“I would be the person with the most to gain from a fake relationship—” he starts.
“Public friendship, nothing more. I don’t do relationships, fake or otherwise. My brothers would flip the fuck out, and?—”
“Would they punch me?”
Why does he look even happier about that?Men. They’re so—justmen. “Look, there’s something you need to know about Griff?—”
“He’s taken up boxing when he’s not playing baseball?”
“No, I was going to say he’s very good with his bat. And he’s the chillest of my three brothers until someone mistreats me. Then, watch the fuck out. He doesn’t know all of the details about my breakup with Jake because he’d be a complete ass about it, and I think he has some teammates who would help him out.”
“Do you go to see him play often? His home team is in Atlanta, correct? Not exactly driving distance, is it?”
“Ryker and Hudson and I went to a few games last year when his team was in New York or Boston or Philadelphia, and the team flew me to Atlanta once or twice because of how much the press loved his story last year. Big deal, orphaned rookie and all.”
“I have this thing called a large bank account. It’s fun to use it. I could take you to one of his games in any city you’d like. And we could hide from the press. They wouldn’t have to know we were there.”
Is it possible for eyeballs to gag? That’s what it feels like mine are doing right now.
Gagging right out of my head.
“Simon.”
“Yes, Bea?”
“That’s not public friendship. That tells people I’m giving you blow jobs every day.”
“We could negotiate that into our arrangement. Though I do insist on orgasm equality. My dream is that a former lover one day encounters my father and informs him that I’m better in the sack, and that dream will never come true if I don’t uphold high standards for myself.”
“I am so glad I wasn’t drinking anything just now.”
His eyes twinkle, and I want to kiss him.
I want to throw my arms around him and kiss him until I can’t breathe.
I want to know if he’s serious about equal orgasms.
I want to know if he’s as capable as he’s making himself out to be.
I hold a hand up as he takes a half step toward me. “We arenotdoing this. Thank you for stopping by. I’m glad you got out of the carnival safely after the incident. And thank you for forgiving me for putting you in an awkward situation last night.”
“I would have forgiven far worse for the magic that is your willy—ah, corn dog.”
I press my palm to my forehead. “Are you for real, or is this all an act?”
“You’ll never know unless you spend more time with me.”
I could do it.
Iwantto do it.
I want to be around someone this happy.
Not that Daphne isn’t happy. Or our other friends. My brothers.
Okay, Ryker’s not happy.
He’s a grumpy-ass grump monster.
