“You’re the one who put me here.” I wiggle in his lap.
“I did do that, didn’t I?” He moves me back to the passenger seat. “I’m still walking you up.”
He cuts the engine and comes around to the passenger side to help me out of the car. It’s quiet in the atrium, and the elevator is empty except for us. Flip wraps his arms around me, and I settle my head on his chest, comforted by the steady thud of his heart. We reach my floor without running into anyone else.
I pass my key fob over the sensor and crack the door to my apartment. The TV is on, and laughter filters down the hall.
“I’ll say good night here.” Flip moves closer, until our bodies are flush again.
Parsnip meows and swats at my ankle. The door isn’t open enough for him to slip through.
“Thank you for a perfect first date,” he whispers.
I melt as he presses his lips to mine, warm, minty, and full of promise.
CHAPTER 24
FLIP
It’s fajita night at Rix and Tristan’s. We get together once a month for food and drinks. Tally often joins us, but this is the first with her as my date.
“Can you mash these, please?” Rix passes me the flat-bottomed container of avocado halves and the potato masher.
“Chunky though, right? Not holiday-dinner-mashed-potato smooth,” I confirm.
“You got it.”
Tally is dutifully chopping tomatoes with Hemi next to her, murdering onions while glaring at me. I haven’t done anything wrong. At least I don’t think I have, but I can picture my balls in place of the onions. Tally has been the little sister of the group for years, and we’ve all had our skepticism over some of her past boyfriends. Now that I’m dating her, I feel like I’m in the hot seat. And like everyone is waiting for me to fuck it up.
Or maybe that’s just me.
I deal with the avocados and move to the sink to rinse the masher.
Tristan gives me a look.
“What?”
“Dude.”
“You’re going to need to elaborate past a single word.”
“Bro.” The word drips disappointment. “Is Tally suddenly made of glass?”
“What?”
“You’re dating her, be affectionate, man.”
“I’m not going to hump all over her.” Although the dreams in which I do have been pretty fucking relentless lately.
“That’s not—” Tristan shakes his head and looks at the ceiling. “That I’m the one giving advice makes it feel like I’m in a parallel universe.” He sighs. “You’re making it weird, man.”
I rub the back of my neck. “Tally is like everyone’s sister. I’m trying to be respectful.”
Tristan pokes at his cheek with his tongue. “Or you’re being a chickenshit.”
Is that what it is? Am I being too cautious? “I don’t know how to walk the line.”
“Explain.”
