Marc Jillson & The Gazebo (Love Inscribed 2)

Hunter leveled me a quit-it look, and I quit. His stare softened, intensified, and my heart banged about in my chest.

“You don’t want to live with regrets anymore?” he murmured.

I swallowed. “I’ve been doing it too long already. If I didn’t kiss you, if I didn’t call you my boyfriend in front of your parents, if I didn’t let you know that I’m yours, gazebo or not, I’d regret it forever.”

Hunter knotted our fingers together, holding on tight like a promise. I closed my eyes like the sap I was under it all, letting the momentous feeling glow through me.

A kiss brushed over my knuckles. Sweet, simple, perfect.

Bit by bit, a few dozen people joined us at Lover’s Loop. Students I’d never seen before—except, was that Tyler behind that broad jock?

“I mentioned it in my last Scribe article,” I said to Hunter, perplexed, amazed. “But I didn’t think people would come.”

The crowd buffered the gazebo from the bulldozer and its workers.

I climbed the gazebo window and grinned over a sea of heads when I caught Uncle Ben and Jason, melting into the crowd, hand in hand.

Uncle Ben flashed me a thumbs up, and Jason smiled, relaxed, happy. Every move they made would now be made together.

Hannah tapped my shoulder and I jumped off the window. Beside her, Victor scanned the crowd in much the same way Kyle Gable Green had during his speech at the alumni party—and of course, Kyle had been hoping to see Victor.

Would Victor see Kyle?

“Would you answer a few questions?” Hannah asked me a dozen interview questions and Hunter promised he’d document with pictures of the event as it unfolded.

More students joined the goodbye party, along with Mr. Wyatt, the senior adviser in charge.

I faced his frustration.

“Look, even though I’m touched by your turnout and initiative, property services do not have the budget to make repairs. For the safety of everyone, we need to tear the gazebo down.”

I blew the bangs out of my eyes. “What are you looking at for repairs? A couple grand?” I walked away, tossing over my shoulder, “We’ll score that money.”

Hunter hummed as he rolled beside me. “How are we getting a couple thousand dollars?”

I scrubbed my face. “Somehow.”

The gazebo stood proudly amid the chaos. Pretty. Romantic. Victor and Hannah picturesque in the arch.

Inspiration warmed me like the sunshine. I eyed Hunter. “We’re, uh, good looking guys.”

He looked perplexed.

“We can position ourselves under the gazebo arch. It’d make a nice kissing booth.”

Hunter halted abruptly and I turned to face him.

“You want to sell kisses?” he said.

“Either that, or we offer them a show. But I don’t think the university would approve. We also might get arrested.”

Hunter puffed out his chest before he sighed. “Bring on the kisses.”

“Oh, I have a better idea.” I smirked when I saw Kyle approach through the thick crowd.

I raced to Victor. “Will you offer up kisses for money to save the gazebo?”

Victor’s spirited, disbelieving laugh carried. “No one wants to kiss an old man.”

“Quick,” Hunter said under his tongue. “He’s coming.”

“I’ll give you ten bucks to kiss you.”

“You’re crazy.”

I fished out ten from my wallet and handed it to Hannah. “You take care of monies.”

I cupped Victor’s soft cheeks, and he laughed again. “Ten dollars won’t save the gazebo, and no one else will pay to kiss me.”

“Out of the way.” Kyle growled, stalking up the ramp. I pretended I didn’t hear him, and leaned closer to Victor, feeling the drag of his shocked inhale. “Kyle?” he whispered.

“Stop, I beg you.” Kyle’s voice was raw with emotion.

I pivoted around as if startled. Maybe bullshitting had no place masking real emotions, but there were times where it did the job. Like now. “But we’re raising money for repairs to save the gazebo—”

“Step aside.”

I stepped aside, and Kyle halted before Victor.

They stared at each other like the two long lost lovers they were. Sunlight streamed over them in thick, sparkling rays. Their gazes held a million unspoken words, and tension ratcheted. Next came The Lean.

Cliché.

I loved it.

Abruptly, Kyle turned to face the murmuring crowd and the bulldozer men huddled at the street.

“We will not be needing your services today. I’ll see that you are paid and that there are funds for repairs.”

A simple statement, yet the crowd’s response was a boom of a thousand cymbals.

Uncle Ben whooped loudly, and K swiveled toward Hunter and me. “Thank goodness for meddling kids?” He blew out a breath and murmured, “I took your advice. Thank you for persuading me.” He faced Victor. Their gazes clashed with palpable energy and K resumed his lean, smiling softly, hopefully. His hand shook as he reached up and smoothed it over Victor’s shoulder, curving around his nape.

Hunter clasped the back of my thigh as if he, like me, was tense with anticipation. I threaded my fingers between his and our pressure tightened as Kyle pulled Victor close. Almost a kiss, but not quite. “May I?”