Page 137 of Make Me Laugh

“What makes you feel like you’re not excited?” West’s voice is soft, his touch softer. I don’t think I’ve ever been this comfortable with someone in my entire life.

My hands fall from my face, and I cock my head to look at him. West’s eyes are the prettiest shade of blue, and every single time he looks at me, I can tell he sees me—he doesn’t look through me.

“Because how am I supposed to be excited about leaving you?” The words fly out of my mouth, and I can never take them back or reverse the clock to a time where I hadn’t said them.

Something inside me screams to retreat, to run before it’s too late. There’s still time to protect yourself!

West brushes a strand of my hair back, and I don’t think there’s anything he can say that will calm the anxiety starting to build. I know he sees the panic forming behind my stare, because West fucking Isakson knows me like I’m his favorite book, and he’s spent the last seven weeks doing nothing but rereading it over and over again.

He bites his bottom lip, which I know means he’s thinking about what he says, and I know that about him, because West has become my favorite book too.

“As if I won’t be waiting right where you left me when you get back.” West cups my face, and I close my eyes, nestling into his hand. I feel West shift closer, his lips pressing against mine for as long as it takes the heart to beat, and then they’re gone. “I take my job as a Good Boy very seriously.” My favorite West smile creeps across his face, but his hand falls away, and he leans back, giving me space I thought I once needed. “Don’t let me stop you from celebrating the thing you’ve spent your whole life chasing, Joey baby. Be excited. I’m excited for you, and I know it doesn’t mean as much coming from me as it does Frankie, but I’m proud of you too.” He doesn’t tell me he’s sad or that he wants me to stay, but he doesn’t need to. “Jo Daniels, CMO. Sounds hot.”

I puff a puny breath of air that might be considered a laugh. I’m not sure what to say, so I do what I do best when I need time to process and say nothing at all, shutting down.

West hops off the bed, and I don’t even have it in me to enjoy the view. Which is tragic.

He doesn’t deserve someone who can’t commit. West deserves someone who loves him as much as he loves them…

When I look up, he’s in his sweats from last night. “You should take the night off. Go do something fun with Frankie.”

I shake my head. “West, no. I have a job to do.”

He shrugs nonchalantly, resting his hand on the door knob. “Which you’ve done, every single day since coming on tour.” A cocky smile lights up his perfect face, and I know whatever he says next is going to annoy the hell out of me. “Unfortunately for you, technically I’m still your boss for a couple more weeks. It’s not a suggestion, Joey.”

I glower, fully planning to argue until West opens the door. “Frank, Joey has the day off!”

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

THE ONE WHERE WEST CRAWLS

NBTWNtequila posted a collaboration with HexedHeroine and WestParkerComedy: Behind the scenes of their in betweens

Comment: If I drink this will it make me as hot as them?

Comment: ok but where can I buy the full video?

West sips a neat glass of the samples we’d been given, a crackling fire casting shadows across the dimly lit room.

He didn’t hear me come in, and I take a moment to prepare myself for the video we’re about to record. It’s unlike any of the others we’ve filmed before.

The crew arrived earlier today, mapping out the best location based on sound and lighting, and then gave us a detailed rundown on where each camera is located so we don’t break the fourth-wall. They want this shoot to look like no one else is in the room with us, giving the world a peek into what happens behind closed doors with Hex and West Parker.

West and I understand what that means.

What does the world think it looks like behind closed doors—not what actually happens behind closed doors.

The company’s slogan is: for every moment, especially the ones in between.

NBTWN is a smoky tequila, pairing well with a spicy book—as I’ve said a bunch over the last few years on social media when I’ve recommended their brand to my readers.

Never in a million years did I think they’d reach out to work with Hex.

The home they put us in for the week goes well with not only Hex’s brand, but NBTWN’s too. The cottagecore decor in an old Michigan home with decades of history and dark-colored walls creates the perfect aesthetic for what they’re expecting us to deliver.

The master bedroom includes an original fireplace, and the second the lead designer for the shoot saw it, she wouldn’t let anyone tell her the lighting would be too hard to figure out.

It seems she got her way, because the moody lighting turned out gorgeous, the flickering fire creating an ambience we wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else in the home.