Solid.
Safe.
In fact, I probably let the hug go on too long because it’s that good of a hug.His chest is broad, the sound of his heartbeats comforting against my ear.
Finally, I pull away with a sigh, a soft smile on my face, giving him one last pat on the back.
Only to look up and see him staring down at me with an absolutely confused expression.
Shit.
10
Sylvie
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have touched you, that was rude of me.”I back off as quickly as I can, wringing my hands.
“It’s fine.But you should know, I do consider us friends now.Officially.”Some of the disgusted set of his lips fades away as he forces a smile, but there’s still a thread of tension in his forehead.
Relief washes through me all the same because at least he’s not running out the door.“Officially friends sounds good to me,” I tell him.“Friends with business benefits,” I tack on.
Right.
Because I certainly needed to say that.
“Like, I help you with the books and booze event?—”
“That’s the perfect name,” he interrupts my stream-of-awkward-consciousness, and I blink up at him owlishly, frowning slightly.
A slow smile spreads across his face as he looks down at me, erasing the memory of the weird way he looked when I hugged him.
“Books and Booze,” he repeats slowly, giving an exaggerated roll of his eyes.“It’s a play on words, you know, booze… boos.”
A soft exhalation puffs out of me and I set my hands on my hips, looking at him in slight disbelief.“I can’t believe I didn’t make that pun on purpose.I’d be mad at myself if it weren’t such a perfect idea.”
“I don’t know,” he says, still grinning.“I think it’s even better that it was unintentional.”
My nose wrinkles.“Is it original enough?It feels a little… cliché.”
“Accidentally cliché,” he says, shaking his head dismissively.“It doesn’t count if it’s accidental.”
“Is that right?”I raise an eyebrow, huffing a laugh.When was the last time someone made me laugh so easily?Made everything feel easy.
Except that hug, I guess.
It’s a good thing, too, because it’s obvious he doesn’t feel any chemistry with me—which means he’s the perfect friend I need here in New Hopewell.Smart, charming, helpful, and not interested in me in the slightest.
If it hurts my feelings that Aiden, as handsome and nice as he is, isn’t attracted to me, then I’ll just have to get over it.
“Of course it is.”He points a finger at me, and the accompanying outlandish wink almost has me laughing again.“Everyone knows that.Okay.You’re all set for the night, right?Do you need anything else?”
“You’ve already done so much.Too much,” I amend, shaking my head.
“That’s not an answer,” he says, his voice so serious that it surprises me a little.Serious, and slightly possessive.Which is weird.
Or maybe he’s just trying to be that good of a friend and neighbor.
I consider it, if there’s anything else I need.“The place is as clean as I can get it, the stuff I need most is unpacked, and you’ve set up a website, helped me decide on a store name, and contacted a graphic designer?—”
