Four Letter Word (Love Logic #2) - K.M. Neuhold Page 0,31

decide what you want to do all on your own and then find a way to make it happen? Probably a little bit of both.

I’m sure there’s a noble cause somewhere in the business of financial planning; it just happens to also be boring as hell. It made my grandparents rich, so I guess there’s that. But sometimes I imagine what my life would’ve been like if I’d grown up lower-middle class like Bishop. Or even poor like Leo.

Not that my childhood was bad, it just came with a lot of expectations. You’re a Bellows, my father used to say. God, I fucking hated it when he said that.

The intercom on my desk buzzes.

“Mr. Bellows, you have a meeting scheduled with Mr. Bellows in five minutes.”

“I told you to call me Hudson,” I answer, sitting up and straightening my tie. “I’m on my way up, thanks for the reminder.”

Out of habit, and maybe a little bit of hope, I pull out my phone and send a quick text to Bishop.

Hudson: Meeting with my father. Send coffee.

Bishop: You could always pull the fire alarm.

I chuckle at the reply, shaking my head as I type back, at the same time standing up from my desk and heading out of my office.

Hudson: I did that ONCE.

Bishop: Most of us never pull a fire alarm to get out of a work meeting.

Hudson: Most people don’t have to work somewhere SO boring.

Bishop: lol. Suck it up, buttercup.

I get on the elevator, and my thumb twitches over the screen of my phone. I’m sorely tempted to suggest Bishop come by my place tonight. Nothing makes me feel better after a mind-numbing day at Bellows Financial than having my best friend naked in my bed. But I’m afraid to push my luck. This text exchange feels so normal I don’t want to rock the boat or make things weird. So, instead of flirting or outright begging, I shove my phone back into my pocket, square my shoulders, and put Bishop out of my mind while I face the rest of my workday like an adult.

Leo

How long can I sit in my car instead of getting out and going up to the apartment to face Bishop? I’ve made it half an hour already, surely, I could stretch that out to the rest of the night. Hell, I could probably live here if I really put my mind to it. It’s nearly as roomy as the first studio apartment I rented in New York. Although, I did buy it cheap and used the weekend I moved here and there is a certain unpleasant odor that air fresheners haven’t managed to combat yet, so maybe it’s not ideal.

I shouldn’t have kissed him. I was too chicken all those years ago, and maybe that was my subconscious telling me it was a terrible idea. Now our friendship is probably ruined, and that thought more than anything, twists my gut.

I take a deep breath in an attempt to fortify myself. I’ll go up there and apologize. I got my wires crossed, and it won’t happen again. I’ll actually start looking for my own place so I can get out of his hair, and everything will be fine.

I can hear music playing through the door when I reach the apartment. I step inside, and the smell of something slightly burnt tickles my nose.

“B?” I call out.

“In the kitchen,” he answers, his voice sounding light. That has to be a good sign, right?

I toe off my shoes and set my briefcase down beside the couch and then head into the kitchen.

“Are you cooking dinner?” I ask, finding him surrounded by dirty dishes and various food products.

“Trying,” he says with a self-deprecating kind of smirk. “I figured if it doesn’t turn out, I’ll just toss it in the trash and order takeout.”

“Having a backup plan is key,” I agree, sidling up closer to him to check whatever he has in the pot he’s stirring. “Spaghetti?” I guess, noticing the simmering sauce and a second pot with boiling pasta.

“I’ve successfully made it before, so I figured it was a safe bet.”

“Have you been living on takeout for the past twelve years?” I ask with a chuckle.

“Mostly, and Hudson cooks a lot. My friend Seph likes to cook too, so between the two of them, I’m usually covered.”

I bristle a little at the mention of Hudson, but I bite my tongue. So far it doesn’t seem like Bishop is too upset about the kiss this morning, so

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