I ignored his deep insight because . . . well . . . I wasn’t ready to face the fact that he was always right, and him being right about this carried far too many implications I wasn’t sure I could handle. “He’s working tonight and tomorrow, but we’re planning something for next week.”
“And you’re okay with waiting?”
“Of course, I’m okay,” I said, scowling, then realized I was scowling and lowered my head to mumble, “Fine. No, I’m not looking forward to waiting, butI’m an adult. I’ll manage.”
Diego smirked again. “Look at you. Being patient. Growing as a person.”
“Fuck you and your Red Card.”
We ate in silence for a moment before Diego spoke again.
“Can I ask you something serious?”
“When have I ever been able to stop you?” I finished chewing and raised a finger. “And when are you ever serious?”
“Fair point.” He set down the fry he’d been about to eat. “How was it? Likehim, not just the physical part. The whole thing.”
I thought about last night, about Finn showing up at my door in those ridiculous shorts and the confidence in his voice when he told me to strip. I thought about the way he’d looked sprawled on my kitchen counter like he owned the place and the bedroom after, the way we’d fit together and the sounds he’d made that still echoed in my mind.
“It was perfect, D,” I said quietly. “Not just the sex, though that was incredible. I mean the whole night . . . the way he looked at me and . . . trusted me. And how we laughed afterward and just . . . I don’t know . . . existed together.” I looked up at Diego. “I’ve never had that before, not like that, that feeling of totalcomfortwith someone.”
Diego studied me with that serious expression he got when he was in doctor mode—not medical doctor, but “I’m a best friend diagnosing your emotional state” doctor.
“What?” I asked. “What’s that look?”
He was quiet for a long moment. Then he said, “Shit.”
“What?”
“Chase, you like this one.”
“Newsflash, I know that much.”
“No.” He held up his palm, his expression remaining sincere. “I mean youreallylike him. This isn’t casual for you. It’s not some fling or a ‘let’s see where it goes.’ You’re falling for Finn.”
I opened my mouth to deny it, to argue, to say it was too soon and that we’d only been dating for a few weeks.
I tried to say I barely knew the guy.
But the words wouldn’t come.
Because he was right.
Damn it, Diego was always right.
“Yeah,” I said. “I think I am.”
“And how do you feel about that?”
“Terrified. Excited. Maybe both at the same time.” I pushed my salad around on my plate. “I’ve never felt like this before, D, not with anyone. And it’s only been a few weeks. That’s insane, right? Peopledon’t fall for someone that fast, do they? That can’t be a real thing.”
“David and I knew we were meant for each other after our second date; at least, I did. He can be a bit slow on the uptake, if you know what I mean.” Diego sat back and shrugged, a wistful grin twisting his lips. “Sometimes you just know.”
“But what if I’m wrong? What if he’s not feeling the same way? What if I stick my neck out and all he wants is a roll in the hay?”
“Or on the counter,” he shot back.
I flicked him a bird.
