“Mine, too.”
I lift my head from her pillow, staring at her in disbelief. “No way.”
“Dad showed up with a bouquet of flowers and a reservation at Quince’s. He said he wanted to take his wonderful wife out for Valentine’s Day.” She snorts. “My guess? He cheated again and now he feels guilty.”
“I don’t know, Nova. I just wish you didn’t have to think about them all the time.”
I flop back down and tug on her wrist until she tumbles beside me. She lets out a surprised squeak as I wrap her into a hug. “Much better.”
“Hmh...” she hums, resting her cheek on my chest.
Her fists clutch my hoodie, and she drapes one leg over mine. The robe shifts, baring her thigh, but she doesn’t seem to notice—or care—as she hooks her nearly bare leg around my hip.
“You went to Gott’s Roadside?” she asks, tilting her head up at me. Her cheeks are flushed from the shower, and those wide doe eyes—God, the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen—lock onto mine.
“You and Asher should have some dinner,” I whisper, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face.
She props herself up on her elbows, pressing them into my stomach until I squirm and laugh. “But you hate Gott’s Roadside.”
“Yeah, but it’s Asher’s favorite and one of the few places with those veggie burgers you love.”
I sit against the headboard and pull her closer by the waist.
“You got us Gott’s Roadside food just because Asher loves it?”
“Of course I did. He’s like a little brother to me.”And I’d do whatever it takes to make you happy.
Her radiant smile is worth everything—even climbing Everest.
She suddenly climbs into my lap, straddling me. The problem is, her robe has fallen completely open, and her bare body presses against me. Clothes or not, I can feel every inch of her.
“Maybe I should get dressed,” she says, still seated across me. “We can eat in the living room. Asher’s already downstairs watchingHow to Train Your Dragon.”
But by then the robe has gaped all the way, and her breasts are exposed. My cheeks burn, and my stomach knots. I can’t tear my eyes away from the small purple star tattoos scattered beneath them. My gaze drifts helplessly—from her stomach, to the tattoo, to her neck, to her lips, to her eyes. And yes, to her breasts too.
She notices my flustered cheeks and a sly smile flickers across her face, but then her eyes widen as she realizes that her robe’s not covering her anymore. “Oh, shit.”
She scrambles to close her robe and heads toward the closet.
“Nova, wait.” I jump up, reaching for her shoulder. “I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to look. I swear.”
Her voice softens. “Do you think I’m pretty enough?”
“What?”
She turns to me, uncertainty clouding her expression. “My body. Do you think it’s... I don’t know, cute? Attractive? If we weren’t best friends, would you like me at all? Would you be attracted to me?”
I raise an eyebrow, baffled. “Since when do you care about stuff like that?”
“You were staring at my boobs.”
I blush furiously, glancing away. “I told you I’m sorry.”
“It doesn’t bother me.”
I blink. “What? Why not?”
“Because it’s you,” she whispers, stepping closer.
