He Kissed Me Crazy

The Next Morning

Tucker’s eyes shot open the next morning as his memories from last night returned with a vengeance.

F*ck.

That wasn’t a dream.

He had kissed Kendell last night.

No, made out with Kendell last night.

F*ck, f*ck, f*ck, F*CK.

Tucker sat up and put his head in his hands.

What the hell was he going to do?

Then a realization formed and he blew out a breath, trying to gather himself.

Okay, so he kissed Kendell.

No big deal.

Tucker had kissed lots of people.

Maybe none of them guys before but hell, it was just a kiss, right? Nothing life changing. Be cool.

Kendell didn’t even know it had been him.

Probably.

Hopefully.

Hell, what if he DOES know?

Tucker swallowed, glancing at his closed door.

Kendell hadn’t barged in to wake him up today.

Why hadn’t he barged in to wake him up?

Tucker could only think of two reasons.

Reason One: Kendell now wanted to stay the hell away from him.

Reason Two: Kendell was suffering the worst kind of hangover right now.

I covered his eyes. I was in a wig. It was dark. I had a girl-esque voice going on. There’s little chance he knows.

Tucker grimaced.

Kendell certainly wouldn’t have expected it from him.

Tucker certainly wouldn’t have expected it from himself.

What the hell was his drunken self thinking?

“Oh, I wonder what his mouth feels like?” “Oh, that’s something I haven’t tried before.” “Oh, how could this possibly go wrong?”

Tucker winced. He really hoped Kendell didn’t know it was him.

He didn’t want to answer questions he frankly didn’t know the answer to.

Mustering his courage, Tucker rose and got dressed in slacks and a T-shirt and very quietly opened up his bedroom door.

There was silence in the hallway, and no sounds coming from the kitchen.

He let out a sigh of relief.

Kendell must still be sleeping off the liquor.

Tiptoeing down the hallway, only glancing back once to assure himself Kendell’s door was still closed, Tucker moved all the way to the front door, slipped on his sneakers and his hoodie, and snuck out the door.

No matter what Kendell remembered, Tucker really didn’t plan on being around when he woke up.

---

It took Tucker nearly three hours and a really hungry stomach to get the courage to return to the apartment.

He knew Kendell would be up by now, and since it was also Kendell’s day off and he probably felt like hell, it was nearly impossible for him not to be in the apartment still.

As a peace offering, Tucker had picked up a fresh loaf of bread because they were nearly out, and some chocolate milk, Kendell’s favourite beverage.

On entering the apartment, the delicious smells of bacon and eggs surrounded him, and Tucker started drooling in his mouth. He was so hungry. And so relieved.

Kendell couldn’t be in too bad a mood nor too bad a state if he had cooked breakfast!

Tucker hoped there was still some left.

Moving with more confidence than he felt, he strode on into the kitchen, bag in hand, and greeted Kendell casually, as if his heart wasn’t beating out of his chest as soon as he’d spotted Kendell’s back, his friend facing the stove. “Hey, bud.”

Yep, that was definitely casual. Cool. Smooth.

“Hey…” Kendell said slowly, as he scooped scrambled eggs out of the pan and onto a plate.

Whoa, score! Kendell must have just finished making breakfast. No wonder it smelled so tantalizing.

And, even better, Kendell didn’t sound like he was angry or confused or bloodthirs—

“What were you up to last night?” Kendell asked quietly, stopping Tucker in midthought.

“L-Last night?” F*ck, he knows it was me. But look how he asked, so casually—clearly Tucker was the only one overthinking—

“Yeah, last night. What did you do that made you only get home just now?”

What now? Home? Just now?

“Oooh.” Kendell thought Tucker was just getting home after staying out all night. He wasn’t talking about their k-i-s-s at all. Tucker blew out a breath in relief, then hoped to hell Kendell hadn’t noticed. “I didn’t go anywhere last night.”

Kendell swung around abruptly, confusion on his face as he stared at Tucker, the egg-spattered flipper still in his hand. “What?”

Tucker immediately avoided his friend’s eyes, looking down at the bag in his hands as his heart started to race. “Yeah, I just… woke up earlier and… went for a walk… and thought we needed bread.” And he set his bag down and lifted the loaf of sliced bread out and put it on the table. “And I got you chocolate milk,” he added, lifting the carton out of the bag as well.

Kendell turned back to the stove, and Tucker immediately relaxed, not realizing he’d been holding himself stiffly.

“You didn’t spend the night out with a girl?” Kendell asked, his voice only mildly curious now.

“What? No.” Tucker chuckled a bit, trying to move through his awkwardness. Kendell didn’t know. They were good as golden again. So calm the f*ck down, body.

Kendell turned around with their plates and set them on the table with a smile. “Ah. My mistake. Have some breakfast.”

Tucker stared at Kendell smiling at him and realized… he wasn’t okay yet. He had to get out of here, pronto. “Th-Thanks a lot. I’ve got a lot of homework though, so I’ll just take this—”

Kendell’s eyes focused on him intently, and Tucker found he had to avoid his friend’s gaze again, hoping his cheeks weren't being stained red“—into my room to eat.” And with that, Tucker turned with his plate and hightailed it to his room down the hall.

He breathed out a sigh of relief as soon as he entered the sanctuary, then laid his plate of eggs and bacon on his desk and sat down, planting his face down on the cool table.

He’d thought his heart was going to burst out of his chest for a moment.

And what the hell? As soon as he locked eyes with Kendell, last night’s kiss played on repeat in his mind.

Shit. He had to forget it. He'd tossed his belt with the Hell No video on it into his closet and planned to let it rot there, afraid what he would find if he looked at the footage.

Did Kendell remember it? Did he know it was me?

Kendell had acted like he always did… so Tucker guessed that he didn’t.

So that meant Tucker could just stop thinking about it. He didn’t have to worry about how it would affect them any longer.

Except…

Tucker’s face flamed anew. How was he supposed to forget the most mind-blowing makeout session he’d ever experienced?

How in the world was Kendell single right now when he could kiss like that?

Tucker’s hands curled into his hair as he pulled on it. Shiiiiit.

It couldn’t be good that he kinda wanted to do it again.

A knock on the door a second before Kendell waltzed in barely gave Tucker enough time to sit up and attempt to look like he was studying.

Definitely not thinking about a kiss that shouldn’t have happened. Definitely not.

“Hey, Tuck, were you really going to eat without a fork?” Kendell teased him before slapping a fork down on Tucker’s desk, making Tucker jump for no good reason at all.

“Oh, s**t, yeah, thanks.” Tucker tried to chuckle, but it just caught in his throat.

He rose to back away from Kendell, who was now leaning against his desk. “I should probably get water—”

Tucker cut off when he saw the glass of water in Kendell’s hand. “Oh, thanks, man.”

He reached out and took the glass from his smiling friend and when their hands accidentally touched, he tried very hard not to flinch as a thrill went through him. Shut it, you stupid body. “Well, I’d better get back at it then.” No, his voice definitely didn’t shake. Shiitt.

He couldn’t seem to meet Kendell’s eyes as he went to sit back down, but Kendell hadn’t moved, still leaning right next to his chair. Tucker hesitated a moment longer than normal, undecided about how close he should get to Kendell right now. It felt like his skin was humming with electricity, he was so on edge, so… hyperaware, like he’d be zapped if he got too close. Zapped with pleasure. He quickly shut that thought down and dropped back into his seat, anyway, trying to ignore the feelings that made no sense.

As soon as he was in the chair, Kendell spoke again. “So… Someone came into my room last night.”

Tucker quickly set his water down before he dropped it, and then moved his plate closer to himself without replying, willing his body and face not to react. “Hmm,” was all he said in response as he picked up his fork and started shovelling eggs into his mouth.

“I was really drunk so I never got to see their face.”

Thank god for that.

“But I remember there being long blond hair… a red dress… hot lips…”

Tucker nearly choked on his eggs. He quickly covered it up by nodding engagingly and gulping down some of his water, barely containing his urge to cough as he continued to avoid Kendell’s eyes and stare down at his plate. He hoped to hell his racing heart wasn’t as loud to Kendell as it was to him.

“Do you remember anyone like that last night, Tucker?”

Tucker stilled, glancing at Kendell out of the corner of his eye. Had he imagined that suggestiveness? Or did he not? Was Kendell… testing Tucker? Or teasing him? Into admitting it?

But if Kendell did know, shouldn’t he be … angry right now or something?

Though Kendell had never been quick to anger.

Though then again, maybe he didn’t know. Kendell had just said it himself; he hadn’t seen Tucker’s face. And why the hell would he ever think his roommate would kiss him anyway? That would be absurd…

Tucker didn’t know how to respond. It felt like it was already a bit too late to admit it had been him.

A flash of Kendell kissing his neck and playing with his nip*les until he groaned—yep, way the hell too late, never admitting that happened.

So, Tucker resolutely shook his head and got up with his plate to move out to the kitchen. And away from Kendell.

“Do you think you could help me then?”

Of course, Kendell followed him right out.

“What?” Tucker glanced over his shoulder before moving to the warmer for another piece of bacon.

“Help me find the person in my room last night.”

“W-Why?” Tucker gulped more water, clearing his throat, as if his sudden stutter had something to do with a dry throat.

“Because… I want to… get to know them better.” The timber of Kendell’s voice as he said that did strange things to Tucker, sending tingles up his spine.

“Y-Yeah, sure, I’ll ask around,” Tucker responded as nonchalantly as he could, shrugging a shoulder. “Thanks for breakfast. I need to head out.” He started moving to the door, needing to get out of this really hot apartment.

“What? I thought you had work to do.” Did Kendell sound disappointed? Too bad for him, because there was no way Tucker was staying in the mess he’d just found himself in.

“Yeah, I do, but I just remembered I need to get another notebook for class on Monday. So… see you later!” He added on a falsely cheery note as he started stamping his feet into his shoes.

“Tucker…”

Tucker paused, resisting the urge to run. “What?”

“Did you do anything special last night?”

“Special?” Act dumb act dumb act dumb. “Don’t think so.”

“Did you find a girl?”

“Uh, nope.” Tucker’s hand was on the door handle.

“You’re surprisingly calm about that.”

“Well…” Tucker pulled open the door and paused in silence. Like he could ever tell Kendell that after their kiss, Tucker hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything else, even while surrounded by girls. He’d wished them all a good night and hit the sack only to stare up at the ceiling, unable to sleep, for hours. “There’s—there’s plenty of time for that.” He shrugged without looking back, went out, and closed the door behind him.

It wasn’t five minutes later when Tucker’s buzzed in his pocket with a new text message from Kendell.

[When do you think you’ll be home? I’ll get us some lunch on the go]

Tucker waited a bit before responding, because his heart had done this weird flip as soon as he saw Kendell’s name appear, and that scared the s**t out of him.

[gonna study in the library so don’t wait up]

Tucker had to keep his distance so he could return to normal. Damn, should he find a girl to have a fling with or something?

Tucker winced. The idea didn’t hold any appeal at all.

Kendell’s response came fifteen minutes later, just as Tucker was entering the library.

[Perfect, I’ll join you]

Tucker spun around and headed back out.

[actually I met a friend and am going out for coffee now]

Half an hour later, Kendell responded again.

[Are you sure you don’t remember a long-haired blond last night? I was so out of it, I didn’t even get her name or her number.]

Tucker was at a coffee shop killing time when he read that and slowly swallowed the coffee he’d been drinking.

He texted back:

[sorry no]

Please, let it go…

A nearly instant reply made him set his coffee down with a clink.

[That’s all right. I’ll just head over to the girls living above us and ask if they know her]

F*ck.

Tucker quickly responded back, inwardly panicking,

[It was blond hair and a red dress, right? There maybe was a classmate like that. I don’t think those girls would know her]

[Really? Okay, you hook me up then]

Tucker felt a moment of relief right before Kendell texted again.

[She told me she liked me, and I’d hate to leave it like that.]

Tucker’s cheeks started to burn.

For some reason, he felt incredibly guilty reading that. Kendell was trying to be a good guy to a girl that didn’t exist.

Tucker put his head down on the table and sighed.

If Kendell found out now that it had been all a sham and he’d instead been kissed by his male friend, Tucker would look like such an ass.

A really weird ass.

Because who the hell does that anyway?

When passersby started staring at him, Tucker took his head back off the table and rose to stand.

He had to somehow take Kendell’s interest away from this girl.

[why are you so stuck on her?] Tucker decided to ask. If Kendell told him traits that Tucker could find elsewhere, maybe he’d be able to find a replacement for her somehow.

[Well, let’s just say…] Kendell’s text stopped there, and Tucker held his breath as he waited for him to continue.

[That I’ve fallen for her at first kiss.]

What? Tucker felt his body heat rise as his cheeks flamed. But you kissed me.

He hurriedly texted,

[That’s stupid]

You can’t f*cking fall for me.

A strange electricity moved through Tucker in answer to that thought and he shivered. What the hell is wrong with me?

He turned off his phone and avoided Kendell for the rest of the day.