What It Seems | Wattys 2023

Chapter 16

"Is Aiden and Jo dating?" he questioned. Aiden must have told him.

"Yeah, sorta. I figured Aiden would've told you," I guessed.

"He did, I thought he was lying," Baylor responded.

"Why would he lie?" A small chuckle escaped questioningly.

"I thought Aiden was like me - I thought he didn't date."

"People change."

"That, or he just like the idea of -"

I interrupted him by mumbling words louder than what he was about to say.

Baylor began laughing. "What - you don't think so?" he lilted. I shook my head tremendously, disagreeing.

"Hey, just give my brother a break," I paused, watching Baylor's face settle in (almost) solemnly. "He might like Jo, y'know."

Baylor sighed, "Well I wish him good luck. There are certain reasons why I don't."

I arched a brow, not believing why and wondered why he doesn't date. "And why is that?"

"Girls are too obsessive and clingy, at least from what I've experienced. Most of them tried changing me," he said. "One girl I dated before just, like, told everyone my business and things got out and come to find out, she had an obsessive ex-boyfriend that was like Derek – very boastful and always tried to start shit."

"So, it's sort of difficult for you to put your trust into someone?" I consoled. Baylor shrugged. "You can trust me."

A small smile broke onto his face.

I picked up my phone to reply to Jo, and just when I began to respond, Baylor threw a pillow and the impact knocked my phone out of my hand. I picked the pillow from the floor and smacked him with it.

"You ass. My phone is probably cracked."

Two hands wrapped around both of my ankles and a quick tug pulled my body close to him. Baylor began tickling me. I couldn't breathe - I was too caught up in laughter.

"Baylor, s-st-op," I begged, laughing like I was going to die.

"Take it back!" he bellowed, entreating me. I couldn't speak because he was still tickling me. I was squirming everywhere on the couch. His moving fingers shifted to my sides.

"Take it back and I'll stop!" he yelled over my laughter. He was laughing as well. Demanding him to stop by nudging my hands to cover up my torso, I was moving everywhere. I was at the edge of the couch, and I clasped my hands around Baylor's arm.

"Pull me back up! I swear if I fall, you're coming with me!" I screamed, terrified of falling off the sofa. Half of my body was already dangling off the couch, and the rest of me that was still hanging on was wrapped around Baylor's body. My foot was pressed into Baylor's back and my other foot was in between the cushions of the couch.

"Say I'm the sexiest person you've ever seen in your life, and I'll pull you back up." A strong grin was held on his lips. I shook my head tremendously, refusing to admit.

"Fine." Baylor shoved my body farther off the couch. My back was nearly touching the floor. I immediately wrapped my legs around Baylor's neck, and with that, we both fell.

Baylor's body knocked into mine, and I felt a sharp pain in my boob. "Get your elbow out of my boob," I shouted into Baylor's shoulder. He shoved himself up slowly, peering at me.

"I told you that you'd come down with me if I fell," I grinned.

"Yeah, 'cause you wrapped your legs around my neck. . . and 'bout gave me whiplash." Baylor lowered himself back onto my body. His weight was too heavy for my small body, and I struggled from getting underneath him.

"Baylor," I whined. "Get off!" I cried.

"Say I'm the sexiest guy you've ever seen in your life and I will," he demanded.

"We're back at this now?" I emitted. "I can't breathe."

"Yep," Baylor retorted.

I huffed, "I guess we'll stay like this then."

"That's fine with me."

Moments passed and I was growing eager to get off the floor and out from beneath his heavy body. For a lean person, he sure does weight a lot.

"Baylor, I'll kick your friend down there if you don't get up in two seconds," I growled. His chest rumbled in laughter.

"I'll elbow you in the boob again if you do," he responded. I gasped in agitation. I began squirming from beneath his body.

"You're never going to get up so quit trying."

"What can I do to make you get off of me?" I quizzed.

"Call me the sexiest person on earth or -"

"Or?!" I shrieked, begging for another way out of his trap.

"Kiss me."

Kiss him?

I shook my head. "You're crazy."

A pair of lips smashed tenderly into mine. Baylor's soft, warm lips attached to mine, and they felt like they were glued. His taste was minty, and it was overwhelming. His scent, the taste of his lips, the sparks, and the moment we were wedged in had me in a frenzy.

Our lips peeled from each other's. Baylor gazed deeply into my eyes and then down to my lips. His fingers pushed a strand behind my ear.

"Baylor," I whispered.

The air in the room had turned cold and my body had turned weightless as his figure moved away swiftly. I sat up as I watched him pull his hoodie over his head.

"Look, I, um - I have to go," Baylor announced as he ran his hand through his hair. I nodded slowly and watched as he made his way out the door.

Was it something I'd done? Was I that bad? I hadn't kissed anyone before, that is why. I mean, I didn't know what to do. He made the first move.

My finger trailed against my lips, remembering the way his lips moved against mine: swiftly, yet slowly. His lips were warm and incredibly soft -there wasn't a crack felt. I can't really describe what it felt like. I knew the feeling of my heart skipping multiple beats. It was weird, really. I've never felt like that before. A guy has never taken my breath away, and I've never had, like, electrical currents flowing through my body. We're friends and I know Baylor recognizes that, too. Did Baylor realize that I wanted to get from under him, so he kissed me? Because he knew that I wouldn't make the first move. Or that I wouldn't in a million years call him the 'sexiest guy on earth'? I have no idea, but I am most certain about one thing.

I liked it.