cleared his throat. “I don’t know anything C.K isn’t good at. He’s one of the lucky ones. It’s your turn, by the way.”
Ignoring the waiting frame, she wrapped one of her braids around her finger in thought. “How did you two get to be such good friends?”
He took a long pull of beer. “We were rookies together. Most guys get the first few checks and run out to start buying houses, cars, and jewelry. But Caleb came to me and asked if I wanted to be roommates for the season. We were both new to the state with no family nearby. I’m an only child, and he became like the brother I never had. It was the beginning of our great bromance.”
Kenadi sighed. “He’s great, isn’t he?”
He ran a hand over his beard. “Why do you like him so much?”
“What’s not to like? He’s handsome. Kind. Oh, and humble. I remember seeing an interview where he talked about the relationship he had with his sister, Everleigh. It was so sweet. It made me think about my bond with Quentin and made me like him so much more.”
She turned to face him again. The only thing capable of competing with her long lashes and chocolate drop eyes was her smile. After a long moment, she bumped him with her shoulder.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“How am I looking at you?”
She shrugged. “Like I’m a crazy person telling you things you already know about your best friend.”
Right. His best friend. The guy who deserved the best in life. Cash was becoming increasingly certain it didn’t get much better than Kenadi Russell.
“You know something? This would have been a really great date if we were actually attracted to each other.”
Her eyes were warm and genuine. The way she looked at him filled him with an empty ache he’d never felt before.
“If only.”
If only…
FOUR
Kenadi
“I CAN SEE my house from here.”
Kenadi marveled at the view from the massive windows lining one side of Cash’s living room. She had jumped at his dinner invitation, eager to see his bachelor pad and give her own couch a break.
Cash walked up and handed her a drink. “Food should be here soon.”
The setting sun poured through the windows, washing the entire space in a golden glow—including Cash. His auburn hair looked even redder in the light. Her fingers twitched as she resisted the urge to reach up and push the locks falling onto his forehead out of the way. She wondered how soft his beard was.
“So, we have time to watch some more of our favorite show. You know, for research purposes…”
As she pulled him toward his ginormous couch, he groaned in complaint, though she knew it was mostly an act. The last time he complained about watching the reality dating show, he’d made her pause it so he didn’t miss anything while he’d gone on a snack run.
Barely ten minutes into the newest episode, she interrupted.
“Am I his type?”
Cash didn’t take his eyes off the television. “How would I know? I’ve never met him, Kenadi.”
“Not him. Caleb!”
Cash paused the television and rolled his eyes. “You’ve been thinking again…”
She scrunched up her nose. “Yes, I have. And I’ve never seen him date black girls.”
“Nobody has seen him date anyone.”
She put her beer on the coaster before turning to face him. “But if he did…”
Cash’s confusion filled his eyes as he regarded her. “His sister is half-black.”
“His sister’s identity has no correlation to his dating preferences. Not everyone wants the challenges of an interracial relationship.”
Cash shrugged. “It’s never bothered me.”
Kenadi immediately sat up in her seat. “Wait, you’ve dated a black girl before?”
He stood up. “I’ve dated a few.”
Her brain couldn’t properly process what he was saying because he stretched his arms over his head, distracting her with the low-hanging waistband of his athletic shorts. Those abs…
“You thirsty?”
Parched. “Huh?”
“I asked if you wanted another drink.”
She shook her head, but followed him into the kitchen anyway. “How many is a few?”
“My girlfriend in high school, a couple in college, and a few more recently.”
She wondered just how recently as she leaned against the countertop, picking at her thumbnail. “Any serious relationships?”
“I’ve always tried not to get too attached to anyone. Credit for that bit of baggage goes to my dear old dad.”
Kenadi looked at him. “Care to share?”
Cash opened the bottle and took a swig. “He just could never figure out how to actually be a dad. He had this major career taking up all his time, so there