Waterfall Kisses (The Kisses 9)

To be honest, I wasn't sure the man sitting by my feet was my brother. My brother should be growling and holding Leo against the wall with a fist cocked back while Gabe tried to hold him back. He should be defending my honor while I screamed at him to let me live my life. That was how it was supposed go- how it had always gone. He wasn't supposed to be sitting there like this was the most normal thing in the world.

No one had said anything yet about the fact that I was sleeping in Leo's bed. Everyone was behaving as if this were the most normal thing. I had no idea why Bastian wasn't screaming death threats. The scar over his eye wasn't even twitching.

> The only reasonable explanation was that Bastian had been abducted by aliens. Or this was a dream and the smell of pancakes was just really vivid.

“So, dinner tonight to celebrate,” Gabe said. “Adele's Restaurant, since she makes the best food on the island other than Leo.”

The other two boys murmured their assent and somehow my head moved in approval as well. I just kept tugging at the sheet, hoping I wouldn't knock my tray of pancakes over in my attempt to disappear.

Gabe pushed off the wall and went to the bedroom door. “Great. See you all at six.” Gabe grinned at everyone. “Looking great, by the way, Charlotte.”

He left the door open, whistling as he went down the hall. I hid a little more under the blanket.

But Bastian didn't do anything.

“Enjoy your morning off, but remember I have work for you this afternoon.” Bastian patted my leg through the bedspread before standing and heading to the door himself. “See you later, Leo.”

And with that, my brother, who should have been pissed that his little sister was in someone's bed, walked out of the room with a smile on his face.

The room was empty for three whole minutes before I regained the ability to speak.

“What the hell just happened?” I asked, staring at the door and feeling like I'd just survived a hurricane. I looked over at Leo.

“The app's going live. It's a good thing.” He shrugged.

I chucked the pillow at his head. The damn phone app was the last thing I was worried about. “Not the app! Them!” I waved my arms at the door where Bastian and Gabe had just disappeared. “No offense, but how do you not have a black eye right now? I'm in your bed! The guy who took me to prom got a black eye and being in your bed is far worse than a crappy corsage!”

“To be fair, that guy was a jerk,” Leo replied with a shrug. “I'm not a jerk.”

I grabbed another pillow and chucked it at him again. He easily caught it and laughed.

“I have no idea what just happened,” Leo said, looking at the door like it led to another world. “But, apparently, Bastian's good with us being together and I'm still alive. So, I'm not going to complain.”

The door knocked and I turned to stare at it, worried at what other craziness might walk through that door.

It was just Bastian.

“Did I leave my phone in here?” he asked, poking his head in. He then came into room and went to the foot of the bed, walking as nonchalantly as a cat. “Ah, here it is. Must have fell out of my pocket.”

Bastian grinned at me as I stared at him, my jaw on my chest. There was no way this was really happening. No way.

Bastian picked up his phone and went back to the door like nothing about this scenario was strange.

“That's it?” I squeaked, still clutching the sheet.

Bastian paused at the doorway, finally taking pity on me. He grinned like this was the funniest thing in the whole world. To him, it probably was.

“Charlotte, thank god you finally got together. It was painful to watch you two dance around each other for this long.” His grin melted into an angry face. The scar pulsed white. “But, Leo- you hurt her and I swear to God, you are a dead man. Understand?”

“Yes.” Leo took a protective step toward me. Bastian's eyes darkened at the insinuation that he would do such a thing. “You know that'll never happen. I'd never hurt her.” Bastian looked ready to punch Leo's lights out. “I love her.”

My heart melted completely.

The scary gleam vanished from Bastian's eyes. “I know. That's why your face is still intact right now.” Bastian grinned. “Also, do you know where Murdoch is? He owes me twenty bucks.”

“Kitchen,” Leo answered, frowning slightly. “He seems to owe a lot of people money this week.”

“Thanks.” Bastian winked at me. “See you later.”