The taller of the two kids runs over to retrieve the ball and then heads back to the yard. When Riko notices Frosty, his grin widens. Awfully smiley guy.
“Who’s the cutie?”
“This is Frosty.” Clara lifts Frosty’s paw to make him wave. Then, she says to me, “And that’s Derek’s loud hot roomie.”
Riko barks out a laugh and I bristle.
She thinks he’s hot. I mean, he’s an attractive guy, but it doesn’t sit well with me.
Why not, man?
Ignoring those thoughts, I jut out my hand. “Eric. I’m Clara’s…”
Riko’s gloved hand meets mine and he shakes it. “Didn’t know she was seeing someone.”
I don’t correct him and neither does she. My stomach twists strangely.
“Where’s Derek?” she asks. “I didn’t see his truck.”
Riko playfully pouts. “Working. Those packages don’t deliver themselves, especially this close to Christmas.”
“You should have planned the wedding for this week,” she says with a laugh.
Wedding? To his roommate? What am I missing here?
“Right?” he cries out, smacking the roof of the car. “I said the same thing, but you know how my man is. Duty bound. A hero with a code of honor.”
“But he’s a delivery guy?” I ask, putting their words together to draw my own conclusion. “Seems serious for a job like that.”
Riko snorts. “He’s a serious guy. And, yes, he’s obsessed with outperforming at his job.” He grins again and gives me a saucy wink. “Not the only area of his life where he outperforms.”
Clara cackles with laughter. “You’re wild, Riko Valentine. Come by soon and we’ll hang out. Bring wine.”
I shudder at the thought of them hanging out and drinking together.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” he says, much to my dismay.
Riko finally walks away, making his way back over to the children who are thrilled. They begin squealing with excitement as he starts pelting them with snowballs.
“Those his kids?” I ask once the window is up and we’re headed to her house.
“They belong to our neighbor, Linda. Single mom. Riko loves them like siblings, though. He’s their unofficial gay uncle.”
“Gay. Hmph.”
I pull into a parking spot and shut off the car. Clara’s sculpted eyebrow is hiked up. “Is that a problem?”
“Nope,” I say, smirking at her. “Just means I don’t have to kick his ass now.”
“You were planning on doing it before, though?”
My gaze falls to her lips for far too long. Finally, I say, “When I thought he was flirting with you.”
Humiliation quells up inside me. I snag Frosty from Clara’s grip and hurry out of the car. Her car door slams behind me, but I’m already fumbling with the keys to get inside her unit.
Stupid, stupid man.
I basically just told her I was going to beat up some guy for crushing on her. She’s going to want to know why. Problem is, I don’t have that answer. It’s such a fucking mess in my head right now.
