Penny: No I need to go home and see the love of my life it’s been too long
Me: It’s been two days…and your roommates literally facetimed you multiple times a day with him
Penny: Not good enough. Need to get home to my child!
Me: Once again he’s a cat
Penny: Once again you’re wrong
Me: Whatever. Get back to work
Penny: Aww don’t be jealous that you’ll always be number two to him ;)
Number two my ass.Damn cat.
We’ve spent pretty much every single minute together the last forty-eight hours after her friend’s birthday party at the club. She ended up spending the night that night, and last night, too.
I like having her in my space. Waking up next to her and seeing her fiery hair sprawled across the pillow, smelling her perfume on my sheets, having her help cook with me in the kitchen. It’s comfortable. Easy.
Surprisingly easy, for two people who have never had that word come effortless for them.
And it’s not even about the sex. Which we still haven’t had because I’m trying to take things slow for her since she told me she’s a virgin. Yes, she’s fucking beautiful and I want to bury myself in her, feel her pulse around my cock, complete that final connection between us. But I can be patient. Never been something I’ve done before, but I’ve also never really connected with anyone like I have with her either.
She sees me. Not the image of Reid Keely, butme. Uncomfortable as it is sometimes, it feels right.
I get out of the car and head inside Nikolai’s house, only bothering to knock because Jane lives here now, too.
The door swings open and I’m met with green eyes and black hair the same shade as Walker’s. His twin smiles at me, immediately moving to the side to allow me in. “Hey! Come on in, they’re downstairs in the studio.”
“They? So Arun is here? Thought that was his car.”
“Yep.” Jane shuts the door behind me and flips her long curtain of hair over one shoulder.
“How’s that going, working with him? Still good?” WhenJane officially moved out here from Boston, she started working at Arun’s management company on his legal team. That’s also when her and Nikolai rekindled their relationship, and after the two of them got past their bullshit, they’ve been living together ever since.
She beams and walks with me toward the stairs to the basement. “Yeah, it’s been great. So much better than my old job. I actually get to work face to face with the talent now, and Arun’s great.”
I give her a small smile, genuinely happy for her. She deserves it, and Nikolai deserves a happy partner by his side. “Should I head on down, or are they in a meeting?”
“No.” She waves me off. “They’re waiting for you. Go ahead on down.” She brushes her hands down the front of her dress. “I’m actually headed out to drinks with some colleagues. Tell Nikolai I’m on my way out, would you?”
“Sure thing,” I call over my shoulder as I descend the staircase. All the lights are turned on in the basement, illuminating the way to Nikolai’s in-home studio to the left. The soundproof door is cracked open. I push it open to find Arun and Nikolai sitting on opposite ends of the leather couch pushed against the wall beside the soundboard.
Nikolai shoots to his feet the second he spots me. “What’s up!” He pulls me into a hug, slapping my back a few times before letting me go.
I don’t think I realized how much I missed my best friend until right now. I get it; he’s been busy with work and Jane this past year, but still. He’s my brother. The only one I never got sick of being on a tour bus with for nine months out of the year.
“Good to see you,” I tell him. Arun stands and holds his arms open too. We hug quickly, murmuring a similar sentiment,before I take a seat in the gaming chair Nikolai has in front of the board.
“You want something to drink?” Nikolai asks before he sits back down.
I wave him off. “I’m good. Thanks, though.”
He plops back down on the couch. His blond hair is perfectly mussed, but there are small bags under his eyes.
“Touring taking it out of you?” I ask.
He grimaces and slings an arm over the back of the couch. “Forgot how exhausting it is. I got spoiled in our time off.”
