I flick my gaze at Tyler for a second, a stray butterfly fluttering around somewhere in my gut. “I guess he just couldn’t hold my attention.”
“Who would hold your attention, then?” She asks quietly, tilting her head. Blonde waves cascade over her delicate shoulder. “I've noticed that yougeta lot of attention, but I never see you leave with anybody.”
“You’ve noticed that?” I can’t help but smirk at her as I lift the glass. “Well, that's true, I guess I haven’t found anybody herewho’s appealing enough.” Plus, I sort of made an agreement with myself, Missy, and Ava not to fool around anymore after the last debacle with what's-her-name, unless it's something real. But she doesn't have to know that.
“So do you thinkweare appealing enough then?” Her cheeks turn even rosier as she gazes up at me from beneath her lashes, and I lean back, my brows rising as high as they can go, the pieces of this particular line of questioning falling into place. What the...
“Is this a proposition?”
Tyler is still looking at his fingers, now fiddling with his own shot glass, letting his girlfriend do the talking. But I’m staring at him. I’m staring so,sohard.
Because if she’s saying what I think she’s saying…
“Is this for Dutch courage then?” I flick my gaze to Kaylee again before taking the shot, letting it burn on the way down, needing to fucking know what she meant with her remark.
I swear Kaylee’s face couldn’t get any redder even if she tried. It’s kinda cute, actually. But it seems like she's gathering her courage when she takes a deep breath and lifts her head, facing me as if she's starting a debate or something, her voice stronger now. “Yes, actually. We were wondering if you, you know, would be interested in coming home. With us, that is. Like you joked about after the party a couple of weeks ago…”
That stupid lone butterfly has now morphed into a big ass swarm of moths or something because I swear everything is fucking tingling in there, my heart pounding in my ears.
I wouldn’t want to hope.
I couldn’tdarehope.
But damn it, I hope.
Grabbing the next glass from the tray, I study them both. They're both staring at me with a certain expectation. Well Kaylee is, with hope gleaming in her eyes, and Tyler? Tyler hasfinally raised his head, meeting my gaze head-on, harboring the same damn curiosity that's been there for weeks. Turns out, I wasn't imagining things at all.
And right then and there, I know I'm going to do this. Because maybe this is just something fun for them, some bet or some crazy curiosity on Kaylees part. She probably wants to know what it's like to be adored by two guys at the same time. I bet the focus would be solely on her.
But if that’s all that I’m gonna get? If this is my only chance ever to have a little piece of him, no matter how tiny? Yeah, I’m gonna grab that chance, consequences be damned.
“I only agree if all parties are up for it,” I finally croak, giving Tyler a knowing glare. “I value this friendship, and I don't want to fuck things up.”
To my surprise, it's Tyler who answers, finally deciding to join the conversation, although his voice sounds rough. “Well, we are in college now, right? I want Kaylee to have all the experiences she wants. We should have some fun while we still can.” He flashes that dimpled smile, and I'm fucking melting.
“Dude, you're bound for the NFL. I think you’ll have plenty of room to havefunlater in life.”
“IfI make it, don’t jinx it, man. But I don’t know what my life would look like then. And me and Kaylee…” He lets that unfinished thought hang in the air, and now Kaylee is the one looking at the table.
He means that he doesn’t know if they’ll still be together then, given their very differing life goals. I know this; he explained it to me before.
“But you can be discreet, right? If, for instance, Tyler wants to participate with you as well,” Kaylee asks softly.
I snap my gaze to Ty, who swallows and averts his eyes. Oh fuck me three ways to hell…
“Hey, no, none of that.” I snap my fingers at him until I get his attention again because, damn it, this changes things. My mouth dries when his pretty dark eyes focus solely on me. “Is she for real?” I ask hoarsely, ignoring Kaylee for a moment because I need to hear it fromhim.
From my object of affection.
From the one I refuse to hope for.
From He Who Shall Not Be Fucked.
I thought this was going to be all about Kaylee, but if he truly wants to experiment a bit with a guy? Well, maybe it's worth the risk of messing up our friendship, because he's held my attention since the beginning of this year, and he doesn't even know it.
That’s not true. He knows it. He knows I’m flirting with him–a lot actually–but he probably thinks that I’m like that with everyone, which I used to be, but not so much lately. Fuck, I haven’t gotten my dick wet in ages, and while I keep telling myself it's just a temporary break after one too many misjudged hookups, I know there's more to it.
“So, you're fair game then? It's not all about pleasing Kaylee? You wanna hug some bananas?” I inquire, trying to muster some bravado. I slant my head and take in his big body again, ignoring the flutters in my gut.
