I resist the urge to chuckle when Arlo’s eyes widen, and he points to his chest. “Me?”
“Yes, you. Do you think I’d dare call Luca sweetheart? Austin would have my balls.”
What could he possibly mean by that? Why would Austin care what anyone else calls me? Although if I’m being honest with myself, I’m happy that he’snotcalling me sweetheart. I’d rather not. Nope. I guess it’s better than being called love, though.
“Um—” Arlo’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. He’s twirling the pasta around his fork, looking nervous. I wonder what his story is. “Yeah, I’m coming tomorrow.”
“It should be fun,” Austin says. “Maybe once you’re good enough, we can spar.”
Arlo shakes his head. “No, I don’t think I could do that.”
“I’m a real good teacher. You’ll do just fine,” Jasper says, eyes Arlo.
I, for one, don’t care about sparring. I care about getting to a place where I can fight for myself if I have to. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I sit weak and defenseless again, unable to stand up for myself and hold my ground against someone trying to hurt me.
“Yeah, we’ll get a few lessons under your belt and see if you can pin me,” Austin says, grinning at Arlo.
Anger and heat spread through my veins as I narrow my eyes at him. I know he said he wanted to get out and find someone tohook up with, but surely he’s not gonna try to hook up with my brand-new friend right in front of me.
He did seem a little strange about the possibility of Deb attempting to set me up with Arlo. I’m not sure that I like that. Why does he have to want to hook up with my friend? If he wants to find someone to fuck, the least he could do is find someone else. Far away. Where I don’t have to see it right in front of me.
I guess the only consolation is that Arlo accused me of having a crush on Austin,andhe seems pretty into Jasper. I’m not sure how likely he is to get anywhere with Jasper, but the chances of him taking Austin up on his blatant offer are slim to none.
I look down at my food and take small bites, ignoring everyone while the conversation goes on around me.
No one even seems to notice I’ve checked out.
Chapter 17
Austin
Afterdinner,Icleanup the kitchen, making quick work of the dishes and wiping the countertops down. Jasper and Arlo both left not long after eating, and now it’s quiet. Too quiet, actually.
“You alright, Luc?”
“Yeah. I’m gonna take a shower and get ready for bed.”
My stomach flips. If I thought the random way I was feeling about Luca was a fluke, I was wrong. So wrong. Now, I can’t think about anything but how good it’s going to feel to slide into bed tonight and have him in my arms again.
Even if he doesn’t just come in and make himself at home like we agreed on yesterday morning, just knowing that either way he’s gonna be at the door waiting for me to tell him yes—not that I’dever tell him no—is almost intoxicating.
The way he clings to me in his sleep and the way his breath feels against my skin are better than any buzz I’ve ever had. That he associates me with safety is an honor like nothing else. I’ve put out fires that haven’t raged as hot as the way my skin burns when he’s pressed against me.
It takes me entirely too long to realize that he’s slipped into the bedroom and shut the door behind him. I’ve gotten way too in my head. I blow out a breath, giving the kitchen a cursory glance to make sure I’ve cleaned the worst of the mess.
It’s good enough, so I shut off all the lights and lock the doors, then step into the bedroom, pulling the door closed behind me.
The shower is still going, so I quickly strip down, my skin already buzzing with the knowledge that in just a few short minutes, I’m gonna have Luca in my bed with me. He’ll snuggle into my side, the curve of his ass pressed against me, his hair tickling my arm, his chest rising and falling under my palm.
The anticipation is almost killing me, and when the water shuts off and Luca’s footsteps on the bathroom floor sound out, my heart thumps hard.
This is ridiculous, and I know that. I have no idea where these random feelings are coming from. I’ve never felt this way about Luca. We’ve been close for our entire lives—minus the time he spent in Ohio—but I’ve never craved his company quite like this. I’m not stupid enough to claim my feelings haven’t shifted. I won’t do myself or him a disservice by pretending they haven’t.
I won’t act on them. Not because I don’t want to, but because he’s been clear that he doesn’t want a relationship, and even if he did, I doubt he’d want one with me. And that’s fine. I just want him happy. I want to take care of him. Even if I get nothing out of it buthis company and his friendship.
When the bathroom door opens, my heart jumps into my throat at the sight of Luca emerging from a cloud of steam. “Good shower?” I croak out, eyes traveling the path of an errant drop of water running from his hair and down his chest.
He damn near jumps out of his skin, his hand flying up to rest over his heart. “God, you scared me.”
