“That stunt you pulled last weekend,” Benson began, sipping his tea, “was hot. But don’t do it again.”
“You were always good at setting boundaries.”
“I’m serious. We’re not in a relationship here. Stuff like that is cleared beforehand, not sprung on me. Or you.”
Liam leaned back a little, finger on his lips. “It was as much a surprise for Eden as it was for you, but… duly noted. So, what is going on here, exactly?”
Benson grunted into his mug. “Between us? Nothing.”
“Mmhmm.”
“What?”
If Benson was a pro at erecting boundaries, then Liam was even better at pointing out his hypocrisies. “That’s not what I remember from that night.”
Benson’s cheeks were that shade of red that made him look a little older. Most handsomely. “What the hell do you remember?”
“You searching for my tonsils. Twice in the past week, I might remind you.”
“That was just the heat of the moment. We’re familiar with each other. It was a bad habit I fell into.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Just saying. She thought it was really hot.”
“She’s a twenty-five-year-old woman. Of course she thought two men kissing was hot.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“We need to make it clear to her that you and I are not a thing.”
“All right. And then, when you suddenly decide to marry her? Where do I fit in, then?”
“Suddenly?”
“Okay. Tomorrow. When you inevitably propose to her.”
“I’m not proposing to Eden anytime soon.”
“Even so, if she says yes, what am I? Chopped liver?” Liam wetted his parched lips with some of his flavored water. Benson’s gaze did not waver. “No way. We’re not doing some dirty back-alley deal where we decide what happens with Eden. Not without her input.”
Benson ran his hands through his hair. “Why do you have to have the same taste in women as me?”
“Are you serious?”
“It’s infuriating. Even if Eden wasn’t a thing, any woman I date could have you making eyes at her from across the room.”
“Must be that incredible animal magnetism we share.”
“Oh, fuck off with that.”
“Why are you so embarrassed about it? We were onceengaged,Ben. You’re still dating guys, based on what we both found in your bathroom.”
“Ugh.”
“Eden’s cool with it. The only one being weird isyou.”
