like this it was best to just get the ball rolling and let things unfold organically.
Rori took in the quaint little neighborhood one last time from Luke’s front porch. After today she would never see it again. She should have taken the time to sketch it. That was her last thought before she opened Luke’s front door and nearly ran into Mike. They both flinched back, clearly not expecting to see each other.
“Sorry,” she said noting his overnight bag and computer case.
“Didn’t hear you,” he said, looking a little guilty.
“Same here.” She gave his bags a pointed look. “You headed somewhere?”
“Just for the night.”
Oh. Of course. His date with Sydney. How stupid could she be? “Have fun.” Did she seriously just say that? “Do you know where Luke is?”
She could have sworn she saw panic in Mike’s eyes. “I, ah, well, he’s downstairs. With Kris. They’re kind of talking, I think. I dunno. I’m staying out of it.”
Rori mustered up a smile and started past him.
“Where are you going?” he asked, grabbing her arm.
“Downstairs,” she said, not pulling out of his grip but sending him a warning look even as her heart picked up its pace. The traitor. “To Luke.”
“I, uh, well, he’s not the best multi-tasker. Maybe if you just wait for him up here you’ll have better results.”
This time Rori did pull out of his grip and started for the top of the stairs. “Mike, while I appreciate your attempt to think for me, I’m pretty sure I can handle this all by myself.”
He fell in step behind her. “I didn’t mean to… I mean, I’m just saying that the vibe was wonky when they went down there. Sometimes it’s best not to step in the middle of that.”
“And sometimes it’s exactly for the best,” she said, starting down with Mike no more than a step behind.
Chapter 25
Mike was trying not to freak out. Before Kris and Luke had disappeared downstairs they’d been having the kind of argument that led to one of two things. Sydney had totally called it. One little push and his best friend and his sister would fall straight into bed.
Mike was ready to accept it, but that didn’t mean that Rori needed to see it. If only she would just listen, or stop walking, or both. But she didn’t. She wouldn’t. And when she opened the door to the downstairs all Mike could do was thank his lucky stars that both Kris and Luke were fully clothed and standing a good three feet apart. Neither of them heard the door open, though. They were both too busy arguing.
“You deserve better!” Luke said, punching the wall for emphasis.
“Who are you to choose what’s best for me? If I love Caleb—”
“You do not love that asshole!”
“Yeah? And why shouldn’t I? He’s smart, funny, and talented. He sends me flowers at work and pulls out chairs for me. Why shouldn’t I like a man like that?”
Luke stepped forward, bringing their faces inches from each other. “Because he’s a player. He does that shit to pave the way into your pants.”
Kris didn’t step back. “And what if I don’t mind having a guy in my pants? What if I like it?”
“Oh, so you’re into random fucking now, is that it?” Luke sneered. “Any man will do?”
“I—”
Mike started to push past Rori, ready to rip his friend’s head off, but Rori stopped him in his tracks with a light touch to let Luke do the interrupting.
“Any guy who buys you a bunch of flowers these days has an all-access pass? I had no idea so much changed while I was in Thailand.”
Rori stepped forward. “Nothing changed in Thailand, Luke.”
Kris and Luke spotted her at the same time and flinched away from each other as if burned.
“Rori,” Luke breathed, and Mike braced himself for the worst. “That wasn’t—”
“It was,” Rori said gently. “It’s called foreplay, Luke. And the answer to the frustration you’re feeling right now lies in a kiss—and not a gentle one. One that lets Kris feel how much you need her.”
Kris stepped forward. “Rori, you have it all wrong. He would never—”
“He should,” Rori said, looking at both of them in turn. “That’s what I came down here to say.” She looked at Kris, shaking her head. “Stop it with this Caleb crap, Kris, and tell Luke the truth. Tell him where you want his hands, his mouth—who you want them on.”
Kris pinked visibly and Mike felt his own cheeks go a little hot at Rori’s