“I bet he lives in his parents’ basement and his only friends are his ant farm,” Chase said.
“I bet he’s a murderer,” Hunter said. “You guys should probably stick together. Never go anywhere alone. Sleep together every night.”
“You should definitely be sleeping together every night,” Tobias said, throwing a meaningful look at Josh that had him looking away. “For protection, of course.”
“If he does anything else, I can send him a digitalTrojan Horse and destroy his life, so let me know,” Carson added, keeping his gaze on his yogurt.
Carson was kind of terrifying when he wasn’t flustered by Hunter.
Riley turned to Josh, who was gazing at him with a mix of fear and confusion. “This is a shit show, but it’ll be okay, I’m sure.”
He wasn’t sure, but he was trying to convince himself he could be, as much as he was trying to comfort Josh.
“I’m so lost,” Josh said as he turned to Carson. “How would a horse help?”
Riley only hoped their feelings would be easier to navigate than this clusterfuck, because he was going to make sure they talked about what was happeningthat day. No matter what.
18
JOSH SAT ON THE couch poking the little bloat of his belly full of breakfast while barely paying attention to the reality dating show about people and islands that was playing on the television.
Riley had been quiet on their ride home from the diner, and Josh didn’t push for conversation, feeling tired from both the morning workout and eating way too much waffle.
After they got home, Riley said he’d send Garrett the emails from CJ Rollins while Josh showered. Josh was fresh and clean in a hoodie and sweats while he waited under a blanket for Riley to finish his own shower.
Josh’s mind was going crazy, like it was running two hundred miles an hour, flickering between thinking of the hot water running down Riley’s body, the mess they were dealing with from CJ Rollins and the ideas forpromotions he had for the business.
When he didn’t have control of his thoughts, he liked to draw, so he pulled his sketchpad out from the drawer of the coffee table in front of him along with some pencils and started sketching.
It wasn’t long before a body shaped itself on the thick paper, one with long muscular legs, a round ass and shapely back, and a head that was looking at Josh over his shoulder and smiling. It took way too long for him to realize that Riley was staring at him from his sketchbook, and all he could do was stare back in wonder. To him, Riley was perfect. On paper and in real life.
“How do you always make me look so damn good?”
Josh jumped a foot in the air, the sketchbook and pencils flying off his lap at the sudden interruption from Riley. Apparently, Josh had been in his own world and didn’t hear him approach the couch.
“Geez, knock much?” Josh said, running his hand through his hair as he bent to pick up the mess.
“You’re in the living room.” Riley had the audacity to chuckle. “There are no doors to knock on. But next time I’ll try.”
He walked around the couch and sat next to Josh, leaning forward to help grab all the pencils scattered on the floor. Once they were all secured in their case, Riley took the sketchbook from Josh.
“Seriously, you’re so incredible at this.”
“It’s easy when the model is perfect.”
It took a moment for Josh to process what he said. He turned to Riley to gauge his reaction, but he was only looking at the drawing warmly, a flush rising on his cheeks.
When Riley finally tore his eyes away and met Josh’s, Josh’s heart was ready to beat out of his body.
“You think I’m perfect?” Riley asked.
“Of course, I do. You’re my best friend. I wouldn’t change a thing about you.”
For some reason, that made Riley’s smile falter, and Josh wondered why.
Riley took a deep breath and set the sketchbook on the coffee table, then sat back on the couch, grabbing the blanket on Josh’s lap and settling it over the both of them.
“What about… Would you change anything about us?” Riley asked nervously.
