“There, now you can prop me up, and I’ll keep you company while you work. That’s what best friends do.”
I see a smile play on her lips as she sets me up on the counter next to her.
“Best friends already? Don’t you have to work up to that?”
Her sweet, honey voice slides through the phone, and for a moment, I wonder what my name would sound like coming from her lips as I’m buried deep inside her. I shake the thought away. God, it’s only been two minutes, and already I’m becoming the worst best friend ever.
“I’m very competitive, so I’ve already placed myself as your best friend. Just let someone try and take my spot,” I grin at her and see a smile break through that gorgeous face.
“Lucky for you, there’s not likely to be any competition.”
She starts mixing ingredients, and I lean back against the headboard to get comfortable. For the life of me, I can’t imagine why this girl wouldn’t be surrounded by friends.
“So tell me about your day, bestie.”
Chuckling, she starts talking, and I find myself mesmerized by how she works. There’s something about the way she effortlessly moves in the kitchen. You can tell she loves it by how her eyes light up when she tastes the batter and gets it exactly right.
I listen to her as she tells me about her day, and the more we talk, the more I see the tension leave her body. She’s becoming more at ease with me, which stirs something in me that I’ve never felt before. I find myself wanting to make her laugh as often as possible just to hear it.
Because she’s busy baking, I’m able to fully take in every little thing about her without her noticing. I can’t get enough of her and want to memorize every little detail I can for as long as she lets me.
CHAPTER SEVEN
LYLA
Ifeel his eyes on me as I work. Part of me knows I shouldn’t be doing this, but the other half of me is enjoying not feeling like I’m all alone. I find myself laughing more than once at something he says, and it feels good…it feels really good.
Deep down, I know this friendship will never work long-term. The selfish part of me, though, isn’t ready to let it go just yet. I like the way he makes me feel. Even though we just met, and he’s still technically a stranger, I feel safe with him. It’s not something I’m used to feeling.
“You are killing me over here,” he moans. The sound of his voice curls its way around me, eliciting feelings that I’ve buried deep. I set the tray of muffins on the cooling rack before grabbing more from the oven. “Please tell me they smell horrible, and I’m not missing out on anything.”
“They smell horrible, and you are not missing out on anything,” I bite my cheek to hide my smile.
“You are a lousy liar,” he laughs, and I can’t help but join him.
“You're right. I am. Of course, they smell amazing. They have my secret ingredient in there.”
“Which is?”
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret ingredient anymore, now would it?”
“I guess it wouldn’t,” he chuckles. His hand comes up to rub over the scruff on his face. He didn’t have any at the wedding, and I can’t help but wonder what it would feel like against my skin. His greys darken as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking about. I try to look away, but I can’t. It’s like I’m under a spell, and only he holds the power to break it.
“What are you thinking about right now?” His deep voice penetrates the air, sending tiny bolts of electricity throughout my body.
“Things that I shouldn’t be,” I whisper out the truth before I can stop the words.
“Maybe you should,” he says quietly. “You don’t ever have to hide what you want from me, Lyla. I know you’re scared, but I would never hurt you. I would rather die than cause any more pain in those beautiful eyes.”
I see the truth in his eyes, and more so, I feel it. It would be so easy to give in to what we both want so badly. I know he would make me forget…make me feel things that I shut down inside me. He would make me feel alive instead of this shell of a person I’ve been living in. His eyes drill into mine with such intensity that I feel it in every part of me. I force myself to pull my gaze away before I say something that I can’t go back from.
“I…I need more time.” I can’t afford to make the wrong choice. There’s too much at stake here.
“Then, I’ll wait.” I busy myself with wiping down the counter, anything to keep from feeling the emotions I’ve tried so hard to keep hidden.
“Lyla, look at me,” he says when I keep avoiding his gaze. I pull my eyes to him and see his greys soften. “I’m not going anywhere, so take all the time you need. Promise me one thing,though?” I nod my head, not trusting my voice to work. “My gut is telling me you are running from something.” I grip the countertop as fear edges its way in. “Just promise me if you feel the urge to leave, you come to me first.”
I blink as his words sink in. He’s figured out I’m running from something… he knows I’m hiding something from him, yet he still wants to get to know me. He wants to be the person I run to if I need help.
