Brody sits beside me and lifts my legs so there’s room for him. He drapes my calves over his thighs, slings an arm over the back of the couch, then sighs. I giggle.
“What?” he asks.
I hide my smile when he rests his hand on my shin. “Nothing.”
“I don’t like secrets.”
“For a guy who was reluctant to come up, you sure look comfortable.” I laugh when he scowls. “It’s okay to have fun, Brody.”
“I have plenty of fun.”
“Let me guess: You play chess. Wait. No. You do the crossword puzzle in the morning. With apen.”
“Both are good for keeping your brain sharp.”
“Which is important at your advanced age.”
“Fucking brat.”
He strokes his thumb up my calf, stopping when he gets to my knee. I shiver, embarrassed to admit the effect he has on me.It’s a blessing when my phone chimes to let me know the pizza is here.
“I’ll be back,” I say, standing.
The weight of his gaze is heavy on the walk down the hall. I smile at the doorman who hands over the cardboard box, and a pitstop in the kitchen has me rummaging through my junk drawer until I find what I’m looking for.
In the living room, Brody is in the same spot where I left him. He glances up as I approach with a burning candle placed in the middle of the pizza.
“What’s that?” he asks.
“Your cake.” I hold it out to him. “Make a wish.”
“A wish.” His eyes stay on me when he leans forward, blowing out the candle. He pulls it out of the pizza, licking it clean, and I squeeze my thighs together at the sight of his tongue. “Done.”
“I hope it comes true.”
“So do I.”
“Happy birthday, Brody.”
“I don’t need any of this.” He takes the box from me and puts it on the coffee table. He reaches for my hand, tugging me back to the couch. “And it’s not going to get me to eat pineapple pizza.”
“I would say my plan has been thwarted, but not everything is about you.” I grab a slice and take a bite, moaning at the melted cheese. “You should have some.”
“Fuck. That sound.” Brody scrubs a hand over his face and closes his eyes. “You’ve been distracting me all night.”
“Me? I didn’t do anything.”
“You don’t get it, do you?”
“What is there to get, Brody?”
“We shouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“Did I do something wrong?” I set the slice of pizza down, dusting off my hands. The shift in his mood is confusing. “I’m sorry if I’m making you uncomfortable, but I?—”
“Uncomfortable? You could never make me uncomfortable.” His eyes blink open, and they’re darker than before. “You asked me what I do for fun, Hannah, and tonight it was thinking about all the ways I’d fuck you if I had the chance.”
“You want tofuckme?” I whisper. The world tilts on its axis. “Is this a joke? You don’t talk to me at team events. You don’t even look my way. I thought you hated me.”
