Capture the Moment (Moments #1)

29. Cleo

twenty-nine

Cleo

Growing up, the three of us, Georgia, Jace, and I, had sleepovers. We’d sleep in each other’s beds, watch our little shows, and play all types of games together. So, when I woke up this morning with a heavy arm wrapped around my waist, a small pink and green friendship bracelet attached to its wrist, I’m not startled because I know it’s Jace.

I yawn snuggling into my pillow as he nuzzles into my back, still asleep. Trying not to wake him (because he’s a fucking grumpy pants when awoken) I reach over to my nightstand and grab my phone. With a deeper yawn, I scroll through last night's notifications.

Sephora’s Semi-Annual Sale! Buy One, Get— Skip .

Message from Ryan— Skip .

No one out Pizzas the— Skip .

One new message from Blake (Wilder)… Interesting .

I rub my eyes as I slide open the notification from Blake and sit up as I read over the words. “Wat E…R oui? Like baguette ? Oui? Is he trying to say we?” I mumble, sliding over to check the send time.

1:42 a.m.

What the fuck is this? Come on, Jones, wake up! Read Lover Boy's message correctly.

What…er…Are? Are! We?

“WHAT ARE WE?!” I drop the phone flat on Jace’s face and cringe as he groans.

“What the fuck, CJ?”

“What the fuck is this?! Read it.” I shove the brightly lit device in my best friend’s face. Jace blinks once then twice too fast before shooting up in his spot, looking over at me with wide eyes.

“Let’s go.” His tone is stern as he looks me square in the eyes. I tilt my head at the green-eyed boy because what does he mean by go ? Did Georgia make good on her threat last night and beat his head in?

“Go? Go where? ”

“To my place, dumbass. If Wilder sent this stupid ass message, I’m gonna let him know that no one messes with my best friend but me .”

I scoff at his ridiculousness and snatch my phone away. “He probably meant to send that to someone else…” I trail off and try to ignore the pain in my chest at the thought of the message being for anyone but me.

“Well, he’s going to learn how to fucking read before he hits send today.”

When I was 16 years old, I got my first and only car. Jace drove it around for me even though he was only 15. We’d carpool to school and pretty much anywhere until he got his own car. Georgia would usually ride with us or drive herself since she liked to be “fashionably late” to things. Sienna would sometimes ride with us too, but nothing ever compared to the rides I went on with him because of all the people in the world, he always treated me like a princess.

He treated Georgia and Sienna that way too, don’t get me wrong. Mrs. Heart raised her boys the right way! But it’s something about your best friend treating you how you deserve that just melts the heart.

After stopping at Dunkin’ because “you can’t confront hungover men on an empty stomach”, (wise words from Jace Heart), we head over to the boys’ townhouse. Jace stays in my car, insisting he had “things to handle” and left me to my own vices .

So now, I stand by myself dressed in a lilac donut print pajama set with a strawberry sprinkled donut in my hand, standing on the porch of the boy that I kissed last night.

Should I be here? Is confronting Blake and potentially getting together with him truly the best idea? I mean it’s a good idea for the girl downstairs but what about the one in my heart and head?

I lift my fist, hyping myself up to knock on the black Roman-styled front door when it swings open just before my knuckles can graze it. My eyes shut off instinct because if Blake is standing in front of me, I’ll be more than freaking embarrassed.

I’ll be petrified.

I should’ve put on real pants before this…

A low whistle followed by a deep low chuckle startles me, I peel an eye open and visibly deflate at the sight of Braxton and Alec. Alec looks like a sporty deer caught in headlights as he stands in the doorway, hand still on the knob dressed in gray athletic shorts, a navy SFU Tiger’s hoodie, and a black Nike sport headband. He smiles lightly at me about to speak only to be cut off by Brax. The latter is dressed almost identically, only instead of wearing shorts, he has on gray sweatpants.

“Morning run?” I ask and cringe as my voice comes out shakily.

“Something like that, Princess Cleo. Are you heading in or coming out…?” the dark-skinned male asks, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.

My cheeks heat up at the implication and I’m about to deny all allegations of being at the boys’ place the night before when a loud voice calls out from the house.

“Are y’all going to eat breakfast or am I just wasting—Oh! Hey CJ, are you eating breakfast here too?” Derek’s breathy voice is cheerful as he strides up to the front door, his face decorated with flour and a smile.

It isn’t until Derek is standing next to Braxton that I realize he’s wearing a pink apron with ‘Mother Knows Best’ written on it. I stifle my laughter as his eyes light up .

“Oh, no… I’m uh … is Blake here?” I cut to the chase, my nerves are jumpy and I need to get this over with.

I have to know what Blake meant by that text.

“Yeah, he’s uh—”

I don’t give Alec the time to finish his sentence as I push past the three lumberjack males and make my way to Blake’s bedroom at the end of the hall.

I note to apologize to the guys later with some ice cream or something and take a deep breath as I approach Blake’s bedroom door.

This is it. Behind this door, I’m going to hear some things that I may or may not like. Fuck, wait… maybe I should turn back around. Jace should still be outside, and I can just— No .

If I want to get shit done, I have to get shit done.

Without a second thought, I open the bedroom door. It’s not unusual for Blake’s room to be spotless but I am taken aback slightly at the neatness of it all, his shoes are all lined up in an even row. All his clothes are hidden from the eye and there’s literally zero dust.

If I hadn’t heard his small snore, I’d think the room was empty based on its stillness. Blake is under about forty blankets and his body is nearly invisible in the spotless room. I trek over to the bed and sigh as I take a seat next to the sleeping boy.

Without thinking, my hands brushes a small wavy strand of brown hair from Blakes face, it startles me momentarily. Did I just caress Blake Wilder?

Blake stirs in his sleep, and I immediately jump up from the bed because if there’s one thing I won’t be caught dead doing, it’s caressing a sleeping hockey player.

“Mhm… Jace, I’m not helping you find the pimple dude,” he grumbles, turning in the covers and it takes everything in me not to burst into a fit of laughter at him.

I stifle my laughter as I lower my lips to his ear and whisper, “I’m not Jace.”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone wake up from a deep sleep so fast in my life. Blake shoots up from his spot in the bed and immediately places his hands over his crotch, eyes wild and bewildered but it seems that when he notices that I’m the one in his room, he automatically goes back into his cocky asshole-ish self.

Blake smirks, coolly moving his hands to his hips, seemingly flexing his already devastating pecs and biceps at me.

Be strong, young Cleo, do not give in. I try to tell myself, but I gulp when his smirk morphs into a lazy grin and his eyes go soft.

Be strong.

“I came to talk.”

He frowns tilting his head at my cold tone. “About what?”

“What are we?” my body closes in on itself slightly as if awaiting an impact from his words . Is it suddenly hot in here? I twist the ring Ryan got me and chew on my bottom lip. I’ve never had to have the ‘what are we’ talk with guys. Our relationship status has always been something we both knew. But with Blake, it’s different.

Everything with Blake is different because—I hate to say it—Blake isn’t like other guys.

Ew.

I said it.

Don’t go all “She’s dickmatized” on me, please . I regret saying it already.

I hate that I thought it but it’s true. I’ve never been around another guy as charming, caring or as fucking cocky as him and I want to see where this can go but, I know that I can’t.

The saying “boys will be boys” has traumatized me all my life because they genuinely will always be boys. And I’m just a girl scared as fuck to find out if Blake is the boy or just a boy . Now, I know that I kissed him and not the other way around. But I also don’t know how I feel about this whole thing. Or maybe I do?

I don’t know.

Fuck, this is confusing, I’m getting a headache.

“We’re— Fuck it .”

Blake pulls me with such a strong force that I’m nearly on his lap and I don’t have time to react before our lips are connected and we’re back to doing that dance that I’m slowly growing to love.

My head spins as he draws me in so deeply into him, it’s a fervent kiss that burns deep with passion and lust and something more that I can’t place because if I do, I won’t be able to say what needs to be said to him.

He runs a hand through my loose hair; I’d took down my silk press wrap when I was in the car with Jace and just completely forgot to tie it back up. As one of his hands plays in my hair and the other grips my hip, I melt into him.

Fuck —I’m falling and I cannot be falling for Blake Fucking Wilder.

I can’t do this with anyone .

Fuck you heart and fuck you brain for not ringing the warning bells sooner.

He pulls away first, his cloudy blue eyes glazed over and hooded as they rove over my face.

I sigh, looking away because I can’t see the expression on his face when I say, “We’re friends. Nothing more—”

“Friend’s can’t kiss?”

His words are like a bucket of ice water dowsing me and bringing me back to reality. Of fucking course he’d say something like that.

This was a mistake, coming to talk to a cocky puck slapping dickhead was a mistake.

What does he mean by that? “Friends can’t kiss?” Does he kiss all his goddamned friends like he’s making love with their mouth?

What a jackass.

“And that is why we’re just friends. Grow up, Blake.” I stand, ignoring the sunken look on his face as I turn on my heels and walk out the door of the man that I may or may not like a little too much.