It’s Monday night, and even though she’s been home all day too, we’ve stayed in our own areas of the apartment.
I can hear her now. She’s sitting in the living room watching her TV show, giggling at something they’re saying.
I’m holed up in my room because it’s better than being out there with her.
How do I explain what the fuck I was thinking when I kissed her? When I danced with her? Hell, when I was looking at her like I was?
I’m scared to face her. Terrified to face what happened.
Afraid to face the reality that maybe friends isn’t all I want to be.
Fuck. I wish I had someone else to talk to about this. But no, I had to go and screw things up with the one person I’d normally be going to with my problems.
An email from work pops up in the corner of my computer screen.
I ignore it. I worked my ass off all weekend. I deserve a break.
Plus, it’s past five, so I’m technically off the clock.
Off the clock and fucking starving. My stomach growls for the fifth time in as many minutes.
I haven’t eaten since breakfast this morning when I had the place to myself. The egg whites I had are long since digested. I need food.
Now.
There’s a soft knock on my door, and my heart starts beating double time.
Caroline pushes my bedroom door open with more hesitation than she’s ever used, and that includes after she swore she caught me with a boner (she did) looking at porn (I was).
She stands just outside my room in a matching set of pajamas that have little books scattered all over them.
I almost laugh because that’s just who she is when it comes to her pajamas: either matching perfectly or not at all.
Her contacts out, the oversized glasses she hardly ever wears adorably cover her face. Her blonde hair that I now know feels just like what I imagine heaven to feel like is piled on top of her head in one of those intentionally messy buns girls like to wear.
One sock-clad foot is sitting atop the other as she fingers the ragged edges of her sleep top.
She looks as nervous as I feel.
I clear my throat. “What’s up?”
“Uh, hey,” she says quietly, not quite avoiding looking at me but not making eye contact either. “I was thinking about ordering some pizza and watching a movie. I wanted to know if you want to join me.”
I lift a brow. “Do you want me to join you?”
Her face twists. “Well, I am asking for a reason.”
Her eyes say, I miss my best friend.
And, fuck, I miss mine too.
“Then yes, I’m down for a movie and pizza night.”
“Good. Why don’t you order the pizza and I’ll pick out the movie?”
I laugh and push out of my chair. “Nice try. I’ll pick the movie, you order. I do not feel like watching some cheesy rom-com tonight.”
“I’m not really in the mood for romance right now.” Her cheeks go pink. “Kind of burned out on it.”
Meaning she doesn’t want to watch a romantic movie with me.
I get it. I do. Probably not the best idea right now anyway.
“Right.” I nod. “Even better. I can pick a movie that definitely doesn’t have any romance in it, then.”
I walk toward her, and she practically trips over her own feet to keep a safe distance between us.
I try not to let her see how much it bothers me.
“Nothing too scary,” she requests as I follow her down the hall. “And nothing too violent.”
“That’s not leaving me a lot of options.”
“I don’t know about you, but a comedy sounds good to me,” she says, bending over at the table we have next to the door, fishing around inside her purse.
My eyes fall straight to her ass and the tiny shorts she’s wearing.
Look away, Cooper. This is the kind of shit that got you in trouble last time. Look what that led to.
She stands and I dart my eyes anywhere but at her, hoping she didn’t just catch me staring.
She shoves her card at me. “Here. I’ll buy.”
“No,” I tell her, pushing it back her way. “You got breakfast and drinks the other night. It’s my turn.”
Just like that, the air between us shifts, the mention of the other night hanging over us like a thick cloud.
We don’t move, her hand still outstretched, holding on to her card from one end while I hold on from the other.