Free Adorkable by Cookie O'Gorman

just a little sudden that’s all.”
    Jeez, now he sounded just like Hooker.
    Becks sauntered over and propped his hands on his hips.
    With a nod to the arm across my shoulders, he said, “Putting the moves on my girlfriend already? Moving a little fast there aren’t you brother?”
    I wanted to laugh but caught myself. “Jealous” Becks was immensely entertaining.
    Clayton stepped back, hands held high like he’d committed a crime. “Sorry, Becks, didn’t think you’d mind.”
    “Well, I do.” Becks smiled, sidling up next to me. “Sal wouldn’t go for you anyway.”
    “Why not?” Clayton said dryly. “I’m older, wiser.”
    “Yeah, this close to geriatric.”
    “Plus, I’m like ten times hotter than you, Baldwin Eugene.”
    I could’ve argued that, but it was way more fun listening to them banter.
    “Clayton,” Becks sighed. “If I thought you were serious, we might have a problem. I’d have to go all Hulk on your ass, and then what? I’d be green, left in nothing but a pair of shredded soccer shorts, and Sal would freak.”
    Clayton faked a yawn.
    “And anyway,” Becks pointed out, “you treat her like a kid sister.”
    “Yeah, but that was before she got to looking so fine.”
    I laughed as Clayton waggled his eyebrows at me, but Becks frowned.
    “Say that again, and I’ll kick your ass.”
    “Alright, alright, I get it. See you two love birds later.” Chuckling, he threw a few parting words over his shoulder. “And if Mom had seen that look you just gave me, she’d skin your hide, Becks. Possessive people never prosper. Don’t let him boss you around, Sally.”
    Becks waited until Clayton was out of earshot and then turned to me.
    “How was that?” he asked, his face full of mischief.
    Honestly, besides being momentarily speechless, I was amazed. He’d really sounded jealous, especially near the end there.
    “Great,” I said, glancing at the bleachers. Hooker was staring down at us like a hawk, slumped back in the same spot where I’d left her. Meeting my eyes, she lifted a brow in challenge. That small movement said it all. “But I’m not sure it was enough.”
    “What?”
    “Becks, we seem to have a problem.” Seeing his confusion, I explained, “Hooker doesn’t believe you and me are actually a couple. She’s not buying it, and neither was Clayton until about five seconds ago. I’m still not sure he’s fully converted.”
    “So, what should we do?”
    “I don’t know,” I said at a loss. “It’s not like I really thought this through beforehand. The situation just sort of dropped into my lap, perfectly packaged with a little bow on top.” Becks’s lips pulled into a half-smile, and I rolled my eyes. “Oh, you know what I mean. Most everyone who heard that rumor accepted the fact that we’re together, end of story. Hannah Thackeray even said it was inevitable. But it’s the people who’ve known us forever that are questioning it, and those are exactly the ones we’ve got to win over—”
    “Sal...”
    “—It can’t be that hard. I just need to think of a way—”
    “Sal,” Becks said more forcefully, stopping me mid-rant. “Just leave it to me.”
    I frowned. “But Becks, we need to talk about—”
    “No more talk,” he said, leaning closer. “Lillian still watching?”
    With a gulp, I peered around him. “Yes.”
    “Good.”
    My heart beat triple-time as Becks leaned even closer, eyes on mine. I started slightly at the feel of his hand on my jaw, struggling for breath as it slid to my cheek, fingers finally coming to rest at the base of my neck. Ducking, he placed a lingering kiss on the spot right below my ear. The move made my hand shoot out to grip his jersey. Becks laughed silently, little puffs of air hitting my neck, as I shivered.
    I could hear the grin in his voice as he said, “You know, Sal, you can’t jump every time I touch you. What will people think?”
    It took me two tries, but I eventually managed a breathless,