Kieran looked different when I watched him on my phone screen, or maybe because he was suddenly aware of the camera. He tilted his head and turned a little to the side. Clearly, he thought that was his best angle, and I was inclined to agree, especially with the way the sunlight was hitting his eyes right now.
He had no right to be as stunningly beautiful as he was.
“Can I post one of these to Instagram?” I asked as I scrolled through them, barely stopping myself from brushing my fingers over his features.
It was incredibly,incrediblyunfair that my best friend had grown up to be mytype.
Andthat he wasn’t even gay. I couldn’t catch a break, could I?
“Go for it. My ridiculous face is all over Instagram anyway,” he said.
I picked one I liked of him smiling—not the most glamourous shot of all, but one that wasKieranto me. Warm and friendly and approachable.
Ran into an old friend today.
Yeah, that was enough of a caption. My publishers had been on my back about having more of a social media presence, being more of apersononline, and this felt like the kind of thing they’d like.
Proof that other people liked me and wanted to hang out with me.
“Why is your face all over Instagram?” I asked belatedly, once the information finally registered. “Can I follow you? I have essentially no friends on there.”
“I, uh… do a little modelling here and there,” Kieran said, scratching the back of his neck. “I mean, I used to, not so much anymore, I’m getting kinda old for it.”
“You’re twenty-nine,” I said. “And you’rehot.”
Shit.Shit. I didn’t mean to say that.
Kieran’s face lit up. “You think?” he asked, all open enthusiasm, no discomfort at all.
Meanwhile, I was hoping a very small sinkhole might open directly under me. Was Slow Falls prone to sinkholes?
“Because I’ve kind of always wondered. I mean, I get comments from guys sometimes, but it’s hard to tell if I can like… trust their taste.”
“And you trust mine?” I asked cautiously, sipping my water. Kieran didn’t need to know that I was sitting here fighting not to drool over him.
Kieran shrugged. “I trust you. In general, and not to lie to me.”
“You think people arelyingto you when they tell you you’re hot?”
I could barely stop my jaw from hanging open at the thought.
“Not, I mean… obviously I know I’m conventionally attractive, but like…to women. I dunno what guys look for. Maybe this is a stupid question, forget it.”
Why do you care what guys look for?,I didn’t ask.
Iwantedto, but I held the question behind my teeth.
“I think if you wanna take up dating men, you wouldn’t have any problems,” I said honestly. Not that I was stupid enough to hope that Kieranwasinterested in dating men, but that saved me having to say that I personally wanted to lick him.
The faintest blush colored the ridges of Kieran’s cheekbones, making him look half his age all of a sudden.
“Thanks, I think,” he said, laughing shyly.
That was somehow evenmorehot.
Hanging out with Kieran again was going to be my cause of death, but at least I’d die happy.
* * *
