“I’m Landon,” I hear myself saying.
The guy’s eyes soften for just a second, but then they tighten around the edges, and he sneers at me. “Good for you.”
I almost laugh. Almost. But before I can get another word out, he’s pushing to his feet and leaving me standing alone in the hallway.
Damn.
I’m dragging ass today, so when Ben texts me and asks if I want to get coffee before class, it’s not even a question. For one, I enjoy hanging out with him. Yeah, he looks like a Greek god with impossibly chiseled features and a body that looks carved from stone, and sure, I definitely get strange butterflies when he winks at me. But more than any of that stuff, he’s just fun to hang out with.
He’s basically the human version of a golden retriever. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him being mean to anyone. Ever. He’s constantly smiling, and he doesn’t know a stranger.
I’m waiting outside the coffee shop when he comes strolling down the sidewalk. As soon as I see his face, all I can think about is that guy’s drawing.His defined abs, the deep V of his hips, and the way his cock hung heavy between his legs. “Hey.” He waves, shooting me a wide grin when he sees me.
“Hey,” I say back, my face practically on fire. I’m starting to wonder if I’m the most awkward person alive. Hopefully, he thinks I’m just being my normal weird. It would be really embarrassing if he knew I was thinking about that naked sketch of him. “Thanks for the invite.”
He beats me to the door, then holds it open and gestures for me to go inside. The scent of pastries and coffee hits me as soon as we step through the door. This coffee shop is always busy, and for good reason.
It truly has the best coffee I’ve ever had, and even when I’m running behind, I stop almost every morning to get a chocolate chip muffin and an iced coffee with an extra shot of espresso.
“Fuck,” Ben groans, and the sound makes heat prickle along my skin. Jesus Christ.Definitelyinto guys. “Practice kicked my ass. I’mstillsore.”
“Never thought I’d be so happy to be a backup.”
Sure, I practice hard and I work out, but not like the starters do.
Ben laughs, throwing his head back. “Yeah, West was a damn beast. I don’t know how he managed it.”
“West is really impressive.” And heis.He rallies the team and works harder than anyone else. It’s impressive and, honestly, inspiring. We lapse into silence while we wait in line.
God, I’m so awkward.
“So,” I start, taking a step forward when the line moves. “How was your art class?”
I shouldn’t have asked that. What if my mouth somehow betrays me and I let it slip that Isaw?Fuck Landon, what is wrong with you?
If Ben finds it weird that I mentioned it, he doesn’t show it. He just lets out a booming laugh that has half the people in the coffee shop turning to look at him. “It was kind of weird. Fun, but weird—just being balls-out in the middle of a room full of people staring at you.”
There’s something… rough about his voice, and it has my face burning all over again. “Could never be me.”
“Sure it could,” Ben says, stepping closer to the counter. Thankfully, there are only a couple more people in the line in front of us because I’m ready to get off this ride before I embarrass myself. “You just have to let go of your inhibitions a little.”
He bumps me with his shoulder, then winks.
Him and that wink are going to be the death of me; I just know it.
I shrug. “Yeah, maybe.” Not happening. I don’t have a body like his. I’m soft in places where he’s not. Sure, I’m strong, but I’m more teddy bear than Greek statue, and I could never bare… all that to a group of people.
When we get to the counter and I order, I pull my wallet out to pay. Before I can grab my card, Ben’s reaching past me and handing a twenty-dollar bill to the barista.
“I’ll take a chai latte, please, and this is for both orders.”
The woman takes his money with a smile, then hands him his change while I stand in stunned silence, my wallet still clutched in my hand.
We step off to the side while we wait for our order to be completed, and I squint at Ben. “Why did you pay for mine?”
“Why not?” He raises a shoulder, then scans the room like he’s looking for someone before his eyes settle on mine. “We’re friends, right? That’s what friends do.”
My gut sinks.Friends.
