sure you want to make a deal with me?” Your best friend smirked, the bonfire making the shadows dance on his face. Somehow, it made him look more mischievous.
The two of you were left alone in the beach after all your friends bid you goodnight. For college kids on a weekend getaway, you’d think they would want to stay up late a little longer, but everyone wants to take every opportunity they can to sleep.
“Why shouldn’t I?” you asked. You couldn’t sleep. Something about tonight just makes you feel lonely. The romantic feeling of being under the stars at midnight, in front of a bonfire facing the beach, but having no significant other to share it with is a bit too much for your weak, intoxicated heart.
“Well, for starters, you’ve had a little too much to drink,” Hendery said, snatching the bottle of wine from your hands. “And as your best friend, I’m politely informing you that if you do something embarrassing tonight, I won’t ever let you forget about it in the morning or for the rest of your life.”
You just laughed, pulling him by his shirt until his ear was next to your lips. “Hendery, I’ll be alone forever.”
“Y/N.” He sighed. “You won’t.”
“No, I won’t. You know why?” You grinned. You could feel your self-control slowly slipping away from you but you couldn’t bring yourself to care. You were lonely, and he was there. “Because this is my deal: if we’re both single by the time we reach 30, we should just marry each other.”
Hendery laughed but his eyebrows furrowed with worry. “That’s not a deal. You’re the only one who benefits from it. What do I get?”
“Me,” you answered.
Your answer was simple and obvious. But the way you said it somehow tugged on his heartstrings in a way he didn’t quite expect. For some reason, it made his heart skip a beat. “You,” he said, his voice smaller than it was a few moments ago.
You nodded, moving closer to him. All the alcohol in your system is probably taking control at this point. You were so close that he could feel your breath against the tip of his nose and then on the skin on his forehead as you moved up.
“I’ll take care of you. I’ll kiss you when you wake up,” you said, placing a small peck between his eyebrows.
“I’ll kiss you before you go to bed.” Another peck on the tip of his nose.
“I’ll kiss you at every moment in between if you want me to.” Your lips hovered just above his.
You were too close that his eyes couldn’t focus on your features. He didn’t know why but he found himself holding his breath, anticipating your next move. Five seconds passed… ten seconds… thirteen… and you didn’t. Your stillness was killing him. It’s killing him to have you this close but not have you at all.
So he mumbled in the softest voice you have ever heard him use, “Kiss me, then.” His breath tickled your lips, making you bite it almost subconsciously. Hendery’s eyes fluttered down to look at your teeth grazing against your own skin, and god it’s driving him crazy and impatient.
You blinked, unsure if you’ve heard him right. Did your best friend really just ask you to kiss him?
“You made all this big talk about kissing me at every time of the day and yet I don’t know what your lips feel like. Kiss me and I might seal the deal.”
Despite the fuzziness of your thoughts and the messiness of the situation, you couldn’t bring yourself to pull your head away. You knew tomorrow might be weird if you succumbed, but at the same time, your curiosity is getting the best of you.
So you leaned in, your lips crashing against his. Hendery was expecting it, yet you still took him by surprise. He gasped at the first contact, his hand flying to your cheek while yours went to his hair. Your positioning was quite awkward but it didn’t really matter. He tilted your chin up a bit to deepen the kiss, sucking softly on your sensitive lips, making you tug on his hair. He let out a soft groan, finding the sensation much to his liking.
His lips tasted like wine but so did yours. And as much as you never saw yourself kissing your best friend, this was actually the best kiss you’ve had in quite a while. So when you two pulled away, you were breathless. Eyes closed, foreheads still resting against each other.
“So, I’m guessing you won’t make me forget about that tomorrow?” you asked in between staggered breaths.
Hendery couldn’t help but smile as he shook his head and leaned in for another quick peck. “If you kiss like that, I might just marry you tomorrow, so no.” He grinned. “I’m not going to make you forget about this. Ever.”
