have such a big head, you’d see that.”
“Oh, no arguments here,” Baylor said, laughing.
Honor poked him again. “How can you and Chase look so alike, huh? It’s like there’s two of you, but only one is a decent.”
“Nah,” he said. “There’s only one of me.”
“Well, thank goodness for that,” she said. I was about to step in when she lowered her voice. “And I don’t know how you found out, but just because I went to that party looking to hook up with you and called out your name instead of Archer’s, it doesn’t mean anything. I didn’t even know what you looked like.”
I winced as Baylor bit back a smile. “Good to know,” he said then met my eyes over her shoulder. “Congrats, she passed.”
“Yeah, I heard,” I said, walking out to join them.
Honor spun around and our gazes met. “Passed?” she said, sounding confused. “What’s he talking about?”
“Nothing.” My eyes drank her in from head to toe, the words she’d said just moments ago echoing in my ears. “Baylor has a bad habit of testing the women around us. He thinks he’s so hot no one can resist him.”
“That’s because most of them can’t,” Baylor put in. He looked to Honor then, “but you did. Nicely done.”
Honor let out a nervous laugh at that. “Wow, so, this was all some sort of messed up test?”
He gave her a nod. “One that you passed with flying colors.”
“Oh,” she said, wincing as her face got red. “I thought you were really hitting on me. Sorry Baylor, about yelling at you.”
“It’s okay.” He threw her a wink. “I think I kind of liked it.”
“I liked it, too,” I said under my breath, putting a hand on her waist.
“Okay,” she squeaked. “Well, I really should let you guys get back to your workout. Just return the interview questions back to me as soon as you can.”
“Will do,” Baylor said.
She hesitated a moment but then stood on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. “Talk to you later, Archer.”
“Looking forward to it,” I murmured.
Baylor and I both looked after her as she left, walking quickly with her head down. It looked like she might’ve been texting on her phone.
“I think you have a keeper,” Baylor commented once she was out of earshot.
“I think you’re right,” I said. “And thanks. For that.”
“No problem. What are brothers for?” he said, clasping my hand and clapping me on the back. “But if you think I’m going to be mature about this, you’re sadly mistaken. My name? She called out my name while you two were hooking up? That’s classic.” He started laughing and didn’t stop as he walked back into the weight room.
I knew he’d probably tell everyone, but I couldn’t even be mad about it.
After everything Honor had just told him, how she’d put Baylor in his place, how could I be?
I was still looking down the hall at the place where she had been when I felt my phone buzz. Pulling it out of my pocket I saw a new text.
Honor: I meant to ask. Do you want to come over tonight for a movie?
I didn’t wait anywhere near five minutes to send her my response.
Honor was sitting inches away as we watched some sappy rom-com. If I were to move my arm, our shoulders would be pressed together. But, I reminded myself, I’d decided to let her make the first move.
Even if it killed me.
Being so close yet not touching was sweet torture. Ever since I knocked on her door, and she answered wearing a loose t-shirt and yoga pants, I’d been nothing but grateful. She’d let me in with a smile and led me back to her room. No one else was home. Apparently, Rose was at work, and the other girls had gone shopping, something about a night out they were planning. So, it was just me and Honor. Sitting next to each other on her bed, watching as the two characters on the screen tried to get it together. They were about to have their first kiss when I heard Honor sigh—and she finally rested her head on my shoulder.
Dear Lord, I thought, I don’t know what I did to deserve this, and I know I don’t say it enough. But thank you.
“For what?” Honor asked.
“Hmm,” I said, wrapping my arm behind her and pulling her closer like I’d been dying to do this whole time.
“You just said thank you.” She laughed. “I was wondering what I did to deserve it.”
Had